Politics and governmentPopulation and FamilyEconomy and industryWorkEducation and mediaScience and technologyEnvironment and energyInternational relations and national identitySecurityHealthAgriculture and FoodLeisure, culture and SportsLife World\nMajor advanced countries\nNordic and major advanced countries\nOECD members\nEU+Japan\nASIA\nTPP\n

Australia\nAustria\nBelgium\nCanada\nChile\nColombia\nCosta Rica\nCzech Republic\nDenmark\nEstonia\nFinland\nFrance\nGermany\nGreece\nHungary\nIceland\nIreland\nIsrael\nItaly\nJapan\nRepublic of Korea\nLatvia\nLithuania\nLuxembourg\nMexico\nNetherlands\nNew Zealand\nNorway\nPoland\nPortugal\nSlovakia\nSlovenia\nSpain\nSweden\nSwitzerland\nTurkiye\nUnited Kingdom\nUnited States\n Choose a country to compare\n----------\nAustralia\nAustria\nBelgium\nCanada\nChile\nColombia\nCosta Rica\nCzech Republic\nDenmark\nEstonia\nFinland\nFrance\nGermany\nGreece\nHungary\nIceland\nIreland\nIsrael\nItaly\nJapan\nRepublic of Korea\nLatvia\nLithuania\nLuxembourg\nMexico\nNetherlands\nNew Zealand\nNorway\nPoland\nPortugal\nSlovakia\nSlovenia\nSpain\nSweden\nSwitzerland\nTurkiye\nUnited Kingdom\nUnited States\n

All rankings including Japan\nRankings in which Japan is Top\nRankings in which Japan is Top 1-3\nRankings in which Japan is Bottom 1-3\nRankings in which Japan is Bottom\nRankings in which Japan is either Top or Bottom\nRankings in which Japan is either Top3 or Bottom3\n

Employment> Japan Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 86.9% (2023) [5/34countries] Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15-64) 75.1% (2023) [15/34countries] Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 35-44) 96.0% (2023) [4/34countries] Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 35-44) 81.1% (2023) [26/34countries] Labor participation rate, male (% of male population ages 60-64) 87.1% (2023) [1/34countries] Labor participation rate, female (% of female population ages 60-64) 65.1% (2023) [9/34countries] % of those who think that the employment of elderly people is good for the country's economy 79.2% (2015) [2/14countries] % of those who think that the employment of elderly people takes jobs away from younger people 19.5% (2015) [10/14countries] Employment in agriculture (% of total employment) 3.1% (2022) [21/38countries] Employment in industry (% of total employment) 23.6% (2022) [16/38countries] Employment in services (% of total employment) 73.3% (2022) [18/38countries] % of employees whose job tenure is 10 years and more: male and female 46.3% (2023) [3/35countries] % of employees whose job tenure is 10 years and more: male 52.6% (2023) [2/35countries] % of employees whose job tenure is 10 years and more: female 38.6% (2023) [12/35countries] % of men who prefer a full time job 73.6% (2015) [12/27countries] % of women who prefer a full time job 41.0% (2015) [19/27countries] % of those who agree that the government is responsible for providing a job for everyone who wants one 45.0% (2016) [20/25countries] % of those who are in favour of government financing of projects to create new jobs 67.3% (2016) [25/25countries] Gender equality> Japan Gender Gap Index (world ranking) 118 (2024) [37/38countries] % of those who think that it is important that women have the same rights as men 91.3% (2019) [19/21countries] % of those who think that men have a better life 53.0% (2019) [10/21countries] % of those who think that women have a better life 27.1% (2019) [2/21countries] % of those who think that women will eventually have the same rights as men 72.1% (2019) [21/21countries] % of those who agree that the government is responsible for promoting equality between men and women 69.7% (2016) [23/25countries] Share of female managers 13.3% (2023) [33/33countries] % of those who think that a husband's job is to earn money; a wife's job is to look after the home and family 22.0% (2018) [7/24countries] % of those who think that men should have a job priority 41.4% (2019) [8/21countries] % of those who do not think that family life suffers when the woman has a full-time job 44.7% (2012) [12/24countries] % of those who think that both husband and wife should contribute to household income (5 choices) 45.6% (2012) [24/24countries] % of those who think that both husband and wife should contribute to work and family 79.0% (2019) [8/21countries] % of those who think that being a housewife is just as fulfilling as working for pay (5 choices) 69.3% (2012) [2/24countries] % of those who think that what most women really want is a home and children 34.9% (2012) [12/24countries] % of those who think that working mothers have no bad influence over children (5 choices) 71.2% (2012) [12/24countries] % of