Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan
Japan: Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) was 78.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Japan recorded 78.2% for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in 2025. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan peaked at 78.2% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 64.4%, in 1996.
That places Japan 102nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 64.8% | — |
| 1991 | 65.3% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 65.0% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 64.5% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 64.5% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 64.4% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 64.4% | -0.0% |
| 1997 | 64.8% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 64.8% | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 64.5% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 64.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 64.9% | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 64.9% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 65.1% | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 65.7% | +1.0% |
| 2005 | 66.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 66.2% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 66.2% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 66.6% | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 67.3% | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 67.6% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 68.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 69.2% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 69.9% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 70.4% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 71.4% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 72.4% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 73.7% | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 74.7% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 74.4% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 75.1% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 75.9% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 76.8% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 77.8% | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 78.2% | +0.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 78.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 83.3%, 94% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 78.2% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 83.2%, 94% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 64.7% | 64.4% | 65.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 65.7% | 64.4% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.5% | 67.6% | 74.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 76.4% | 74.4% | 78.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 99 Thailand 78.6% compare
- 100 Montenegro 78.3% compare
- 101 Equatorial Guinea 78.2% compare
- 103 Uruguay 78.0% compare
- 104 Malta 78.0% compare
- 105 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 77.6% compare
More work & labour data for Japan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4984 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.5262 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.4728 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -2.25 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate -0.4618 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 103,039 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 5,756 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 39,867 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 36,979 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 76,846 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan?
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) in Japan was 78.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 78.2% in 2025.
- What is the lowest ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 64.4% in 1996.
- How does Japan rank for ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%)?
- Japan ranks 102nd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.