Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan
Japan: Unemployment rate of men vs. women was 2.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan stood at 2.6%.
The figure is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan peaked at 5.6% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1991.
Japan ranks 155th 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.
Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.9% | — |
| 1992 | 2.1% | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 2.4% | +16.1% |
| 1994 | 2.8% | +16.2% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +8.5% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +9.2% |
| 1997 | 3.4% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +22.8% |
| 1999 | 4.8% | +16.2% |
| 2000 | 4.9% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 5.2% | +6.1% |
| 2002 | 5.6% | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 5.0% | -10.0% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | -7.0% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 4.0% | -9.2% |
| 2008 | 4.1% | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 5.3% | +28.4% |
| 2010 | 5.5% | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | -11.4% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 4.3% | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 3.8% | -12.7% |
| 2015 | 3.6% | -4.0% |
| 2016 | 3.4% | -6.9% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -11.9% |
| 2018 | 2.7% | -10.4% |
| 2019 | 2.5% | -5.8% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +21.4% |
| 2021 | 3.0% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -6.8% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -6.9% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | -2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.1% | 1.9% | 4.8% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.8% | 4.0% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.8% | 2.5% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.6% | 3.0% | 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 unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan?
- Unemployment rate of men vs. women in Japan was 2.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.6% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate of men vs. women recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1991.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment rate of men vs. women?
- Japan ranks 155th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate of men vs. women rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. 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 Unemployment rate of men vs. women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Share of the male labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.