Key features of human rights in Japan
Japan: Key features of human rights was 0.925 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Key features of human rights in Japan, 1789–2025
Source: V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for key features of human rights in Japan is 0.925, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, key features of human rights in Japan peaked at 0.943 in 2009 and was at its lowest, 0.09, in 1789.
That places Japan 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Key features of human rights in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1789 | 0.09 | — |
| 1790 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1812 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1813 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1814 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1815 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1816 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1817 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1818 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1819 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1820 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1821 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1822 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1823 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1824 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1825 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1826 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1827 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1828 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1829 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1830 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1831 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 0.09 | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 0.099 | +10.0% |
| 1851 | 0.099 | +0.0% |
| 1852 | 0.099 | +0.0% |
| 1853 | 0.099 | +0.0% |
| 1854 | 0.102 | +3.0% |
| 1855 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1856 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1857 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1858 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1859 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1860 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1861 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1862 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1863 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1864 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1865 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1866 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1867 | 0.102 | +0.0% |
| 1868 | 0.106 | +3.9% |
| 1869 | 0.284 | +167.9% |
| 1870 | 0.459 | +61.6% |
| 1871 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1872 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1873 | 0.459 | +0.0% |
| 1874 | 0.501 | +9.2% |
| 1875 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1876 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1877 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1878 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1879 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1881 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1882 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1883 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1884 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1886 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1887 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1888 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1889 | 0.501 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.528 | +5.4% |
| 1891 | 0.528 | +0.0% |
| 1892 | 0.538 | +1.9% |
| 1893 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1894 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1896 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1897 | 0.538 | +0.0% |
| 1898 | 0.564 | +4.8% |
| 1899 | 0.56 | -0.7% |
| 1900 | 0.575 | +2.7% |
| 1901 | 0.577 | +0.3% |
| 1902 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1903 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1904 | 0.573 | -0.7% |
| 1905 | 0.573 | +0.0% |
| 1906 | 0.578 | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 0.578 | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 0.578 | +0.0% |
| 1909 | 0.569 | -1.6% |
| 1910 | 0.565 | -0.7% |
| 1911 | 0.577 | +2.1% |
| 1912 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1914 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1916 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1917 | 0.577 | +0.0% |
| 1918 | 0.578 | +0.2% |
| 1919 | 0.578 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.587 | +1.6% |
| 1921 | 0.584 | -0.5% |
| 1922 | 0.584 | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 0.584 | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 0.584 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.577 | -1.2% |
| 1926 | 0.555 | -3.8% |
| 1927 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.555 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.545 | -1.8% |
| 1931 | 0.545 | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 0.528 | -3.1% |
| 1933 | 0.524 | -0.8% |
| 1934 | 0.512 | -2.3% |
| 1935 | 0.512 | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 0.503 | -1.8% |
| 1937 | 0.471 | -6.4% |
| 1938 | 0.47 | -0.2% |
| 1939 | 0.469 | -0.2% |
| 1940 | 0.446 | -4.9% |
| 1941 | 0.442 | -0.9% |
| 1942 | 0.418 | -5.4% |
| 1943 | 0.418 | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 0.418 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.438 | +4.8% |
| 1946 | 0.78 | +78.1% |
| 1947 | 0.803 | +2.9% |
| 1948 | 0.805 | +0.2% |
| 1949 | 0.809 | +0.5% |
| 1950 | 0.81 | +0.1% |
| 1951 | 0.81 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 0.813 | +0.4% |
| 1953 | 0.913 | +12.3% |
| 1954 | 0.913 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.92 | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 0.921 | +0.1% |
| 1957 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1958 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1961 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 0.921 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.926 | +0.5% |
| 1965 | 0.928 | +0.2% |
| 1966 | 0.928 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.928 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 0.928 | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 0.928 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.929 | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 0.93 | +0.1% |
| 1972 | 0.939 | +1.0% |
| 1973 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.938 | -0.1% |
| 1981 | 0.938 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 0.938 | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 0.938 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 0.938 | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 0.939 | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 0.939 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 0.94 | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.94 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.941 | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.943 | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 0.943 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.943 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.94 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 0.931 | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 0.931 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.931 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.931 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.929 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 0.935 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 0.934 | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.91 | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 0.909 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.924 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 0.931 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 0.925 | -0.6% |
| 2025 | 0.925 | +0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 0.925 is above the median for high income countries, which is 0.906, 1.0× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Japan's 0.925 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.728, 1.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1800s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1810s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1820s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1830s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1840s | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 10 |
| 1850s | 0.1008 | 0.099 | 0.102 | 10 |
| 1860s | 0.1206 | 0.102 | 0.284 | 10 |
| 1870s | 0.4842 | 0.459 | 0.501 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0.501 | 0.501 | 0.501 | 10 |
| 1890s | 0.5408 | 0.528 | 0.564 | 10 |
| 1900s | 0.5755 | 0.569 | 0.578 | 10 |
| 1910s | 0.576 | 0.565 | 0.578 | 10 |
| 1920s | 0.572 | 0.555 | 0.587 | 10 |
| 1930s | 0.5079 | 0.469 | 0.545 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0.5777 | 0.418 | 0.809 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0.8863 | 0.81 | 0.921 | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.925 | 0.921 | 0.928 | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.9371 | 0.929 | 0.939 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.9385 | 0.938 | 0.939 | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.94 | 0.94 | 0.94 | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9404 | 0.94 | 0.943 | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.9348 | 0.929 | 0.943 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.9207 | 0.909 | 0.931 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More social development data for Japan
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 42,450 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 56 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0003 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is key features of human rights in Japan?
- Key features of human rights in Japan was 0.925 in 2025, according to V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest key features of human rights recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 0.943 in 2009.
- What is the lowest key features of human rights recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.09 in 1789.
- How does Japan rank for key features of human rights?
- Japan ranks 20th out of 176 countries with data for 2025.
- Is key features of human rights rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from V-Dem (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Key features of human rights. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Central estimate of the extent to which people are free from government torture, political killings, and forced labor, they have property rights, and enjoy the freedoms of movement, religion, expression, and association.