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Japan vs Australia Unemployment
Australia has posted the higher Unemployment in every published year. In 1991 Japan stood at roughly 21% of Australia’s Unemployment; today the figure is about 60%, and the pair was closest in 2010 (98%).
| Year | Japan | Australia | Australia as % of Japan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 9.59% | 2.06% | 21% |
| 1970 | 9.59% | 2.06% | 21% |
| 1980 | 9.59% | 2.06% | 21% |
| 1990 | 9.59% | 2.06% | 21% |
| 2000 | 6.29% | 4.75% | 76% |
| 2010 | 5.21% | 5.1% | 98% |
| 2020 | 6.39% | 2.81% | 44% |
| 2025 | 4.09% | 2.45% | 60% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Australia move above Japan in Unemployment?
It has not come to that. Australia has posted the higher Unemployment in every published year (1991–2025).
How do Japan and Australia compare today?
Australia is ahead: 4.09% against 2.45% — the trailing economy stands at about 60% of the leader.
Are these Unemployment figures nominal or adjusted?
The series is a share expressed in % of total labor force, exactly as the World Bank publishes it; movements are percentage points, not percent.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: