In Japan, the population sex ratio has seen slight changes over the past decades. In 2021, the number of men was around 94.6 for every 100 women, constituting a decrease from 96.1 in 1950.

What is the sex ratio? The population sex ratio is determined by the sex ratio at birth, different mortality rates between men and women, as well as losses and gains through migration. In the absence of alteration, the sex ratio in human populations is quite constant, with only minor deviations. While the sex ratio at birth is usually 105 to 107, the population sex ratio, which refers to the total number of males for every 100 females, is often below 100. The reason for the shift mostly lies in differing lifestyles and physical constitutions of men and women. In general, women tend to be more resistant to disease throughout life, while men tend to engage in higher risk behavior or violence.

Influences and consequences
The sex ratio at birth and its possible determinants such as gestation environment, climate change, chemical pollution or socio-economic factors have long been subject to scientific research. Recently the impact of natural disasters, like the nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, was presumed to influence the sex ratio at birth. The adult gender ratio has long been recognized as a key population-level determinant of behavior. However, there are many different or competing theories in existing literature about the social impacts of gender imbalance on topics such as violence, family stability, reproduction etc.

In 2023, the male population was estimated to reach approximately 60.46 million, while the female population was estimated at around 63.95 million. These figures were forecasted to shrink to about 24.1 million men and 25.64 million women by 2120.

In 2023, the total population in Japan slightly decreased to just below 125 million people compared to the previous year, with the female population reaching around 63.9 million, as compared to 60.5 million men. The oldest population in the world  Japanese society is facing severe demographic problems such as decreasing birthrates, remaining under one million births annually recently, and a thereby aging population. The country’s average age lies at around 48 years, making its population the oldest in the world. Elderly people aged 65 years and older accounted for about 29 percent of the population in 2023. According to a forecast, the age group 65 years and older would make up approximately 39 percent of the Japanese population by 2070. Challenges with the demographic shift The rapid aging of the society poses significant economic and sociopolitical challenges to the country, as the workforce will continue to shrink while increasingly more elderly will receive long-term support. Currently, close to seven million Japanese require long-term care, leading to national benefit expenses of over 14 trillion yen annually, including in-home and community-based services.

Graph and download economic data for Ratio of Female to Male Primary School Enrollment for Japan (SEENRPRIMFMZSJPN) from 1971 to 2019 about primary schooling, enrolled, females, males, ratio, primary, and Japan.

Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 57.810 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 58.249 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 67.272 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 69.262 % in 1969 and a record low of 57.810 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

In 2022, around 58 percent of Japanese overseas travelers were men, while about 42 percent were women. During the past few years, the ratio changed to become more balanced, as women in their twenties and thirties increasingly started to travel abroad, but was reversed with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Japan JP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data was reported at 4.999 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.006 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.224 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.659 % in 1969 and a record low of 4.999 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: Male: Ages 20-24: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 20 to 24 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Female: Total, Female: Age 0, Female: Age 1, Female: Age 2, Female: Age 3, Female: Age 4, Female: Age 5, Female: Age 6, Female: Age 7, Female: Age 8, Female: Age 9, Female: Age 10, Female: Age 11, Female: Age 12, Female: Age 13, Female: Age 14, Female: Age 15, Female: Age 16, Female: Age 17, Female: Age 18, Female: Age 19, Female: Age 20, Female: Age 21, Female: Age 22, Female: Age 23, Female: Age 24, Female: Age 25, Female: Age 26, Female: Age 27, Female: Age 28, Female: Age 29, Female: Age 30, Female: Age 31, Female: Age 32, Female: Age 33, Female: Age 34, Female: Age 35, Female: Age 36, Female: Age 37, Female: Age 38, Female: Age 39, Female: Age 40, Female: Age 41, Female: Age 42, Female: Age 43, Female: Age 44, Female: Age 45, Female: Age 46, Female: Age 47, Female: Age 48, Female: Age 49, Female: Age 50, Female: Age 51, Female: Age 52, Female: Age 53, Female: Age 54, Female: Age 55, Female: Age 56, Female: Age 57, Female: Age 58, Female: Age 59, Female: Age 60, Female: Age 61, Female: Age 62, Female: Age 63, Female: Age 64, Female: Age 65, Female: Age 66, Female: Age 67, Female: Age 68, Female: Age 69, Female: Age 70, Female: Age 71, Female: Age 72, Female: Age 73, Female: Age 74, Female: Age 75, Female: Age 76, Female: Age 77, Female: Age 78, Female: Age 79, Female: Age 80 and over

