Population by labor force status in Japan
Japan: Population by labor force status was 13.83 million people in 2025. ▼ Falling
Population by labor force status in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
In 2025, population by labor force status in Japan stood at 13.83 million people. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.2% on the previous year and down 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population by labor force status in Japan peaked at 21.55 million people in 1991 and was at its lowest, 13.83 million people, in 2025.
Japan ranks 29th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.81 million people | 18.49 million people | 21.55 million people | 9 |
| 2000s | 17.69 million people | 17.25 million people | 18.27 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.44 million people | 15.67 million people | 17.14 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.65 million people | 13.83 million people | 15.44 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 26 South Africa 16.66 million people compare
- 27 Mozambique 15.74 million people compare
- 28 Algeria 14.20 million people compare
- 30 Cote d'Ivoire 13.23 million people compare
- 31 Myanmar 13.21 million people compare
- 32 Niger 12.91 million people compare
More work & labour data for Japan
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 0 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 63.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 71.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 78.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 55.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 82.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 87.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 77.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population by labor force status in Japan?
- Population by labor force status in Japan was 13.83 million people in 2025, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population by labor force status recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.55 million people in 1991.
- What is the lowest population by labor force status recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.83 million people in 2025.
- How does Japan rank for population by labor force status?
- Japan ranks 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population by labor force status rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population by labor force status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population below working age (under 15 years old).