Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan
Japan: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 4.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Japan recorded 4.1% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan peaked at 11.7% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2024.
Japan ranks 165th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.7% | — |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -3.1% |
| 1993 | 4.9% | +8.0% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +13.4% |
| 1995 | 6.1% | +9.4% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | +11.3% |
| 1997 | 7.0% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 8.2% | +17.7% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | +26.7% |
| 2000 | 10.4% | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 11.4% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 11.7% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.1% | -5.3% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -9.2% |
| 2006 | 9.3% | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | +29.2% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | +6.3% |
| 2011 | 9.4% | -13.1% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | -14.0% |
| 2014 | 7.0% | -9.5% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | -15.9% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -2.3% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -15.7% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -14.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +27.3% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 4.5% | -12.4% |
| 2024 | 4.1% | -8.2% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | +0.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 4.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.9%, 30% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 4.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.8%, 47% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.5% | 4.6% | 10.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 7.9% | 11.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 4.1% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 5.3% | 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, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan was 4.1% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 11.7% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2024.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Japan ranks 165th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.