those who do not think that a pre-school child is likely to suffer if his or her mother works 49.2% (2012) [10/24countries] % of those who think that the mother and the father should each take half of paid parental leave 18.2% (2012) [24/31countries] % of those who think that the mother should take most of the paid leave period and the father should take some of it. 61.8% (2012) [1/31countries] % of those who think that the mother should take the entire paid parental leave 19.8% (2012) [20/31countries] % of those who think that no paid parental leave is necessary 11.8% (2012) [12/31countries] % of those who think that women should work outside the home full-time when there is a child under school age 6.1% (2012) [27/31countries] % of those who think that both mother and father should work full-time when they have a child under school age 4.0% (2012) [27/31countries] % of those who think that both mother and father should work part-time when they have a child under school age 1.1% (2012) [30/31countries] % of those who think that women should stay at home when there is a child under school age 68.7% (2012) [1/31countries] % of those who think that mother should stay at home and father should work full-time when they have a child under school age 57.8% (2012) [5/31countries] % of those who think that mother should work part-time and father should work full-time when they have a child under school age 37.2% (2012) [21/31countries] % of those who think it is least desirable that both mother and father work full-time when they have a child under school age 47.0% (2012) [13/31countries] % of those who think it is least desirable that father stay at home and mother work full-time when they have a child under school age 27.2% (2012) [17/30countries] % of those who think it is least desirable that mother stay at home and father work full-time when they have a child under school age 5.1% (2012) [23/31countries] % of those who think that women should work outside the home full-time after the youngest child starts school 17.1% (2012) [29/31countries] % of those who think that women should stay at home after the youngest child starts school 17.8% (2012) [3/31countries] % of women who say that they care for sick family members 75.4% (2012) [1/31countries] % of those who say that both partners care for sick family members 20.4% (2012) [31/31countries] Self-employment> Japan Self-employment rate, total 9.5% (2023) [26/30countries] Self-employment rate, men 10.7% (2023) [24/26countries] Self-employment rate, women 8.0% (2023) [20/26countries] % of those who think that employees have more job security than the self-employed 64.1% (2005) [5/24countries] % of those who think that being an employee interferes more with family life than self-employment 32.7% (2005) [8/24countries] % of those who prefer being an employee to being self-employed 65.3% (2005) [8/24countries] Non-regular employment> Japan Part-time employment - total 21 (2023) [4/34countries] Part-time employment - male 10 (2023) [9/34countries] Part-time employment - female 34 (2023) [4/34countries] Temporary employment - male as % of dependent employment 10.8% (2023) [15/34countries] Temporary employment - female as % of dependent employment 19.8% (2023) [5/34countries] Temporary employment - 15-24 years as % of dependent employment 15.4% (2023) [28/34countries] % of those willing to accept temporary employment to avoid unemployment 20.5% (2015) [27/27countries] Side business> Japan % of those who do any work for additional income in addition to their main job 10.9% (2015) [25/27countries] Recruitment and job change> Japan % of those who think that it would be easy to find a job 10.4% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who turn to family members or close friends first to help them if they needed to find a job 32.6% (2017) [11/21countries] % of those who turn to private companies first to help them if they needed to find a job 14.0% (2017) [9/21countries] % of those who turn to public services first to help them if they needed to find a job 43.1% (2017) [1/21countries] % of those who would turn down another job that offered quite a bit more pay in order to stay with the current organization 35.1% (2015) [6/27countries] % of those who would change their present type of work for something different if given the chance 28.4% (2015) [21/27countries] % of those who think that it is likely that they will try to find a job with another firm or organization within the next 12 months 18.4% (2015) [23/27countries] % of those who have given up good job opportunities for the benefit of their family life 41.1% (2015) [8/27countries] % of the men who have given up good job