Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan
Japan: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 98.9% in 2013. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2013)
98.9%
World rank
24th
of 190 countries
All-time high
100.0%
in 1915
All-time low
2.7%
in 1820
Years of data
34
1820–2013
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan, 1820–2013
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Japan recorded 98.9% for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in 2013.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan peaked at 100.0% in 1915 and was at its lowest, 2.7%, in 1820.
Japan ranks 24th of 190 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 2.7% | — |
| 1825 | 3.5% | +27.3% |
| 1830 | 4.4% | +27.2% |
| 1835 | 5.6% | +26.7% |
| 1840 | 7.0% | +26.4% |
| 1845 | 8.8% | +25.7% |
| 1850 | 11.1% | +25.2% |
| 1855 | 13.8% | +24.5% |
| 1860 | 17.0% | +23.5% |
| 1865 | 20.9% | +22.5% |
| 1870 | 25.3% | +21.2% |
| 1875 | 30.3% | +19.8% |
| 1880 | 35.8% | +18.3% |
| 1885 | 57.3% | +60.0% |
| 1890 | 51.8% | -9.6% |
| 1895 | 70.5% | +36.0% |
| 1900 | 70.6% | +0.1% |
| 1905 | 81.1% | +14.9% |
| 1910 | 98.1% | +20.9% |
| 1915 | 100.0% | +1.9% |
| 1920 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 99.4% | -0.6% |
| 1955 | 100.0% | +0.6% |
| 1960 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 99.0% | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 100.0% | +1.0% |
| 1980 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 98.9% | -1.1% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 98.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Japan's 98.9% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 95.4%, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 3.1% | 2.7% | 3.5% | 2 |
| 1830s | 5.0% | 4.4% | 5.6% | 2 |
| 1840s | 7.9% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 2 |
| 1850s | 12.4% | 11.1% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 1860s | 18.9% | 17.0% | 20.9% | 2 |
| 1870s | 27.8% | 25.3% | 30.3% | 2 |
| 1880s | 46.6% | 35.8% | 57.3% | 2 |
| 1890s | 61.2% | 51.8% | 70.5% | 2 |
| 1900s | 75.8% | 70.6% | 81.1% | 2 |
| 1910s | 99.0% | 98.1% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1920s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1930s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1940s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1950s | 99.7% | 99.4% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 99.5% | 99.0% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.9% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 21 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 99.2% compare
- 22 Slovakia 99.0% compare
- 23 Bosnia and Herzegovina 98.9% compare
- 25 South Korea 98.8% compare
- 26 Thailand 98.7% compare
- 27 Portugal 98.7% compare
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Japan was 98.9% in 2013, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1915.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.7% in 1820.
- How does Japan rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Japan ranks 24th out of 190 countries with data for 2013.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.