Unemployment rate in Japan
Japan: Unemployment rate was 2.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment rate 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 in Japan stood at 2.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Japan peaked at 5.4% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1991.
That places Japan 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 2.1% | — |
| 1992 | 2.2% | +4.8% |
| 1993 | 2.5% | +17.7% |
| 1994 | 2.9% | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 3.1% | +9.0% |
| 1996 | 3.4% | +7.4% |
| 1997 | 3.4% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 4.1% | +20.9% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 5.0% | +5.7% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 5.3% | -2.5% |
| 2004 | 4.7% | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -6.1% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 3.9% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 4.0% | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 5.1% | +26.6% |
| 2010 | 5.1% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 4.5% | -10.8% |
| 2012 | 4.4% | -4.2% |
| 2013 | 4.0% | -7.3% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -11.1% |
| 2015 | 3.4% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | -7.5% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -12.6% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | +19.5% |
| 2021 | 2.8% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 2.6% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -0.5% |
| 2024 | 2.5% | -3.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | -2.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 2.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 49% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 2.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.0%, 80% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.1% | 2.1% | 4.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 3.9% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.6% | 2.4% | 5.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 161 Guatemala 2.6% compare
- 162 Papua New Guinea 2.6% compare
- 164 Macao 2.3% compare
- 165 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
- 166 Philippines 2.2% compare
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 in Japan?
- Unemployment rate in Japan was 2.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1991.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment rate?
- Japan ranks 163rd out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.6%. 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. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.