opportunities for the benefit of their family life 31.0% (2015) [16/27countries] % of the women who have given up good job opportunities for the benefit of their family life 50.7% (2015) [5/27countries] % of those who have remained in a job that was not satisfying for you for the benefit of your family life 55.8% (2015) [2/27countries] % of the men who have remained in a job that was not satisfying for you for the benefit of your family life 57.9% (2015) [2/27countries] % of the women who have remained in a job that was not satisfying for you for the benefit of your family life 53.8% (2015) [4/27countries] Work preference> Japan % of those who think that job security is very important in a job 36.5% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think that high income is very important in a job 20.5% (2015) [15/27countries] % of those who think that good opportunities for advancement is very important in a job 5.3% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that being interesting is very important in a job 21.7% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that working independently is very important in a job 5.0% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that helping other people is very important in a job 11.2% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that being useful to society is very important in a job 15.5% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that deciding times or days of work is very important in a job 11.4% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think that it is important for a job to involve personal contact with other people 13.2% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that their job is secure 50.7% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think that their job gives high income 15.8% (2015) [24/27countries] % of those who think that their job gives high opportunities for advancement 8.6% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that their job is interesting 45.9% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think that they can work independently 27.3% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that they can help other people in their job 51.4% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think that their job is useful to society 58.8% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who think that their job gives personal contact with other people 80.4% (2015) [24/27countries] % of those who think that their job gives a chance to improve their skills 60.0% (2005) [17/22countries] Unemployment> Japan Unemployment rate: 15-64 years old, male and female 2.6% (2023) [37/38countries] Unemployment rate: 15-64 years old, male 2.8% (2023) [34/38countries] Unemployment rate: 15-64 years old, female 2.4% (2023) [38/38countries] Unemployment rate: 20-24 years old, male and female 4.4% (2023) [38/38countries] Long-term (1 year and over) unemployment rate: all ages, male and female 33.5% (2023) [9/37countries] Long-term (1 year and over) unemployment rate: all ages, male 40.0% (2023) [5/37countries] Long-term (1 year and over) unemployment rate: all ages, female 24.3% (2023) [17/37countries] % of those who worry about the possibility of losing your job a great deal or to some extent 25.7% (2015) [15/27countries] % of those willing to move within the country not to lose job 14.6% (2015) [23/27countries] % of those willing to move to a different country not to lose job 10.5% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who agree that the government is responsible for providing a decent standard of living for the unemployed 59.9% (2019) [13/20countries] % of those who would like to see more government spending in unemployment benefits 21.6% (2016) [19/25countries] % of those who think that the government is successful in the policy against unemployment 8.9% (2006) [21/25countries] Labor policy> Japan Public expenditure for active labor policy, % of GDP 0.15% (2019) [31/38countries] Working time> Japan Average annual hours actually worked per worker 1,611 (2023) [24/38countries] Time spent for paid work or study (men and women, minutes per day per person, including commuting time) 362.7 (2016) [1/30countries] Time spent for paid work or study (men, minutes per day per person, including commuting time) 451.8 (2016) [2/30countries] Time spent for paid work or study (women, minutes per day per person, including commuting time) 271.5 (2016) [4/30countries] Time spent for commuting (men and women, minutes per day per person) 43.5 (2016) [2/30countries] Time spent for commuting (men, minutes per day per person) 54.0 (2016) [2/30countries] Time spent for commuting (women, minutes per day per person) 