Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan
Japan: Proportion of women in ministerial level positions was 15.8% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan, 2005–2025
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan stood at 15.8%.
The figure is up 57.9% on the previous year and down 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan peaked at 25.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 2018.
That places Japan 121st out of 192 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.
Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12.5% | — |
| 2008 | 11.8% | -5.6% |
| 2010 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11.1% | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 22.2% | +100.0% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | -28.8% |
| 2018 | 5.3% | -66.5% |
| 2019 | 15.8% | +197.9% |
| 2020 | 10.0% | -36.7% |
| 2022 | 8.3% | -16.7% |
| 2023 | 25.0% | +200.0% |
| 2024 | 10.0% | -60.0% |
| 2025 | 15.8% | +57.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.2% | 11.8% | 12.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 5.3% | 22.2% | 7 |
| 2020s | 13.8% | 8.3% | 25.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 118 Botswana 16.7% compare
- 119 Chad 16.0% compare
- 119 Senegal 16.0% compare
- 121 North Macedonia 15.8% compare
- 123 Lao People's Democratic Republic 15.4% compare
- 123 Saint Lucia 15.4% compare
- 123 Zambia 15.4% compare
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 proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan?
- Proportion of women in ministerial level positions in Japan was 15.8% in 2025, according to Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics.
- What is the highest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 25.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest proportion of women in ministerial level positions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 2018.
- How does Japan rank for proportion of women in ministerial level positions?
- Japan ranks 121st out of 192 countries with data for 2025.
- Is proportion of women in ministerial level positions rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Inter-Parliamentary Union. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Women in Politics, published as part of Proportion of women in ministerial level positions (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Women in ministerial level positions is the proportion of women in ministerial or equivalent positions (including deputy prime ministers) in the government. Prime Ministers/Heads of Government are included when they hold ministerial portfolios. Vice-Presidents and heads of governmental or public agencies are excluded.