The representation of women in Japanese higher education continues to grow, with female students comprising 44.6 percent of university enrollments in 2023. This marks a steady increase over the past decade, reflecting changing societal attitudes and educational opportunities for women in Japan. Study field preferences Female students enrolled at universities in Japan exhibit a strong interest in the social sciences, with the highest number of female undergraduates majoring in the subject in 2023. At the postgraduate level, the engineering field had the highest number of female students in the same year. When it comes to gender distribution, humanities, education, medicine, and art attracted a higher share of women than men in postgraduate studies. Employment prospects The rising female university enrollment is translating into positive career outcomes. In 2023, 81.2 percent of female university graduates in Japan entered employment after completing their studies. It is worth noting that this proportion was much lower among women with postgraduate degrees, with below 70 percent of those with master’s and doctoral diplomas securing employment after graduation.

PERIOD: 1920-1939. NOTE: (As of October 1st but as of September 1st in 1923)The population estimates were obtained as follows: (1) For 1921 to 1923, the population estimate is the sum of county- and city-level population estimates obtained by multiplying the de facto population in the Population Census conducted on October 1, 1920, with the average annual population growth rate by gender from 1908 to 1918. (2) For 1924, the difference between the population of Japan overall calculated using the population growth rate by sex in each city and summing up the results and the population overall calculated using the population growth rate by sex for Japan overall was proportionally subtracted from the population of each prefecture; moreover, the population decrease due to the Great Kanto Earthquake on September 1, 1923 was also taken into account. (3) For Taisho 1926 to 1929, the de facto population in the 1920 and 1925 Population Censuses is used to obtain the annual average geometric growth rate of Japan's population overall, which is then used to estimate the population. (4) For 1931 to 1934, the same procedure is employed using the de facto population in the 1920 and 1930 Population Censuses. (5) From 1926 onward, the population estimates are obtained by adding the increase in the difference between births and deaths up to each estimation year in the 1935 Population Census using the results of the Vital Statistics survey. SOURCE: [Survey by the Statistics Bureau, Imperial Cabinet].

In 2024, around 69.6 percent of the male population aged 15 years and older in Japan were employed, while 54.2 percent of the female population were in employment. Accordingly, the female employment rate reached a record high.

Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data was reported at 4.844 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.936 % for 2016. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.968 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.438 % in 1974 and a record low of 4.844 % in 2017. Japan JP: Population: Female: Ages 25-29: % of Female Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 25 to 29 as a percentage of the total female population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Around nine percent of Japanese consumers were subscribed to food-based subscription services, with young men in their twenties representing the largest subscriber group. According to a survey conducted in December 2024 in Japan, 15 percent of male respondents aged 20 to 29 years stated to either currently use or have used subscription services for food and beverages. Major services providing food-based subscriptions include meal kit deliveries. Others include regular deliveries of snack boxes and coffee.

Japan Sex Ratio: Internal Migrants data was reported at 113.700 % in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 125.100 % for Apr 2018. Japan Sex Ratio: Internal Migrants data is updated monthly, averaging 113.500 % from Jan 1998 (Median) to May 2018, with 245 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 131.100 % in Apr 2009 and a record low of 104.400 % in Nov 1999. Japan Sex Ratio: Internal Migrants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G007: Vital Statistics: Migration.