33.0 (2016) [2/30countries] % of those who are in favour of reducing the working week to create more jobs 45.5% (2016) [12/25countries] % of those willing to accept longer commuting to avoid unemployment 24.6% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who prefer to work longer hours and earn more money 32.7% (2015) [12/27countries] % of those who prefer to work the same number of hours and earn the same money 56.7% (2015) [19/27countries] % of those who prefer to work fewer hours and earn less money 10.6% (2015) [3/27countries] % of those who would like to have more time in a job 10.4% (2007) [22/24countries] % of those who would like to have less time in a job 45.2% (2007) [6/24countries] % of those who always/ often work at home during usual working hours 10.8% (2015) [20/26countries] % of those who always/ often work on weekends 46.8% (2015) [1/26countries] % of those who have a regular schedule or shift 87.7% (2015) [1/27countries] % of those who cannot decide themselves when to start/ finish work 64.2% (2015) [2/27countries] % of those who can decide themselves when to start/ finish work 35.8% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who can decide themselves how to organize work 18.0% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who enjoy 5 or less days of leave 66.2% (2007) [3/24countries] % of those who enjoy more than 20 days of leave 6.9% (2007) [23/24countries] % of those who can take an hour or two off during working hours 49.0% (2015) [27/27countries] Wages> Japan Minimum relative to average (mean) wages of full-time workers 40.3% (2023) [20/30countries] Minimum relative to median wages of full-time workers 46.0% (2023) [26/30countries] Gender wage gap at median 22.0% (2023) [3/37countries] % of those who think that men have more opportunities of getting high-paying jobs 72.8% (2019) [4/21countries] % of those who think that women have more opportunities of getting high-paying jobs 1.2% (2019) [17/21countries] % of those who think that men and women have about the same opportunities of getting high-paying jobs 26.1% (2019) [17/21countries] % of those who are optimistic about the availability of well-paying jobs 33.6% (2019) [15/21countries] % of those who think their pay is less than is just 56.9% (2009) [16/30countries] % of those willing to accept lower pay to avoid unemployment 16.1% (2015) [26/27countries] % of those who think how much responsibility goes with the job is very important in deciding pay 70.6% (2019) [16/19countries] % of those who think that whether the job requires supervising others is important in deciding pay 71.8% (1999) [20/20countries] % of those who think that the number of years spent in education and training is very important in deciding pay 22.7% (2019) [19/19countries] % of those who think how long the person has been with the firm is important in deciding pay 59.3% (1997) [17/18countries] % of those who think what is needed to support a family is very important in deciding pay 32.6% (2009) [24/30countries] % of those who think whether the person has children to support is very important in deciding pay 25.8% (2019) [12/19countries] % of those who think how well he or she does the job is very important in deciding pay 74.5% (2019) [17/19countries] % of those who think how hard he or she works at the job is very important in deciding pay 73.4% (2009) [22/30countries] % of those who agree that private companies are responsible for reducing the differences in pay 45.0% (2019) [20/20countries] Work motivation> Japan % of those who often arrive at work too tired to function well because of the household work 1.8% (2012) [16/31countries] % of those who often find it difficult to concentrate at work because of family responsibilities 2.2% (2012) [15/31countries] Degree of job satisfaction 3.47 (2015) [27/27countries] % of those satisfied with job (5 choices)* 42.3% (Ž¿–â�F‘S‘Ì“I‚É‚Ý‚Ä�A‚ ‚È‚½‚ÍŒ»�Ý‚ÌŽdŽ–‚É‚Ç‚Ì’ö“x–ž‘«‚µ‚Ä‚¢‚Ü‚·‚©�B ‘I‘ðŽˆ�F�u”ñ�í‚É–ž‘«�v�u–ž‘«�v�u‚Ç‚¿‚ç‚Å‚à‚È‚¢�v�u•s–ž�v�u”ñ�í‚É•s–ž�v ƒf�[ƒ^�F�u”ñ�í‚É–ž‘«�v�u–ž‘«�v‚ÌŠ„�‡) [25/12countries] % of those who always/ often find work stressful 48.0% (2015) [3/27countries] % of those who agree to the idea that a job is just a way of earning money 44.2% (2015) [7/27countries] % of those who agree to the idea that they would enjoy having a paid job even if they did not need the money 60.9% (2015) [14/27countries] % of those who would work hard to complete their daily tasks, even if they are slightly sick or when there is another legitimate reason for taking a break 79.2% (2009) [12/12countries] % of those who would perform to the best of their ability even on a task that they do not like 