Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan

Japan: Number of strikes and lockouts was 75 in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
75
Change on year
up 36.4%
World rank
23rd
of 99 countries
All-time high
2,527
in 1971
All-time low
46
in 2006
Years of data
21
1969–2023

Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan, 1969–2023

05001.0k1.5k2.0k2.5k1969199620231969: 1.8k1970: 2.3k1971: 2.5k2003: 472004: 512005: 502006: 462007: 542008: 522009: 922010: 852011: 572012: 792013: 712014: 802015: 862016: 662017: 682018: 582021: 552023: 75

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of strikes and lockouts in Japan is 75, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.4% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in Japan peaked at 2,527 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 46, in 2006.

Japan ranks 23rd of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan, 1969 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1969 1,783
1970 2,260 +26.8%
1971 2,527 +11.8%
2003 47 -98.1%
2004 51 +8.5%
2005 50 -2.0%
2006 46 -8.0%
2007 54 +17.4%
2008 52 -3.7%
2009 92 +76.9%
2010 85 -7.6%
2011 57 -32.9%
2012 79 +38.6%
2013 71 -10.1%
2014 80 +12.7%
2015 86 +7.5%
2016 66 -23.3%
2017 68 +3.0%
2018 58 -14.7%
2021 55 -5.2%
2023 75 +36.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 1,783 1,783 1,783 1
1970s 2,394 2,260 2,527 2
2000s 56 46 92 7
2010s 72.22 57 86 9
2020s 65 55 75 2

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 20 India 102 compare
  2. 21 Cambodia 95 compare
  3. 22 Denmark 86 compare
  4. 23 Belgium 75 compare
  5. 25 Peru 63 compare
  6. 26 Zambia 60 compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More work & labour data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of strikes and lockouts in Japan?
Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan was 75 in 2023, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 2,527 in 1971.
What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 46 in 2006.
How does Japan rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
Japan ranks 23rd out of 99 countries with data for 2023.
Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of strikes and lockouts in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-strikes-and-lockouts/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
99 places, 2,354 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.