Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan
Japan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 2.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan is 2.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 27.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan peaked at 5.4% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 1991.
Japan ranks 164th 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, total (% of total labor force) in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | 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% |
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
- 162 Guatemala 2.6% compare
- 163 Papua New Guinea 2.6% compare
- 165 Macau, China 2.3% compare
- 166 Côte d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
- 167 Philippines 2.2% compare
More education data for Japan
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Japan was 2.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 1991.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Japan ranks 164th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) 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 database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.