76.9% (2009) [12/12countries] % of those who would work hard to maintain their performance on a task, even if the task takes a long time to start producing any results 85.1% (2009) [8/12countries] % of men who prefer no paid job at all 6.3% (2015) [16/27countries] % of women who prefer no paid job at all 10.2% (2015) [11/27countries] Skills> Japan % of those who can make much use of their past work experience and /or job skills in their present job 55.3% (2015) [24/27countries] % of those who have got training to improve job skills over the past 12 months 42.1% (2015) [20/27countries] % of those willing to accept a job that requires new skills to avoid unemployment 53.3% (2015) [26/27countries] Workplace> Japan % of those who describe relations at their workplace between workmates/colleagues as good 69.9% (2015) [27/27countries] % of those who often share work-related information with co-workers 58.9% (2011-2017) [13/28countries] % of those who often learn new work-related things from co-workers or supervisors 23.6% (2011-2017) [20/28countries] % of those who are willing to work harder than they have to in order to help their firm/ organization succeed 49.7% (2015) [19/27countries] % of those who are proud to be working for the current firm or organization 46.9% (2015) [25/27countries] % of those who have been discriminated against with regard to work 11.6% (2015) [25/27countries] % of the men who have been discriminated against with regard to work 10.6% (2015) [26/27countries] % of the women who have been discriminated against with regard to work 12.8% (2015) [23/27countries] % of those who have been harassed by their superiors or co-workers at their job 25.3% (2015) [3/27countries] % of the men who have been harassed by their superiors or co-workers at their job 20.5% (2015) [4/27countries] % of the women who have been harassed by their superiors or co-workers at their job 30.7% (2015) [3/27countries] Industrial relations> Japan Trade union participation (% of total employment) 16.8% (2019) [14/22countries] % of those who belong to a trade union, business, or professional association 13.2% (2014) [18/26countries] Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts 1,388 (2021) [21/29countries] % of those who think that workers need strong trade unions to protect their interests 56.0% (2015) [22/27countries] % of those who think that strong trade unions are bad for the economy of their country 13.3% (2015) [21/27countries] % of those who think that trade unions have the most influence on the actions of the government 1.8% (2016) [25/25countries] % of those who think that trade unions are very important for the job security of employees 74.5% (2005) [3/22countries] % of those who think that the working conditions of employees would be much worse without trade unions 59.5% (2005) [16/22countries] % of those who think that there is strong conflicts between management and workers 43.1% (2019) [6/20countries] % of those who describe relations at their workplace between management and employees as good 56.5% (2015) [26/27countries] Work accident> Japan % of those who always/ often have to do hard physical work 20.7% (2015) [25/27countries] % of those who always/ often work in dangerous conditions 11.8% (2005) [13/24countries] Housework> Japan Time spent for routine housework (men and women, minutes per day per person) 80.4 (2016) [29/30countries] Time spent for routine housework (men, minutes per day per person) 14.1 (2016) [30/30countries] Time spent for routine housework (women, minutes per day per person) 148.1 (2016) [17/30countries] Time spent for shopping (men and women, minutes per day per person) 24.9 (2016) [12/30countries] Time spent for shopping (men, minutes per day per person) 15.2 (2016) [22/30countries] Time spent for shopping (women, minutes per day per person) 34.6 (2016) [5/30countries] Time spent for child care (men and women, minutes per day per person) 19.4 (2016) [21/25countries] Time spent for child care (men, minutes per day per person) 7.0 (2016) [24/25countries] Time spent for child care (women, minutes per day per person) 32.1 (2016) [14/25countries] % of those who would like to have more time doing household work 15.1% (2007) [14/22countries] % of those who would like to have less time doing household work 27.3% (2007) [16/24countries] % of men who think that they do less than their fair share of the household work 62.0% (2012) [1/31countries] % of women who think that they do more than their fair share of the household work 69.0% (2012) [3/31countries] % of women who say that they prepare meals 90.8% (2012) [1/31countries] % of those who say that both partners prepare meals 6.8% (2012) [30/31countries] % of