Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan
Japan: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 7.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Japan recorded 7.5% for share of workers in vulnerable employment in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan peaked at 17.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 7.5%, in 2025.
Japan ranks 165th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.7% | — |
| 1992 | 16.9% | -4.7% |
| 1993 | 15.9% | -5.5% |
| 1994 | 15.6% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 15.3% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 14.8% | -3.0% |
| 1997 | 14.7% | -1.1% |
| 1998 | 14.0% | -4.4% |
| 1999 | 13.8% | -1.8% |
| 2000 | 13.2% | -3.8% |
| 2001 | 12.7% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 12.3% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 12.1% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 11.7% | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 10.9% | -6.9% |
| 2007 | 10.5% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 10.3% | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 10.0% | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | -3.2% |
| 2011 | 9.4% | -2.4% |
| 2012 | 9.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 9.1% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 9.1% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | -2.8% |
| 2016 | 8.4% | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 8.3% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 8.1% | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 8.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8.7% | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -8.8% |
| 2023 | 7.9% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 7.6% | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 7.5% | -1.9% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 7.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 9.5%, 79% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 7.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 33.6%, 22% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 15.4% | 13.8% | 17.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 11.6% | 10.0% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.8% | 8.1% | 9.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.9% | 7.5% | 8.7% | 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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Japan was 7.5% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 17.7% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5% in 2025.
- How does Japan rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Japan ranks 165th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).