Economy, jobs and prices in Karatsu, Japan: official figures
Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Karatsu averaged 3.08 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 9th lowest of 262 cities and below the national average of 3,933.7 thousand yen per taxpayer. It is income before deductions, so it is not take-home pay.
How much income do people in Karatsu earn in total?
Residents of Karatsu had 141.3 billion yen of taxable income in total in fiscal 2024, from 45,885 resident-tax payers (39.1 per 100 residents, below the national figure (45.3)).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people work in Karatsu?
At the 2020 census 56,466 residents of Karatsu were in work and 58,769 were in the labour force (working or seeking work), equal to 48.1 employed people per 100 residents of all ages, above the national figure (45.7).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Karatsu?
The unemployment rate in Karatsu was 3.9% at the 2020 census (2,303 people out of 58,769 in the labour force), 121st highest of 262 cities, above the national figure (3.8%). The census was taken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat are the main industries in Karatsu?
By sector, 10.5% of employed residents of Karatsu worked in primary industries (farming, forestry, fishing), 22.8% in secondary (mining, construction, manufacturing) and 65.0% in tertiary industries (services and the rest) at the 2020 census. Nationally the shares were 3.4%, 23.0% and 70.6%. The three do not add to 100% because some jobs are not classified.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people are self-employed in Karatsu?
76.3% of employed residents of Karatsu were employees (excluding company directors), 11.6% were self-employed business owners and 4.2% were directors, at the 2020 census; nationally 81.4% were employees.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people commute into Karatsu?
At the 2020 census 8,546 residents of Karatsu commuted to work in another municipality and 5,653 people living elsewhere commuted in. The daytime population was 113,603, or 96.8 per 100 night-time residents, 121st lowest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Karatsu?
Karatsu had 5,164 private-sector business establishments employing 44,582 people in 2021 (government offices are excluded), about 8.6 workers per establishment.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is manufacturing in Karatsu?
Factories in Karatsu shipped goods worth 185.0 billion yen in 2023 and employed 6,060 people in manufacturing in 2024.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much do shops and wholesalers sell in Karatsu?
Wholesale and retail businesses in Karatsu sold goods worth 176.4 billion yen in the year covered by the 2021 Economic Census (sales for 2020), across 1,211 commercial establishments employing 7,875 people.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many shops and restaurants are there in Karatsu?
Karatsu had 1,097 retail stores and 601 eating and drinking places in 2021, including 12 large retail stores (50+ staff) and 2 department stores or general supermarkets.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much farmland is there in Karatsu?
Farmland in Karatsu covered 64.00 square kilometres in 2024, 13.1% of the total area.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much waste does Karatsu recycle?
Karatsu produced 37,815 tonnes of household and business waste in 2023 and recycled 16.4% of it.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Karatsu compares with other cities in Japan
Taxable income per resident-tax payer (fiscal 2024)
Karatsu ranks 254 of 262, highest first. Municipal resident tax base before deductions, from SSDS items C120110 and C120120
| Rank | City | Taxable income per resident-tax payer |
|---|---|---|
| 251 | Osaki | 3,089 thousand yen |
| 252 | Yatsushiro | 3,086 thousand yen |
| 253 | Nobeoka | 3,082 thousand yen |
| 254 | Karatsu | 3,079 thousand yen |
| 255 | Kanoya | 3,072 thousand yen |
| 256 | Sakata | 3,038 thousand yen |
| 257 | Miyakonojo | 3,038 thousand yen |
Unemployment rate (2020 census)
Karatsu ranks 121 of 262, highest first. Unemployed people as a share of the labour force, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 118 | Nishitokyo | 3.9% |
| 119 | Soka | 3.9% |
| 120 | Ibaraki | 3.9% |
| 121 | Karatsu | 3.9% |
| 122 | Niigata | 3.9% |
| 123 | Fujimino | 3.9% |
| 124 | Kashihara | 3.9% |
Daytime population per 100 residents (2020 census)
Karatsu ranks 142 of 262, highest first. Above 100 means more people are in the city by day than live there.
| Rank | City | Daytime population per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 139 | Nishio | 97.1 |
| 140 | Saijo | 97.0 |
| 141 | Okinawa | 96.8 |
| 142 | Karatsu | 96.8 |
| 143 | Oshu | 96.8 |
| 144 | Kawagoe | 96.8 |
| 145 | Amagasaki | 96.6 |
More on Karatsu: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in Japan
Sources
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Municipalities 2026 (social and demographic statistics, city, ward, town and village data), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 2cb3d8c51aa1…)
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Prefectures 2026 (national figures, "All Japan" row), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b69774a5f40c…)
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