In 2024, the total labor force in Japan was composed of approximately 69.6 million people, among which around 38 million were men and close to 31.6 million were women. While the number of men in the workforce declined, the number of women in the labor force increased, resulting in an increase in the total labor force.

【リソース】Volume 1_6-1_Trends in infant deaths, infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births), sex ratio and proportion of infant deaths to total deaths:Japan / Volume 1_6-2_Trends in neonatal deaths, neonatal mortality rates (per 1,000 live births), sex ratio and proportion of neonatal deaths to infant deaths:Japan / Volume 1_6-3_Infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) and percent distribution by sex and age (days, weeks and months):Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_6-4_Trends in infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by sex and age (days, weeks and months):Japan / Volume 1_6-5_Trends in infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) by month:Japan / Volume 1_6-6_Live births, infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) by months of birth:Japan / Volume 1_6-7_Trends in infant deaths and percent distribution by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_6-8_Percent distribution of infant deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_6-9_Infant deaths, infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) and percent distribution by type of occupation of household:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_6-10_Trends in infant deaths by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_6-11_Trends in infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_6-12_Infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by age and proportion of neonatal deaths:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_6-13_Trends in infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by causes (the list of causes of infant death):Japan / Volume 1_6-14_Infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by age and causes (the list of causes of infant death):Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_6-15_Percent distribution of infant deaths by age and causes(the list of causes of infant death):Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_6-16_Trends in leading causes of neonatal and infant death:Japan / Volume 1_6-17_Infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by causes (the list of causes of infant death):Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_6-18_Infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by diseases, causes (the list of causes of infant death) and birth weight:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_6-19_Neonatal deaths and neonatal mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by diseases, causes (the list of causes of infant death) and birth weight:Japan, 2012 / Volume 2_1_Infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) by sex and month of occurrence:Japan, urban/rural residence, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_2_Infant deaths (under 1 year) by age and sex:Japan, urban/rural residence, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_3_Infant deaths (under 1 year) by age, sex and type of occupation of household:Japan / Volume 2_4_Infant deaths (under 1 year) by month of occurrence and date of birth:Japan / Volume 2_5_Infant deaths (under 1 year) from diseases, birth weight and mean birth weight by sex, plurality of birth and age of mother:Japan / Volume 2_6_Infant deaths (under 1 year) from diseases, birth weight and mean birth weight by sex, plurality of birth and birth order:Japan / Volume 2_7_Infant deaths (under 1 year) from diseases, birth weight and mean birth weight by sex and period of gestation:Japan / Volume 3_1_Infant deaths (under 1 year) by causes (the list of causes of infant death), sex and age:Japan / Volume 3_2_Infant deaths (under 1 year) and neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) by causes (the list of causes of infant death) and sex:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 3_3_Infant deaths (under 1 year) and neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) by causes (the list of causes of infant death), sex and month of occurrence:Japan / Volume 3_4_Infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) and early neonatal deaths (under 1 week) from diseases by causes (the list of causes of infant death), sex and birth weight:Japan / Volume 3_5_Infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) and early neonatal deaths (under 1 week) from diseases by causes (the list of causes of infant death), sex and period of gestation:Japan / Vital Statistics_Vital statistics of Japan_Final data_Infant mortality_Yearly_2012 / Volume 1_6-1_Trends in infant deaths, infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births), sex ratio and proportion of infant deaths to total deaths:Japan,Volume 1_6-2_Trends in neonatal deaths, neonatal mortality rates (per 1,000 live births), sex ratio and proportion of neonatal deaths to infant deaths:Japan,Volume 1_6-3_Infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) and percent distribution by sex and age (days, weeks and months):Japan, 2012,Volume 1_6-4_Trends in infant mortality rates (per 100,000 live births) by sex and age (days, weeks and months):Japan,Volume 1_6-5_Trends in infant deaths and infant mortality rates (per 1,000 live births) by month:Japan,Volume 1_6-6_

In 2023, there were close to 12.6 million people aged 15 years and older in Tokyo Prefecture, of which about 51 percent were women. The population aged 15 years and older in the prefecture decreased in 2021 for the first time in the last decade.

