The statistic shows the distribution of the workforce across economic sectors in Japan from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, 3.1 percent of the workforce was employed in agriculture, 23.55 percent in industry and 73.35 percent in services. Employment and standard of living in Japan Japan’s economy is one of the strongest in the world, and the country’s standard of living is eminently high. Japan ranks third among the countries with the largest gross domestic product / GDP worldwide; a look at the distribution of gross domestic product / GDP across economic sectors in Japan shows that the vast majority of Japan’s GDP is generated by the services sector. The majority of Japan’s workforce is employed in this sector, with less than a third working in industry and only a little more than 1 percent working in agriculture. Similarly to its gross domestic product, the unemployment rate in Japan has been quite steady for the past few years, and even decreased slightly. The inflation rate in Japan, on the other hand, has been fluctuating in recent years, and is currently one of the lowest worldwide. Japan is famous for a high life expectancy, and the median age (i.e. one half of the population is younger and the other half is older) of the Japanese population is thus also among the highest in the world, as can be seen in a comparison of the median age of the population of selected countries. The median age in Japan is significantly higher than in other developed countries, like France or the United States.

In 2023, the manufacturing industry in Japan contributed 121.8 trillion Japanese yen to the real gross domestic product (GDP), representing by far the most value-adding industry. Following the three-sector model, the tertiary sector (services) accounted for around 70 percent of the national GDP.

This statistic shows the distribution of the gross domestic product (GDP) across economic sectors in Japan from 2012 to 2022. In 2022, agriculture contributed around 1.02 percent to Japan's GDP, 26.92 percent came from the industry and 71.39 percent from the service sector. For further information, see Japan's GDP.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Japan stagnated 0 percent in the first quarter of 2025 over the previous quarter. This dataset provides - Japan GDP Growth Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Hourly Earnings: Earnings: Economic Activity: Manufacturing: Total Economy for Japan (LCEAMN01JPA661N) from 1955 to 2024 about compensation, Japan, earnings, hours, and manufacturing.

Japan Economy Watchers: DI: CEC: Corporate: Non Manufacturing data was reported at 49.100 NA in Oct 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 51.700 NA for Sep 2018. Japan Economy Watchers: DI: CEC: Corporate: Non Manufacturing data is updated monthly, averaging 47.600 NA from Oct 2000 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 217 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 60.500 NA in Dec 2013 and a record low of 12.600 NA in Dec 2008. Japan Economy Watchers: DI: CEC: Corporate: Non Manufacturing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Cabinet Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.S067: Economy Watchers Survey.

Japan Services Ind Survey: Advertising Ind: Sales: Major 4 Type: Magazine data was reported at 8.460 JPY bn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.327 JPY bn for Aug 2018. Japan Services Ind Survey: Advertising Ind: Sales: Major 4 Type: Magazine data is updated monthly, averaging 16.915 JPY bn from Jan 1988 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 369 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 28.903 JPY bn in Mar 2000 and a record low of 3.902 JPY bn in Jan 2018. Japan Services Ind Survey: Advertising Ind: Sales: Major 4 Type: Magazine data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.S063: Survey of Selected Services Industries.

Japan GA: Exp: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry data was reported at 993.174 JPY bn in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,247.357 JPY bn for 2018. Japan GA: Exp: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry data is updated yearly, averaging 1,136.763 JPY bn from Mar 2001 (Median) to 2019, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,983.962 JPY bn in 2012 and a record low of 799.132 JPY bn in 2007. Japan GA: Exp: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.F004: Government Finance: General Account: Expenditure: By Agency.

This horizontal bar chart displays companies by industry using the aggregation count in Japan. The data is about companies.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Japan was worth 4204.49 billion US dollars in 2023, according to official data from the World Bank. The GDP value of Japan represents 3.99 percent of the world economy. This dataset provides - Japan GDP - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data was reported at 5.400 % in Mar 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.900 % for Dec 2018. Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.900 % from Jun 2004 (Median) to Mar 2019, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.500 % in Sep 2009 and a record low of -66.000 % in Mar 2009. Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Economic and Social Research Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.S057: Business Outlook Survey: Business Survey Index.

