Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan
Japan: Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates was 2.5% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan, 1960–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan is 2.5%, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 26.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan peaked at 5.4% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.1%, in 1964.
Japan ranks 159th of 185 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 66 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.3% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.7% | 1.1% | 2.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.5% | 2.0% | 2.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.1% | 2.1% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 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
- 156 Seychelles 2.6% compare
- 157 Macao 2.5% compare
- 157 Mexico 2.5% compare
- 160 Tanzania 2.4% compare
- 161 Philippines 2.4% compare
- 162 Cote d'Ivoire 2.3% compare
More reference data data for Japan
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.24 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.1053 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.7172 °C (2026)
- Universal right to vote in practice 2 (2025)
- Autumn temperature anomalies 1.9 °C (2025)
- Winter temperature anomalies 0.5865 °C (2025)
- Consumer price index 118.04 2010 = 100 (2025)
- Universal right to vote 2 (2025)
- Competitive elections 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan?
- Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates in Japan was 2.5% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.4% in 2002.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.1% in 1964.
- How does Japan rank for unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates?
- Japan ranks 159th out of 185 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Unemployment rates: modeled vs. national estimates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon. Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.