Share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan
Japan: Share of population living in extreme poverty was 1.0% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan, 1820–2018
Source: Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2018, share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan stood at 1.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan peaked at 98.0% in 1850 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1980.
That places Japan 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 95.0% | — |
| 1830 | 96.0% | +1.1% |
| 1840 | 97.0% | +1.0% |
| 1850 | 98.0% | +1.0% |
| 1860 | 97.0% | -1.0% |
| 1870 | 97.0% | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 96.0% | -1.0% |
| 1890 | 97.0% | +1.0% |
| 1900 | 92.0% | -5.2% |
| 1910 | 90.0% | -2.2% |
| 1920 | 83.0% | -7.8% |
| 1930 | 80.0% | -3.6% |
| 1940 | 64.0% | -20.0% |
| 1950 | 73.0% | +14.1% |
| 1960 | 23.0% | -68.5% |
| 1970 | 2.0% | -91.3% |
| 1980 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 0.0% | — |
| 2010 | 1.0% | — |
| 2018 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 95.0% | 95.0% | 95.0% | 1 |
| 1830s | 96.0% | 96.0% | 96.0% | 1 |
| 1840s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1850s | 98.0% | 98.0% | 98.0% | 1 |
| 1860s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1870s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1880s | 96.0% | 96.0% | 96.0% | 1 |
| 1890s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 92.0% | 92.0% | 92.0% | 1 |
| 1910s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 1 |
| 1920s | 83.0% | 83.0% | 83.0% | 1 |
| 1930s | 80.0% | 80.0% | 80.0% | 1 |
| 1940s | 64.0% | 64.0% | 64.0% | 1 |
| 1950s | 73.0% | 73.0% | 73.0% | 1 |
| 1960s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
| 1970s | 2.0% | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1 |
| 1980s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 14 Canada 1.0% compare
- 14 Sweden 1.0% compare
- 14 Thailand 1.0% compare
- 14 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.0% compare
- 14 United States of America 1.0% compare
More poverty & inequality data for Japan
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via the World Bank 5 surveys (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per person (2025)
- Number of income/consumption surveys in the past decade available via 0 surveys per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fertility rate vs. share living in extreme poverty 1.21 live births per woman (2023)
- Cereal yield vs. share in extreme poverty 6,245 kg per hectare (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Cereal yield vs extreme poverty, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2023)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, gaps filled 34.86 (2022)
- Tax revenue as share of GDP vs. income inequality 34.9% (2022)
- Tax revenues vs income inequality, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan?
- Share of population living in extreme poverty in Japan was 1.0% in 2018, according to Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 98.0% in 1850.
- What is the lowest share of population living in extreme poverty recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1980.
- How does Japan rank for share of population living in extreme poverty?
- Japan ranks 14th out of 25 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of population living in extreme poverty rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from Michalis Moatsos (2021) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in extreme poverty. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population unable to meet basic needs (including minimal nutrition and adequately heated shelter) according to prices of locally-available goods and services at the time..