Graph and download economic data for Market Capitalization Outside of Top 10 Largest Companies to Total Market Capitalization for Japan (DDAM02JPA156NWDB) from 1998 to 2020 about market cap, companies, stock market, and Japan.

Key information about Japan Industrial Production Index Growth

• Japan Industrial production rose 2.6 % YoY in Jan 2025, following a drop of 3.2 % YoY in the previous month.
• Japan Industrial production index growth rate YoY data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1954 to Jan 2025, with an average rate of 3.4 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 30.2 % in Feb 1960 and a record low of -34.7 % in Feb 2009.

CEIC calculates Industrial Production Index Growth from monthly Industrial Production Index. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry provides Industrial Production Index with base 2020=100. Industrial Production Index covers Manufacturing and Mining sectors only. Industrial Production Index Growth prior to January 1979 is calculated from Industrial Production Index with base 2010=100 sourced from the International Monetary Fund.

Japan Large Scale Wholesale Stores: Sales: ME: Industrial Machinery data was reported at 744.100 JPY bn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 670.800 JPY bn for Aug 2018. Japan Large Scale Wholesale Stores: Sales: ME: Industrial Machinery data is updated monthly, averaging 625.500 JPY bn from Jul 1985 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 399 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,834.100 JPY bn in Mar 1991 and a record low of 295.900 JPY bn in May 2002. Japan Large Scale Wholesale Stores: Sales: ME: Industrial Machinery data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.H004: Large Scale Wholesale Stores: Sales and Commodity Stock Value.

Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Non Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data was reported at 6.000 % in Mar 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.500 % for Dec 2018. Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Non Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data is updated quarterly, averaging 2.000 % from Jun 2004 (Median) to Mar 2019, with 60 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.800 % in Mar 2014 and a record low of -42.600 % in Mar 2009. Japan BSI: Economic Conditions: Non Manufacturing: Large Enterprises (LE) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Economic and Social Research Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.S056: Business Outlook Survey: Business Survey Index.

In 2023, the real value added of the transport equipment industry in Japan amounted to around 19 trillion Japanese yen. Transport equipment was the largest contributing industry to the real GDP of the manufacturing sector in Japan, followed by the general-purpose and production and business oriented machinery industry.

In 2022, over 222.7 thousand establishments were operating in the Japanese manufacturing industry, with fabricated metal product manufacturers accounting for the largest share of businesses. Moreover, fabricated metal product manufacturers employed over 610 thousand people, representing the industry with the fourth-largest number of employees among the manufacturing industries in Japan.

In fiscal year 2022, Toyota topped the list of Japanese companies with a sales revenue of approximately 37.15 trillion Japanese yen. Mitsubishi ranked second with about 21.6 trillion yen worth of sales during the measured time period.

Claims on other sectors of the domestic economy (annual growth as % of broad money) in Japan was reported at 2.8363 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Claims on other sectors of the domestic economy (annual growth as % of broad money) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In fiscal year 2022, Asahi Group Holdings was the leading processed food manufacturer listed on the Tokyo Stock Price Index in Japan, with sales exceeding 2.5 trillion Japanese yen. The top three food processors were major beer brewers within the Japanese alcoholic beverages market.

The role of alcoholic beverages in manufacturing

Even though it is not the largest industry within food manufacturing, alcoholic beverage manufacturing is the root of large food processors that started as brewers and distillers. Sake, made from fermented rice, is an iconic beverage as the national liquor of Japan. However, beer and liqueurs have usurped the position as the most produced alcoholic beverage, and enjoy high popularity among Japanese consumers for casual drinking. Asahi Group was a driver for the popularity of beer in Japan, especially dry beers, which remains their core business segment to date.

Food manufacturing in Japan

Japan is home to a 90-trillion-yen food industry that contributes over 40 trillion yen of value added to the gross domestic product. Food manufacturing makes up around one-third of the industry, carried by secondary and tertiary processing. The industry plays an important role in the economy of Hokkaido Prefecture, where the largest food manufacturing industry in Japan is located. As a key producing region for agricultural products and marine fishery, Hokkaido supplies the country with major manufactured foods like frozen seafood and meat, as well as dairy products.