Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan
Japan: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 4.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
4.0%
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
139th
of 157 countries
All-time high
11.6%
in 2003
All-time low
1.9%
in 1968
Years of data
58
1968–2025
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, 1968–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan is 4.0%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 31.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan peaked at 11.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 1968.
Japan ranks 139th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 58 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 1.9% | — |
| 1969 | 1.9% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2.1% | +10.5% |
| 1971 | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| 1972 | 2.7% | +17.4% |
| 1973 | 2.5% | -7.4% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | +8.0% |
| 1975 | 3.5% | +29.6% |
| 1976 | 3.4% | -2.9% |
| 1977 | 4.0% | +17.6% |
| 1978 | 4.4% | +10.0% |
| 1979 | 3.6% | -18.2% |
| 1980 | 4.0% | +11.1% |
| 1981 | 4.2% | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 4.5% | +7.1% |
| 1983 | 4.6% | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 4.9% | +6.5% |
| 1985 | 4.8% | -2.0% |
| 1986 | 5.2% | +8.3% |
| 1987 | 5.4% | +3.8% |
| 1988 | 5.1% | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 4.7% | -7.8% |
| 1990 | 4.5% | -4.3% |
| 1991 | 4.7% | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 4.9% | +6.5% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | +14.3% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | +12.5% |
| 1996 | 6.8% | +7.9% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 8.4% | +25.4% |
| 1999 | 10.1% | +20.2% |
| 2000 | 10.3% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 10.7% | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 11.4% | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 11.6% | +2.5% |
| 2004 | 11.0% | -5.4% |
| 2005 | 10.0% | -9.2% |
| 2006 | 9.2% | -7.7% |
| 2007 | 8.3% | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 7.9% | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 10.2% | +29.3% |
| 2010 | 10.8% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 9.4% | -13.0% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | -4.9% |
| 2013 | 7.7% | -13.9% |
| 2014 | 6.9% | -9.6% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | -15.8% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 4.8% | -15.7% |
| 2018 | 4.1% | -14.0% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 5.3% | +27.4% |
| 2021 | 5.3% | +1.3% |
| 2022 | 5.1% | -3.7% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | -14.8% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | -8.4% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | +0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 4.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 14.2%, 28% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Japan's 4.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.3%, 48% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.1% | 2.1% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 4.0% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.3% | 4.5% | 10.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.1% | 7.9% | 11.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.8% | 4.1% | 10.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.7% | 4.0% | 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 4.0% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), 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 11.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 1968.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- Japan ranks 139th out of 157 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 31.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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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. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.