【リソース】Volume 1_5-1_Trends in deaths, death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex and sex ratio:Japan / / Volume 1_5-2_Trends in crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 1,000 population) by sex:Japan / Volume 1_5-3_International comparison of crude death rates and age-standardized death rates (per 100,000 population), 2008 / Volume 1_5-4_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 1,000 population) by month:Japan / Volume 1_5-5_Trends in deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-6_Trends in percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-7_Deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_5-8_Percent distribution of deaths by place of occurrence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_5-9_Trends in deaths by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-10_Trends in death rates (per 1,000 population) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 1_5-11_Trends in leading causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-12_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-13_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan / Volume 1_5-14_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-15_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-16_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by sex, age and causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-17_Leading causes of death by sex and age:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-18_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan) by month:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-19_Death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes (the condensed list of causes of death for Japan):Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_5-20_Leading causes of death:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities, 2012 / Volume 1_5-21_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex and place of occurrence:Japan / Volume 1_5-22_Deaths and percent distribution from leading causes of death by sex, age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-23_Deaths and percent distribution by causes (the selected list of causes of death for Japan) and type of occupation of household:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-24_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-25_Trends in death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex, age and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-26_Trends in age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from malignant neoplasms by sex and site:Japan / Volume 1_5-27_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from cerebrovascular diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-28_Trends in deaths, percent distribution, crude death rates and age-adjusted death rates (per 100,000 population) from heart diseases by sex and disease type:Japan / Volume 1_5-29_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) by causes(the list of infectious diseases):Japan / Volume 1_5-30_Trends in deaths and death rates (per 100,000 population) from accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-31_Deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-32_Percent distribution of deaths from accidents by age and external causes:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-33_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from transportation accidents by external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-34_Deaths and percent distribution from nontransportation accidents by age and place of occurrence:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-35_Deaths and percent distribution from accidents at home by age and external causes:Japan, 2012 / Volume 1_5-36_Trends in deaths and percent distribution from suicide by sex and external causes:Japan / Volume 1_5-37_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-38_Trends in late maternal deaths and late maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by causes of death:Japan / Volume 1_5-39_Trends in maternal deaths and maternal mortality rates (per 100,000 total births) by each prefecture:Japan / Volume 2_1_Deaths, infant deaths (under 1 year), neonatal deaths (under 4 weeks) and early neonatal deaths (under 1 week), by place of occurrence, for urban/rural residence:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_2_Deaths by sex and month of occurrence:Japan, urban/rural residence, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_3_Deaths by sex and age:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Japan, each prefecture and 21 major cities_(1) Total,0-64years / Volume 2_4_Deaths by sex and single years of age:Ja

Japan Sex Ratio: Annual: Inter Prefectural Migrants data was reported at 124.500 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 125.600 % for 2016. Japan Sex Ratio: Annual: Inter Prefectural Migrants data is updated yearly, averaging 129.200 % from Dec 1958 (Median) to 2017, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 141.500 % in 1991 and a record low of 118.900 % in 1959. Japan Sex Ratio: Annual: Inter Prefectural Migrants data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistical Bureau. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.G006: Vital Statistics: Migration.

Japan JP: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male data was reported at 72.482 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 71.449 % for 2016. Japan JP: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male data is updated yearly, averaging 64.277 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 72.482 % in 2017 and a record low of 56.143 % in 1975. Japan JP: Labour Force Participation Rate: National Estimate: Ratio of Female to Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate is calculated by dividing female labor force participation rate by male labor force participation rate and multiplying by 100.; ; Derived using data from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; The series for ILO estimates is also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.