Back المرأة في اليابان Arabic জাপানৰ নাৰী Assamese Frauen in Japan German Mujeres en Japón Spanish زنان در ژاپن Persian Condition des femmes au Japon French Nők Japánban Hungarian Wanita di Jepang ID Condizione della donna in Giappone Italian 日本の女性史 Japanese
 A photograph of Japanese women from the book "Japan And Japanese" (1902) | |
| General Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 5 (2010) |
| Women in parliament | 10.2% (2018)[1] |
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 80.0% (2010) |
| Women in labour force | 64.6% employment rate (2015)[2] |
| Gender Inequality Index[3] | |
| Value | 0.083 (2021) |
| Rank | 22nd out of 191 |
| Global Gender Gap Index[4] | |
| Value | 0.66 (2024) |
| Rank | 118th out of 146 |
| Part of a series on |
| Women in society |
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Women in Japan were recognized as having equal legal rights to men after World War II. Japanese women first gained the right to vote in 1880, but this was a temporary event limited to certain municipalities,[5][6] and it was not until 1945 that women gained the right to vote on a permanent, nationwide basis.[7]
Modern policy initiatives in Japan have aimed to promote both motherhood and women's participation in the workforce, but these efforts have yielded mixed results.[8] Traditional gender expectations, especially for married women and mothers, still shape societal norms and create barriers to economic equality. While the gender income gap has gradually narrowed, it persists, with women earning less than men, particularly in leadership and high-paying roles.[9][10][11] Factors such as occupational segregation, the concentration of women in part-time or non-regular jobs, and limited career advancement contribute to this gap.[12][13][14]
In 2020, the high school enrollment rate of Japanese women will be 95%, the same as that of Japanese men, and the combined enrollment rate for universities, colleges, and junior colleges will be 58%, 1% higher than that of men.[15] Despite higher educational attainment, societal expectations around caregiving still impact women's career progression and work-life balance. As a result, while academic progress is evident, significant gender inequality remains in various aspects of Japanese society.[16]
The life expectancy of Japanese women is 87.14 years, the longest among women in any country, 6 years longer than that of Japanese men, 81.09 years.[17]
In 2023, Japan ranked 23rd out of 177 countries on the Women, Peace and Security Index, which is based on 13 indicators of inclusion, justice, and security.[18] In 2024, Japan ranked 22nd out of 193 countries on the Gender Inequality Index, which measures equality between men and women in sexual and reproductive health, empowerment and economic participation. On the other hand, Japan ranked a low 118th out of 146 countries on the Global Gender Gap Index.[19] Japan was judged to have a small gender gap in education and health, but a large gap in political and economic participation, resulting in a lower ranking.[20]
- ^ "Women in Parliaments: World Classification". www.ipu.org.
- ^ OECD. "LFS by sex and age - indicators". Stats.oecd.org. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
- ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORTS. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- ^ "Global Gender Gap Report 2024" (PDF). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
naj261124was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
asahi101020was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Birth of the Constitution of Japan - Chronological Table". National Diet Library, Japan. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Borovoywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Asao, Kohei; Khera, Purva; Vasishth, Mahima (2024-07-01). "Why Such Few Women in Leadership Positions in Japan?: Japan". Selected Issues Papers. 2024 (024). doi:10.5089/9798400281655.018.A001.
- ^ "Unleashed Potential: The State of Women in Tech in Japan in 2023 - Women in Tech Sales". 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ "Significant gender pay gap persists among Japan-listed corporations, with women earning 70% of what men earn". WTW. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nytimes-soblewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
Noharawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
geb020125was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 第1節 教育をめぐる状況 (in Japanese). Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office. Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ Canada, Asia Pacific Foundation of. ""Womenomics" in Japan". Asia Pacific Curriculum. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
- ^ 日本人の平均寿命、3年ぶりに延びる 世界で女性は1位キープも、男性は5位に下がる (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 26 July 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Country Profile Japan". Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. Archived from the original on 4 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
- ^ "Japan moves up to 118th in the world for gender equality".
- ^ 男女共同参画に関する国際的な指数 (in Japanese). Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office. 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.