Japan recorded 2.95 million university students in academic year 2024, an all-time high, according to MEXT’s School Basic Survey. The country’s 15-year-olds scored 536 in math, 516 in reading, and 547 in science on the 2022 PISA assessment, ranking among the top five globally in all three subjects. With a 99% high school completion rate and 66% tertiary attainment among young adults as of 2024, Japan’s education system continues to produce some of the strongest academic outcomes in the OECD.
Education in Japan Key Statistics
- Japan had approximately 2.95 million university students in AY2024, a record high (MEXT, 2024).
- Tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds reached 66% in 2024, up from 62% in 2019 (OECD, 2025).
- PISA 2022 scores: Math 536, Reading 516, Science 547, all well above OECD averages (OECD, 2023).
- Education spending stood at 3.9% of GDP, below the OECD average of 4.7% (OECD, 2025).
- Foreign student enrollment hit a record 336,708 in 2024, a 21% year-over-year increase (JASSO, 2025).
Education in Japan PISA Performance
Japanese students ranked fifth in math, third in reading, and second in science in PISA 2022. All three scores rose compared to the 2018 assessment. Math climbed 9 points to 536, reading jumped 12 points to 516, and science gained 18 points to 547. The OECD averages for the same year were 472, 476, and 485, respectively.
About 88% of Japanese students reached at least Level 2 proficiency in math, compared to the OECD average of 69%. Meanwhile, 23% qualified as top performers at Level 5 or above in math. Only 5.3% of Japanese students scored low across all three subjects, one of the smallest shares among all participating countries.
Japan was one of only four education systems the OECD classified as “resilient” after the pandemic. While math scores dropped by a record 15 points on average across the OECD between 2018 and 2022, Japan’s scores held steady or improved. Reading showed the most dramatic recovery. Japan had slipped to its joint-lowest ranking of fifteenth in reading in 2018 but bounced back to third place in 2022.
Education in Japan Enrollment and Attainment
Compulsory education in Japan covers ages 6 to 15, a total of nine years split between six years of elementary school and three years of lower secondary. Although upper secondary school is not compulsory, 98.8% of junior high graduates enrolled as of recent data.
At the university level, MEXT’s AY2024 survey recorded about 2,628,000 undergraduate students, with female enrollment reaching 45.9%, a record share. Around 80.6% of 18-year-olds pursued some form of higher education. The country has over 800 universities, including 86 national universities, 95 public institutions, and more than 600 private colleges. Those interested in learning Japanese may find this university system attractive, given that Japanese institutions now offer over 400 English-taught programs.
Education in Japan Tertiary Attainment by Gender
Among 25-34 year-olds in 2024, 50.8% of men held tertiary qualifications. For women in the same age group, the figure was 45.4%. The gap is narrower than in many OECD countries, though Japan still ranks lower than average for female tertiary attainment. In the 25-64 age bracket, 57% of adults held a tertiary qualification, well ahead of the OECD average of 42%.
| Metric | Japan | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary attainment (25-34) | 66% | 48% |
| Tertiary attainment (25-64) | 57% | 42% |
| Men with tertiary (25-34) | 50.8% | N/A |
| Women with tertiary (25-34) | 45.4% | N/A |
| Employment rate, tertiary (25-34) | 90.8% | N/A |
Education in Japan Spending and Funding
Japan allocated 3.9% of GDP to education from primary through tertiary levels, below the OECD average of 4.7%. Per-student spending averaged $14,130 (PPP-adjusted) annually, slightly under the OECD average of $15,023. When measured against GDP per capita, spending per student amounted to 29.4%, which is actually among the highest ratios in the OECD.
The MEXT annual budget reached approximately 5.34 trillion yen in fiscal year 2024. Government sources funded 92.7% of primary and secondary education costs, above the OECD average of 90.4%. Tertiary education tells a different story. Only 37.5% of tertiary funding came from public sources, compared to the OECD average of 67.4%. Private institutions enroll the majority of university students and charge tuition roughly double that of public schools.
Education in Japan Per-Student Expenditure by Level
Spending per student rises with education level. Japan spent $9,928 per primary student, $12,444 per secondary student, and $20,518 per tertiary student. The gap between secondary and tertiary is partly driven by research costs and smaller class sizes at universities.
Education in Japan International Students
Foreign student enrollment reached 336,708 as of May 2024, a record that exceeded the pre-pandemic peak of 312,000 in 2019. The weak yen likely encouraged more students to choose Japan. Of that total, 229,467 attended higher education institutions and 107,241 enrolled in Japanese language schools. Students looking to prepare for study in Japan can start with beginner Japanese worksheets or practice with a Japanese verb conjugation tool.
Asian students made up 92.5% of the total. China sent the most students at 123,485 (36.7%), followed by Nepal with 64,816 (19.2%) and Vietnam with 40,323 (12.0%). Myanmar, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan rounded out the top seven.
Education in Japan Teacher Workforce
Japan employs roughly 1.2 million teachers, with an elementary school teacher-student ratio of about 1:12. The workforce is younger than in most OECD countries. Between 2013 and 2023, the share of teachers aged 30 or under increased at primary level while the share aged 50 or older fell.
Primary teacher salaries in Japan range from $34,863 (starting, minimum qualification) to $66,530 (top of scale, maximum qualification). Both figures are below the OECD averages of $44,153 and $74,896. Real salaries adjusted for inflation dropped about 6% between 2015 and 2023. Japan faces teacher shortages in math, foreign languages, and science at the secondary level. Understanding Japanese regional dialects can be a factor for teachers working across different prefectures.
Education in Japan STEM and Curriculum
About 35% of Japanese graduates earned degrees in science and engineering fields. Japan’s national curriculum includes a unique feature: the “Period for Integrated Studies” and student-led activities (Tokkatsu). At the primary level, 13% of instruction time goes to these activities, compared to the OECD average of 4%. At lower secondary level, the share is 12% against an OECD average of 3%.
MEXT enforced its fifth education reform in 2020, shifting the curriculum toward active learning and independent thinking. More than 95% of schools incorporate moral education into their programs. Over 2 million high school students enroll in English language courses annually, and Japanese name traditions remain an area of cultural interest for those studying the language through tools like a Japanese name converter.
FAQ
How many students are in Japan’s education system?
Japan had approximately 2.95 million university students in AY2024. Elementary and secondary enrollment has been declining due to the country’s shrinking youth population.
How does Japan rank in global education?
Japan ranked fifth in math, third in reading, and second in science on PISA 2022, placing it among the top-performing education systems worldwide.
What percentage of GDP does Japan spend on education?
Japan spent 3.9% of GDP on education from primary to tertiary levels, below the OECD average of 4.7% but with a high per-capita spending ratio of 29.4%.
How many international students study in Japan?
A record 336,708 foreign students enrolled in Japan as of May 2024, with 92.5% coming from other Asian countries and China accounting for the largest share at 36.7%.
What is Japan’s literacy rate?
Japan’s literacy rate among young adults is nearly 100%. The country also has a 99% high school completion rate and 66% tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds.
