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.

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

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.

Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) in Japan was reported at 1.051 in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Sex ratio at birth (male births per female births) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October 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.

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.

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.

School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) in Japan was reported at 1.0042 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Ratio of female to male secondary enrollment - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

JP: Population: Female: Ages 80 and Above: % of Female Population data was reported at 10.238 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.966 % for 2016. JP: Population: Female: Ages 80 and Above: % of Female Population data is updated yearly, averaging 2.674 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.238 % in 2017 and a record low of 0.906 % in 1960. JP: Population: Female: Ages 80 and Above: % 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: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 80 and above 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.; ;

Graph and download economic data for Ratio of Female to Male Tertiary School Enrollment for Japan (SEENRTERTFMZSJPN) from 1971 to 2022 about enrolled, ratio, tertiary schooling, 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 September of 2025.

In 2024, the total labor force in Japan was composed of approximately **** million people, among which around ** million were men and close to **** 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.

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.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (national estimate) in Japan was reported at 76.75 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (national estimate) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

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.

Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) (modeled ILO estimate) in Japan was reported at 77.24 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Japan - Ratio of female to male labor participation rate - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

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.

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.