GITNUXREPORT 2025

Japan Education Statistics

Japan's education boasts near-universal literacy, high graduation, and strong global rankings.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The percentage of Japanese children attending preschool is around 65%

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The rate of gender parity in Japanese higher education is close to 1:1

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65% of Japanese children attend preschool education by age 3

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The participation rate of women in the Japanese workforce with higher education degrees is approximately 55%

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Japan's literacy rate is approximately 99%

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The gross enrollment ratio at the tertiary level in Japan was around 72.2% in 2020

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Over 90% of Japanese students graduate from high school

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Japan has one of the highest rates of university enrollment among OECD countries

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There are approximately 776 universities and colleges in Japan

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The number of students enrolled in Japanese universities was about 2.9 million in 2020

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Japanese students spend an average of 10.9 years in formal education

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About 88% of Japanese adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education

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The student-teacher ratio in Japanese elementary schools is roughly 14:1

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99.9% of children attend primary school in Japan

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Japan's university graduation rate is approximately 82%

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The employment rate for recent Japanese university graduates is roughly 95%

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Over 70% of Japanese high school students attend cram schools ('juku')

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The dropout rate at Japanese high schools is approximately 1.4%

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Japan has a high percentage of STEM graduates, with about 35% of graduates in sciences and engineering

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The literacy rate among young Japanese adults is nearly 100%

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The number of vocational school students in Japan is about 1.2 million

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Japanese children start preschool education at age 3, with about 65% enrolled in some form of early childhood education

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About 75% of Japanese students participate in some form of after-school activities or clubs

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Educational attainment levels in Japan show that approximately 92% of adults have completed high school or higher

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Japanese high school students spend an average of 8 hours per week on homework

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The dropout rate in Japanese universities is about 3%

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The student participation ratio in Japanese university research activities is approximately 60%

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Japan’s high school graduation rate exceeds 99%

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The percentage of Japanese students participating in physical education classes is nearly 90%

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The mean age for first-time university entrants in Japan is about 18 years old

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Education in Japan emphasizes moral education, with approximately 95% of schools incorporating it into their curriculum

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Nearly 80% of Japanese high school students participate in club activities

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Japan has a literacy rate of 99% among its adult population

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The oldest university in Japan, Todai (University of Tokyo), was established in 1877

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The literacy rate among Japanese adults aged 15–24 approaches 100%

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The number of Japanese students enrolled in English language courses in high school exceeds 2 million annually

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Japan's high school graduation rate in 2020 was approximately 99.1%

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The percentage of Japanese students pursuing education in science and engineering has increased by 10% over the last decade

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About 58% of Japanese children attend after-school homework classes regularly

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Japan has a long history of education, with the earliest known schools dating back to the 6th century

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Kindergarten attendance in Japan exceeds 80%

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Japan spends about 3.8% of its GDP on education

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Japan’s education expenditure per student at the primary level was about $6,500 in 2018

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The average monthly tuition fee for public universities in Japan is about ¥535,800 (~$4,900)

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Japan's public expenditure on education per capita is approximately $1,200

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The Japanese government allocates around 12% of its educational budget to special needs education

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The proportion of Japanese students receiving scholarships for higher education is approximately 20%

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The average annual research and development expenditure in Japan is about 3.5% of GDP

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The average class size in Japanese elementary schools is about 24 students

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55% of Japanese university students are women

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The number of international students in Japan reached approximately 270,000 in 2020

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Approximately 20% of Japanese university students study abroad during their education

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Japan’s teacher workforce is approximately 1.2 million, with a teacher-student ratio of about 1:12 in elementary schools

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The number of international universities operating in Japan is over 40

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The average score of Japanese students on PISA science tests was around 531 points, above the OECD average

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Japan ranked 6th in the 2021 PISA science assessment among OECD countries

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Japan's National Institute for Educational Policy Research conducts annual assessments to improve educational standards

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Japan's adult functional literacy rate is near 100%

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Key Highlights

Japan's literacy rate is approximately 99%
The gross enrollment ratio at the tertiary level in Japan was around 72.2% in 2020
Japan spends about 3.8% of its GDP on education
The average class size in Japanese elementary schools is about 24 students
Over 90% of Japanese students graduate from high school
Japan has one of the highest rates of university enrollment among OECD countries
There are approximately 776 universities and colleges in Japan
The number of students enrolled in Japanese universities was about 2.9 million in 2020
Japanese students spend an average of 10.9 years in formal education
About 88% of Japanese adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education
The student-teacher ratio in Japanese elementary schools is roughly 14:1
Japan’s education expenditure per student at the primary level was about $6,500 in 2018
99.9% of children attend primary school in Japan

Discover why Japan’s education system is renowned worldwide, boasting a near-perfect literacy rate, exceptional high school graduation rates exceeding 99%, and one of the highest university enrollment figures among OECD countries—all supported by strategic investments, comprehensive academic participation, and a deep-rooted dedication to educational excellence.

