SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate … previous ICLS13 15+ in Japan
Japan: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate … previous ICLS13 15+ was 2.5 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition) in Japan, 2000–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Japan recorded 2.5 for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in 2025.
That represents a change of down 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Japan peaked at 5.39 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.35, in 2019.
Japan ranks 153rd of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate … previous ICLS13 15+ in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.75 | — |
| 2001 | 5.02 | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 5.39 | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 5.25 | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.73 | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 4.45 | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 4.19 | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.89 | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 4 | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 5.07 | +26.6% |
| 2010 | 5.1 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.55 | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 4.36 | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 4.04 | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 3.59 | -11.1% |
| 2015 | 3.38 | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 3.13 | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 2.82 | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 2.47 | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 2.35 | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.81 | +19.5% |
| 2021 | 2.81 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.62 | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 2.59 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 2.5 | -3.3% |
| 2025 | 2.5 | +0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 2.5 is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.87, 51% of the median. (73 countries reporting)
- Japan's 2.5 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.27, 76% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.67 | 3.89 | 5.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.58 | 2.35 | 5.1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.64 | 2.5 | 2.81 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Japan?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) in Japan was 2.5 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.39 in 2002.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.35 in 2019.
- How does Japan rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition)?
- Japan ranks 153rd out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate (previous ilo definition) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.