Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan
Japan: Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) was 3.9% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3.9%
Change on year
down 0.8%
World rank
169th
of 187 countries
All-time high
10.2%
in 2003
All-time low
3.7%
in 2018
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Japan recorded 3.9% for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
The figure is down 0.8% on the previous year and down 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan peaked at 10.2% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 3.7%, in 2018.
That places Japan 169th out of 187 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 4.5% | — |
| 1992 | 4.4% | -2.4% |
| 1993 | 5.1% | +17.2% |
| 1994 | 5.5% | +6.8% |
| 1995 | 6.1% | +11.8% |
| 1996 | 6.7% | +10.4% |
| 1997 | 6.7% | -1.2% |
| 1998 | 7.7% | +16.3% |
| 1999 | 9.3% | +20.3% |
| 2000 | 9.2% | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 9.6% | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 10.1% | +4.8% |
| 2003 | 10.2% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 9.6% | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 8.7% | -9.1% |
| 2006 | 8.3% | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 7.9% | -5.2% |
| 2008 | 7.3% | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 9.2% | +25.9% |
| 2010 | 9.5% | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 8.3% | -12.0% |
| 2012 | 8.2% | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 6.8% | -17.3% |
| 2014 | 6.3% | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 5.5% | -13.1% |
| 2016 | 5.1% | -6.4% |
| 2017 | 4.6% | -9.9% |
| 2018 | 3.7% | -20.5% |
| 2019 | 3.9% | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 4.7% | +18.8% |
| 2021 | 4.7% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 4.4% | -5.8% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | -7.2% |
| 2024 | 3.9% | -4.5% |
| 2025 | 3.9% | -0.8% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 3.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 28% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 3.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.0%, 44% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.2% | 4.4% | 9.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 9.0% | 7.3% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.2% | 3.7% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.3% | 3.9% | 4.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 166 Republic of Moldova 4.2% compare
- 167 Uganda 4.2% compare
- 168 Côte d'Ivoire 4.0% compare
- 170 Mali 3.9% compare
- 171 Kazakhstan 3.8% compare
- 172 Papua New Guinea 3.8% 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, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan?
- Unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) in Japan was 3.9% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 2003.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.7% in 2018.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24)?
- Japan ranks 169th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth total (% of total labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.8%. 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 total (% of total 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.