Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan
Japan: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 39.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan, 2007–2023
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
The most recent figure for social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan is 39.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.4% on the previous year and down 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan peaked at 41.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 37.7%, in 2020.
Japan ranks 8th of 37 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 38.1% | — |
| 2008 | 38.2% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 38.9% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 40.3% | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 40.7% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 40.9% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 40.4% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 40.5% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 40.7% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 41.4% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 41.6% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 41.4% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 41.3% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 37.7% | -8.7% |
| 2021 | 40.4% | +7.0% |
| 2022 | 39.3% | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 39.9% | +1.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 39.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.4% | 38.1% | 38.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 40.9% | 40.3% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.3% | 37.7% | 40.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More reference data data for Japan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.981 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3629 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.98 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.16 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 23.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.98 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Japan was 39.9% in 2023, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 41.6% in 2017.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.7% in 2020.
- How does Japan rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Japan ranks 8th out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.