women who say that they do the laundry of the family 87.4% (2012) [8/31countries] % of those who say that both partners do the laundry of the family 5.9% (2012) [28/31countries] % of women who say that they clean the house 82.2% (2012) [2/31countries] % of those who say that both partners clean the house 14.2% (2012) [30/31countries] % of those who think that men have more influence over how to raise children 4.5% (2019) [13/21countries] % of those who think that women have more influence over how to raise children 37.4% (2019) [15/21countries] % of those who think that men and women have about the same influence over how to raise children 58.1% (2019) [10/21countries] % of men who say that they mostly decide how to raise children 6.5% (2012) [5/31countries] % of women who say that they mostly decide how to raise children 32.2% (2012) [18/31countries] % of those who says that both partners decide how to raise children together 40.5% (2012) [26/30countries] % of those who think private childcare providers should primarily provide childcare for children under school age 11.4% (2012) [13/31countries] % of those who think family members should primarily provide childcare for children under school age 76.5% (2012) [6/31countries] % of those who think family members should primarily provide help in everyday life for elderly people 60.3% (2012) [11/31countries] % of those who think private providers should primarily provide help in everyday life for elderly people 15.0% (2012) [3/31countries] % of those who think that the elderly people themselves or their family should primarily cover the costs of the help to elderly people 46.9% (2012) [9/31countries] % of women who say that they care for sick family members 75.4% (2012) [1/31countries] % of those who say that both partners care for sick family members 20.4% (2012) [31/31countries] % of those who think that men have more influence over household finances 15.8% (2019) [21/21countries] % of those who think that women have more influence over household finances 29.7% (2019) [1/21countries] % of those who think that men and women have about the same influence over household finances 54.5% (2019) [13/21countries] % of women who say that they manage all the money of their family 55.3% (2012) [1/31countries] % of men who say that they manage all the money of their family 17.5% (2012) [6/31countries] % of those who say that both pool and manage all the money of their family 11.2% (2012) [31/31countries] % of those who say that both pool and manage part of the money of their family 8.5% (2012) [23/31countries] % of those who say that each partner manages their own money 7.0% (2012) [23/31countries] % of women who say that they shop for groceries 76.2% (2012) [1/31countries] % of men who say that they shop for groceries 6.5% (2012) [30/31countries] % of those who say that both partners shop for groceries 22.9% (2012) [31/31countries] % of men who say that they make small repairs in the household 75.6% (2012) [25/31countries] % of those who say that both partners make small repairs in the household 13.4% (2012) [7/31countries] % of men who say that they choose weekend activities 13.6% (2012) [5/31countries] % of women who say that they choose weekend activities 20.0% (2012) [4/31countries] % of those who say that both partners choose weekend activities together 22.0% (2012) [29/31countries] % of those who often come home from work too tired to do the chores 20.6% (2012) [14/31countries] % of those who often work too long to fulfil family responsibilities 16.1% (2012) [8/31countries] % of those who always/ often feel that job interfere with family life 10.2% (2015) [24/27countries] % of those who always/ often feel that family life interfere with job 4.1% (2015) [20/27countries] Voluntary activities> Japan % of those who take part in voluntary work once a month or more 11.1% (2011-2017) [20/28countries] % of those who never take part in voluntary work 66.5% (2011-2017) [16/28countries] % of those who take part in activities of charitable or religious organisations that do voluntary work once a month or more 2.8% (2017) [21/21countries] % of those who never take part in activities of charitable or religious organisations that do voluntary work 89.3% (2017) [1/21countries] Time spent for volunteering (men and women, minutes per day per person) 3.6 (2016) [9/28countries] Time spent for volunteering (men, minutes per day per person) 3.0 (2016) [12/28countries] Time spent for volunteering (women, minutes per day per person) 3.7 (2016) [9/28countries] % of those who think that civic and voluntary organisations have the most influence on the actions of the government 1.4% (2016) [4/23countries]