Labor force, female in Japan
Japan: Labor force, female was 31.57 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Japan, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, female in Japan stood at 31.57 million. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 12.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Japan peaked at 31.57 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.88 million, in 1990.
Japan ranks 8th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 25.88 million | — |
| 1991 | 26.47 million | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 26.76 million | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 26.79 million | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 26.92 million | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 26.99 million | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 27.19 million | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 27.53 million | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 27.56 million | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 27.40 million | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 27.33 million | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 27.39 million | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 27.18 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 27.12 million | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 27.18 million | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 27.30 million | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 27.43 million | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 27.49 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 27.52 million | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 27.60 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 27.60 million | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 27.44 million | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 27.39 million | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 27.79 million | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 28.05 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 28.19 million | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 28.67 million | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 29.16 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 29.93 million | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 30.42 million | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 30.30 million | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 30.44 million | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 30.78 million | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 31.09 million | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 31.46 million | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 31.57 million | +0.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 31.57 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45 million, 21.7× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 31.57 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.70 million, 18.5× the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 26.95 million | 25.88 million | 27.56 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 27.35 million | 27.12 million | 27.60 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.46 million | 27.39 million | 30.42 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.94 million | 30.30 million | 31.57 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More gender data for Japan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 12,429 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.96 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 107,155 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 107,155 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate -0.4423 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 367,041 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 384,885 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 368,886 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 386,553 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 378,555 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Japan?
- Labor force, female in Japan was 31.57 million in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 31.57 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.88 million in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for labor force, female?
- Japan ranks 8th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.