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

Japan JP: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data was reported at 1.056 Ratio in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.056 Ratio for 2015. Japan JP: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data is updated yearly, averaging 1.056 Ratio from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2016, with 20 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.056 Ratio in 2016 and a record low of 1.056 Ratio in 2016. Japan JP: Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births 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. Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births. The data are 5 year averages.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2023, the total population in Japan slightly decreased to just below *** million people compared to the previous year, with the female population reaching around **** million, as compared to **** million men. The oldest population in the world  Japanese society is facing severe demographic problems such as decreasing birthrates, remaining under *** million births annually recently, and a thereby aging population. The country’s average age lies at around ** years, making its population the oldest in the world. Elderly people aged 65 years and older accounted for about ** percent of the population in 2023. According to a forecast, this age group would make up approximately ** 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 ***** million Japanese require long-term care, leading to national benefit expenses of over ** trillion yen annually, including in-home and community-based services.

Graph and download economic data for Ratio of Female to Male Secondary School Enrollment for Japan (SEENRSECOFMZSJPN) from 1971 to 2019 about enrolled, secondary schooling, secondary, ratio, females, males, Japan, and education.

Population, female (% of total population) in Japan was reported at 51.22 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Population, female (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data was reported at 12.256 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 12.304 % for 2016. JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 data is updated yearly, averaging 18.671 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.143 % in 1960 and a record low of 12.256 % in 2017. JP: Population: as % of Total: Female: Aged 0-14 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 0 to 14 as a percentage of the total female population. Population is based on the de facto definition of population.; ; 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.

School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in Japan was reported at 1.0025 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Ratio of female to male primary enrollment - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Collective data of Japan's birth-related statistics from 1899 to 2022. Some data are missing between the years 1944 and 1946 due to records lost during World War II.

For use case and analysis reference, please take a look at this notebook Japan Birth Demographics Analysis

Feature Descriptions

• year: The year.
• birth_total: The total number of births.
• birth_male: The total number of male births.
• birth_female: The total number of female births.
• birth_rate: The birth rate. Equation is birth_total / population_total * 1,000
• birth_gender_ratio: The birth gender ratio. Equation is birth_male / birth_female * 1,000
• total_fertility_rate: The average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime.
• population_total: The total population.
• population_male: The total male population.
• population_female: The total female population.
• infant_death_total: The total infant deaths.
• infant_death_male: The total male infant deaths.
• infant_death_female: The total female infant deaths.
• infant_death_unknown_gender: The total unknown gender infant deaths.
• infant_death_rate: The infant death rate. Equation is infant_death_total / birth_total * 1,000
• infant_death_gender_ratio: The infant death gender ratio. Equation is infant_death_male / infant_death_female * 1,000
• infant_deaths_in_total_deaths: The infant death ratio among other deaths.
• stillbirth_total: The total number of stillbirths (dead born).
• stillbirth_male: The total number of male stillbirths.
• stillbirth_female: The total number of female stillbirths.
• stillbirth_unknown_gender: The total number of unknown gender stillbirths.
• stillbirth_rate: The stillbirth rate. Equation is stillbirth_total / (birth_total + stillbirth_total) * 1,000
• stillbirth_gender_ratio: The stillbirth gender ratio. Equation is stillbirth_male / stillbirth_female * 1,000
• firstborn: The number of firstborns.
• secondborn: The number of secondborns.
• thirdborn: The number of thirdborns.
• forthborn: The number of forthborns.
• fifthborn_and_above: The number of fifthborns and above.
• weeks_under_28: The number of births occurred under week 28. Early terms.
• weeks_28-31: The number of births occurred between weeks 28 and 31. Early terms.
• weeks_32-36: The number of births occurred between weeks 32 and 36. Early terms.
• weeks_37-41: The number of births occurred between weeks 37 and 41. Full terms.
• weeks_over_42: The number of births occurred over week 42. Late terms.
• mother_age_avg: The mother's average age.
• mother_age_firstborn: The mother's average age of the firstborn.
• mother_age_secondborn: The mother's average age of the secondborn.
• mother_age_thirdborn: The mother's average age of the thirdborn.
• mother_age_under_19: The number of births by mothers under age 19.
• mother_age_20-24: The number of births by mothers between age 20 and 24.
• mother_age_25-29: The number of births by mothers between age 25 and 29.
• mother_age_30-34: The number of births by mothers between age 30 and 34.
• mother_age_35-39: The number of births by mothers between age 35 and 39.
• mother_age_40-44: The number of births by mothers between age 40 and 44.
• mother_age_over_45: The number of births by mothers over 45.
• father_age_avg: The father's average age.
• father_age_firstborn: The father's average age of the firstborn.
• father_age_secondborn: The father's average age of the secondborn.
• father_age_thirdborn: The father's average age of the thirdborn.
• legitimate_child: The Number of births under married parents.
• illegitimate_child: The number of births under non-married parents.

Acknowledgement

E-Stat Demographic Survey

Japan: Ratio of female to male students in secondary school: The latest value from 2019 is 1 percent, unchanged from 1 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 1.00 percent, based on data from 119 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1971 to 2019 is 1.02 percent. The minimum value, 1 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 1.02 percent was recorded in 1972.

In 2024, around **** percent of Japanese overseas travelers were women, while about **** percent were men. This was the first time in the past decade that the number of women traveling abroad was higher than that of men.

Actual value and historical data chart for Japan Sex Ratio At Birth Male Births Per Female Births

Japan: Ratio of female to male students in tertiary level education: The latest value from 2022 is 0.97 percent, unchanged from 0.97 percent in 2021. In comparison, the world average is 1.21 percent, based on data from 117 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1971 to 2022 is 0.68 percent. The minimum value, 0.4 percent, was reached in 1971 while the maximum of 0.98 percent was recorded in 2019.

Actual value and historical data chart for Japan Ratio Of Female To Male Labor Participation Rate Percent

As of February 2025, around ** percent of registered members of the All Japan Judo Federation were male. Gender discrepancies in terms of the number of active sports participants is common in martial arts disciplines.

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: Ratio of female to male pupils in primary school: The latest value from 2019 is 1 percent, unchanged from 1 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 0.99 percent, based on data from 148 countries. Historically, the average for Japan from 1971 to 2019 is 1 percent. The minimum value, 1 percent, was reached in 1974 while the maximum of 1.01 percent was recorded in 1971.

The representation of women in Japanese higher education continues to grow, with female students comprising **** percent of university enrollments in 2024. 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 ***************, with the highest number of female undergraduates majoring in the subject in 2024. At the postgraduate level, the *********** field had the highest number of female students in the same year. When it comes to gender distribution, ******************************************among others, 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 2024, over 80 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 ** percent of those with master’s and doctoral diplomas securing employment after graduation.

According to a survey conducted in 2020, the most popular matchmaking app among both men and women in Japan was Pairs, with almost ** percent of male and close to ** percent of female respondents having used that app. Tinder, the only non-domestic app in the ranking, was primarily used by men in Japan.

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

Japan Sex Ratio: Intra Prefectural Migrants data was reported at 103.300 % in May 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 114.400 % for Apr 2018. Japan Sex Ratio: Intra Prefectural Migrants data is updated monthly, averaging 103.300 % from Jan 1998 (Median) to May 2018, with 245 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 118.500 % in Apr 2009 and a record low of 94.700 % in Nov 1999. Japan Sex Ratio: Intra 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.G007: Vital Statistics: Migration.