Unemployed population — Unemployment in Japan

Japan: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 1,758 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
1,758 Persons
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
8th
of 35 countries
All-time high
3,588 Persons
in 2002
All-time low
546.67 Persons
in 1964
Years of data
71
1955–2025

Unemployed population — Unemployment in Japan, 1955–2025

1.0k2.0k3.0k4.0k195519902025

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

Japan recorded 1,758 Persons for unemployed population — unemployment in 2025.

The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 20.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Japan peaked at 3,588 Persons in 2002 and was at its lowest, 546.67 Persons, in 1964.

Japan ranks 8th of 35 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 947.33 Persons 834.17 Persons 1,050 Persons 5
1960s 611.08 Persons 546.67 Persons 723.33 Persons 10
1970s 895.25 Persons 593.33 Persons 1,238 Persons 10
1980s 1,486 Persons 1,140 Persons 1,732 Persons 10
1990s 2,031 Persons 1,342 Persons 3,171 Persons 10
2000s 3,109 Persons 2,568 Persons 3,588 Persons 10
2010s 2,371 Persons 1,627 Persons 3,336 Persons 10
2020s 1,827 Persons 1,758 Persons 1,946 Persons 6

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 5 Spain 2,608 Persons compare
  2. 6 France 2,433 Persons compare
  3. 7 Colombia 2,326 Persons compare
  4. 9 United Kingdom 1,740 Persons compare
  5. 10 Germany 1,692 Persons compare
  6. 11 Mexico 1,612 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 48 places →

More work & labour data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed population — unemployment in Japan?
Unemployed population — unemployment in Japan was 1,758 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 3,588 Persons in 2002.
What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 546.67 Persons in 1964.
How does Japan rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
Japan ranks 8th out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is down 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed population — Unemployment in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 21 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-population-unemployment/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed population — Unemployment
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
48 places, 2,160 data points, 1955–2025
Last refreshed

The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.