Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan

Japan: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 4.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
4.0%
Change on year
down 4.2%
World rank
176th
of 187 countries
All-time high
10.2%
in 1991
All-time low
4.0%
in 2016
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan, 1991–2016

02.557.5101991200320161991: 10.21992: 101993: 9.61994: 9.11995: 8.91996: 8.41997: 8.31998: 8.41999: 8.22000: 7.72001: 7.12002: 6.72003: 6.62004: 6.42005: 6.32006: 62007: 5.82008: 5.62009: 5.72010: 5.52011: 5.32012: 4.42013: 4.32014: 4.42015: 4.12016: 4

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.

Analysis

In 2016, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan stood at 4.0%. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is down 4.2% on the previous year and down 34.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan peaked at 10.2% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 4.0%, in 2016.

That places Japan 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Japan, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 10.2%
1992 10.0% -1.8%
1993 9.6% -4.2%
1994 9.1% -4.6%
1995 8.9% -2.5%
1996 8.4% -5.6%
1997 8.3% -0.9%
1998 8.4% +0.8%
1999 8.2% -2.2%
2000 7.7% -5.9%
2001 7.1% -8.3%
2002 6.7% -5.1%
2003 6.6% -1.9%
2004 6.4% -2.4%
2005 6.3% -2.4%
2006 6.0% -4.3%
2007 5.8% -3.4%
2008 5.6% -4.3%
2009 5.7% +1.9%
2010 5.5% -2.9%
2011 5.3% -3.9%
2012 4.4% -16.9%
2013 4.3% -2.6%
2014 4.4% +2.4%
2015 4.1% -6.0%
2016 4.0% -4.2%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 4.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 7.1%, 56% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 4.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.4%, 23% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.0% 8.2% 10.2% 9
2000s 6.4% 5.6% 7.7% 10
2010s 4.6% 4.0% 5.5% 7

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 173 Estonia 4.4% compare
  2. 174 Sweden 4.2% compare
  3. 175 Brunei Darussalam 4.0% compare
  4. 177 Norway 3.5% compare
  5. 178 Hong Kong, China 3.4% compare
  6. 179 Denmark 3.3% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan was 4.0% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 10.2% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 4.0% in 2016.
How does Japan rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
Japan ranks 176th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is down 34.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Japan data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-female-percent-of-female-employment-modeled-ilo-estimate/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed

Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".