Tokyo's female-to-male wage ratio rose from 74.7% in 2020 to 75.6% in 2022, then slipped slightly to 75.4% in 2023. Meanwhile, the absolute monthly gap widened from ¥102,700 to ¥105,100. This is an example of how a wage gap in yen can grow during a period of rising wages even when the ratio is nearly flat.
Gender wage trends in Tokyo (all ages, scheduled monthly wages)
| Year | Men (¥1,000) | Women (¥1,000) | Women ÷ men | Gap (¥1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 405.5 | 302.8 | 74.7% | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 409.1 | 307.5 | 75.2% | 101.6 |
| 2022 | 415.8 | 314.2 | 75.6% | 101.6 |
| 2023 | 426.8 | 321.7 | 75.4% | 105.1 |
The ratio improved by 0.7 points, but the yen gap widened by ¥2,400
The female-to-male wage ratio improved by 0.7 percentage points over four years. By age, it rose by 0.5 points at ages 20–24, 1.1 points at 25–29, and 1.7 points at both 40–44 and 55–59.
Even so, the 2023 difference between men's ¥426,800 and women's ¥321,700 was ¥105,100 per month. As wages rose for both sexes, the higher male wage base meant that an improving percentage ratio did not necessarily produce a smaller absolute gap.
Comparison by age (2020 → 2023)
| Age group | 2020 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–24 | 97.2% | 97.7% | +0.5 pt |
| 25–29 | 91.8% | 92.9% | +1.1 pt |
| 30–34 | 83.5% | 84.9% | +1.4 pt |
| 40–44 | 74.9% | 76.6% | +1.7 pt |
| 55–59 | 66.8% | 68.5% | +1.7 pt |
For every age group shown, the female-to-male ratio was higher in 2023 than in 2020. On the other hand, the all-age ratio edged down from 2022 to 2023, suggesting that factors such as age composition and industrial mix may also affect the overall figure.
Tokyo's many high-paying jobs make gender imbalances in senior roles more visible in yen terms
Finance, trading companies, and headquarters functions are concentrated in Chiyoda, Minato, and Chuo, while Shibuya and Shinagawa have large clusters of IT and professional jobs. These sectors have relatively high pay levels, and the share of men and women in management can have a large effect on averages. If men remain overrepresented in the highest positions, the absolute gap can widen as overall wages rise.
Improvement among younger workers is only one part of the issue. Promotion, occupational changes, and evaluation after returning from childbirth and childcare become especially important from the 30s onward. Tokyo's gap is not the result of low wages; it is a problem in which different rates of access to high-paying positions appear as a large monetary difference.
How to read these figures
These statistics measure scheduled monthly wages and exclude bonuses and overtime pay. The all-age figure is also affected by age composition. Changes in the ratio therefore cannot be attributed directly to workplace systems or working styles alone.
What can be confirmed here is that, in Tokyo's published figures from 2020 through 2023, some age groups show improvement while the all-age ratio slipped slightly in 2023.
Summary: In Tokyo, an improving ratio alone does not shrink the yen gap
Even though Tokyo's female-to-male wage ratio improved slightly, the monthly gender gap widened to ¥105,100 in 2023. Overall wage growth alone will not close the difference unless more women advance into high-paying managerial and specialist positions.
- Women's wage ratio rose from 74.7% to 75.4%
- The gender gap widened from ¥102,700 to ¥105,100
- The ratio fell by 0.2 percentage points from 2022 to 2023
- Advancement into managerial and highly specialized roles is key to narrowing the absolute gap
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2020–2023)
📊 Analysis notes
- Statistics used: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Basic Survey on Wage Structure (Table ID: 0003426933, view on e-Stat)
- Area: Tokyo
- Years: 2020–2023
- Data retrieved: June 6, 2026
- Notes: The article primarily organizes published statistical values. Interpreting the background also involves factors outside the table, including occupational mix, management composition, employment status, and age structure, so directly observable figures should be distinguished from interpretation.
Figures in charts and tables were independently compiled and visualized from the statistical data above.