Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan
Japan: Share of male vs. female employment in industry was 31.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan is 31.4%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan peaked at 38.3% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 31.4%, in 2025.
Japan ranks 45th 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.
Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 37.9% | — |
| 1992 | 38.3% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 38.2% | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 38.3% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 38.0% | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 37.9% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 37.9% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 37.2% | -2.0% |
| 1999 | 37.0% | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 36.9% | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 36.2% | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 35.5% | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 35.9% | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 35.1% | -2.1% |
| 2005 | 34.8% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 35.0% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 34.8% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 34.5% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 33.8% | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 33.2% | -1.7% |
| 2011 | 33.2% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 33.1% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 33.1% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 33.0% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 32.7% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 32.4% | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 32.5% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 32.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 32.3% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 32.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 31.8% | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 31.7% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 31.9% | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 31.5% | -1.4% |
| 2025 | 31.4% | -0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 37.9% | 37.0% | 38.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 35.2% | 33.8% | 36.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.8% | 32.3% | 33.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 31.4% | 32.0% | 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 male vs. female employment in industry in Japan?
- Share of male vs. female employment in industry in Japan was 31.4% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 38.3% in 1994.
- What is the lowest share of male vs. female employment in industry recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.4% in 2025.
- How does Japan rank for share of male vs. female employment in industry?
- Japan ranks 45th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of male vs. female employment in industry rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of male vs. female employment in industry. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of total employment working in the industry sector.