Early Childhood and Gender Equity

The percentage of Japanese children attending preschool is around 65%
The rate of gender parity in Japanese higher education is close to 1:1
65% of Japanese children attend preschool education by age 3
The participation rate of women in the Japanese workforce with higher education degrees is approximately 55%

Early Childhood and Gender Equity Interpretation

Despite a relatively high preschool attendance and gender-parity in higher education, Japan's workforce still sees only about half of its highly-educated women entering the labor market, highlighting a nuanced challenge in translating educational equality into economic participation.

Education Attainment and Enrollment

Japan's literacy rate is approximately 99%
The gross enrollment ratio at the tertiary level in Japan was around 72.2% in 2020
Over 90% of Japanese students graduate from high school
Japan has one of the highest rates of university enrollment among OECD countries
There are approximately 776 universities and colleges in Japan
The number of students enrolled in Japanese universities was about 2.9 million in 2020
Japanese students spend an average of 10.9 years in formal education
About 88% of Japanese adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education
The student-teacher ratio in Japanese elementary schools is roughly 14:1
99.9% of children attend primary school in Japan
Japan's university graduation rate is approximately 82%
The employment rate for recent Japanese university graduates is roughly 95%
Over 70% of Japanese high school students attend cram schools ('juku')
The dropout rate at Japanese high schools is approximately 1.4%
Japan has a high percentage of STEM graduates, with about 35% of graduates in sciences and engineering
The literacy rate among young Japanese adults is nearly 100%
The number of vocational school students in Japan is about 1.2 million
Japanese children start preschool education at age 3, with about 65% enrolled in some form of early childhood education
About 75% of Japanese students participate in some form of after-school activities or clubs
Educational attainment levels in Japan show that approximately 92% of adults have completed high school or higher
Japanese high school students spend an average of 8 hours per week on homework
The dropout rate in Japanese universities is about 3%
The student participation ratio in Japanese university research activities is approximately 60%
Japan’s high school graduation rate exceeds 99%
The percentage of Japanese students participating in physical education classes is nearly 90%
The mean age for first-time university entrants in Japan is about 18 years old
Education in Japan emphasizes moral education, with approximately 95% of schools incorporating it into their curriculum
Nearly 80% of Japanese high school students participate in club activities
Japan has a literacy rate of 99% among its adult population
The oldest university in Japan, Todai (University of Tokyo), was established in 1877
The literacy rate among Japanese adults aged 15–24 approaches 100%
The number of Japanese students enrolled in English language courses in high school exceeds 2 million annually
Japan's high school graduation rate in 2020 was approximately 99.1%
The percentage of Japanese students pursuing education in science and engineering has increased by 10% over the last decade
About 58% of Japanese children attend after-school homework classes regularly
Japan has a long history of education, with the earliest known schools dating back to the 6th century
Kindergarten attendance in Japan exceeds 80%

Education Attainment and Enrollment Interpretation

With a literacy rate nearing 99% and over 90% of high school students graduating—bolstered by a robust network of nearly 800 universities producing a highly educated workforce—Japan's commitment to education is as meticulous and disciplined as its culture, proving that with such dedication, proficiency isn't just a goal but an almost guaranteed passport to national success.

Educational Expenditure and Funding

Japan spends about 3.8% of its GDP on education
Japan’s education expenditure per student at the primary level was about $6,500 in 2018
The average monthly tuition fee for public universities in Japan is about ¥535,800 (~$4,900)
Japan's public expenditure on education per capita is approximately $1,200
The Japanese government allocates around 12% of its educational budget to special needs education
The proportion of Japanese students receiving scholarships for higher education is approximately 20%
The average annual research and development expenditure in Japan is about 3.5% of GDP

Educational Expenditure and Funding Interpretation

With Japan investing a modest 3.8% of its GDP into education—encompassing hefty tuition fees, dedicated funding for special needs, and noticeable R&D commitments—it's clear the nation values intellectual excellence, even if balancing budgets remains an ongoing challenge.

Internationalization and Demographics

The average class size in Japanese elementary schools is about 24 students
55% of Japanese university students are women
The number of international students in Japan reached approximately 270,000 in 2020
Approximately 20% of Japanese university students study abroad during their education
Japan’s teacher workforce is approximately 1.2 million, with a teacher-student ratio of about 1:12 in elementary schools
The number of international universities operating in Japan is over 40

Internationalization and Demographics Interpretation

Japan’s diverse and evolving education landscape—featuring a compact classroom size of 24, a majority of female university students, a vibrant international student community approaching 270,000, and a sizable global presence with over 40 international universities—underscores its commitment to fostering inclusive, globally-minded learning environments while maintaining efficient student-teacher ratios.

Quality and Performance Metrics

The average score of Japanese students on PISA science tests was around 531 points, above the OECD average
Japan ranked 6th in the 2021 PISA science assessment among OECD countries
Japan's National Institute for Educational Policy Research conducts annual assessments to improve educational standards
Japan's adult functional literacy rate is near 100%

Quality and Performance Metrics Interpretation

With Japan's students excelling in PISA science tests and achieving near-universal adult literacy, the nation demonstrates that a culture of relentless educational pursuit and continuous improvement remains its most potent recipe for global scientific prowess—though perhaps it's time to ensure that curiosity is not just deep but also broad.