Economy, jobs and prices in Otsu, Japan: official figures
Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Otsu averaged 3.98 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 55th highest of 262 cities and above 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 Otsu earn in total?
Residents of Otsu had 606.4 billion yen of taxable income in total in fiscal 2024, from 152,348 resident-tax payers (44.1 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 Otsu?
At the 2020 census 151,714 residents of Otsu were in work and 157,718 were in the labour force (working or seeking work), equal to 44.0 employed people per 100 residents of all ages, below the national figure (45.7).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Otsu?
The unemployment rate in Otsu was 3.8% at the 2020 census (6,004 people out of 157,718 in the labour force), 125th lowest of 262 cities, about the same as 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 Otsu?
By sector, 1.1% of employed residents of Otsu worked in primary industries (farming, forestry, fishing), 21.7% in secondary (mining, construction, manufacturing) and 73.9% 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 Otsu?
83.7% of employed residents of Otsu were employees (excluding company directors), 7.5% were self-employed business owners and 5.0% 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 Otsu?
At the 2020 census 64,349 residents of Otsu commuted to work in another municipality and 33,848 people living elsewhere commuted in. The daytime population was 313,359, or 90.8 per 100 night-time residents, 65th lowest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Otsu?
Otsu had 11,230 private-sector business establishments employing 119,247 people in 2021 (government offices are excluded), about 10.6 workers per establishment.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is manufacturing in Otsu?
Factories in Otsu shipped goods worth 444.4 billion yen in 2023 and employed 12,213 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 Otsu?
Wholesale and retail businesses in Otsu sold goods worth 486.0 billion yen in the year covered by the 2021 Economic Census (sales for 2020), across 1,902 commercial establishments employing 18,211 people.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many shops and restaurants are there in Otsu?
Otsu had 1,744 retail stores and 1,014 eating and drinking places in 2021, including 48 large retail stores (50+ staff) and 3 department stores or general supermarkets.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much farmland is there in Otsu?
Farmland in Otsu covered 20.00 square kilometres in 2024, 4.3% of the total area.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much waste does Otsu recycle?
Otsu produced 93,521 tonnes of household and business waste in 2023 and recycled 13.5% of it.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Otsu compares with other cities in Japan
Taxable income per resident-tax payer (fiscal 2024)
Otsu ranks 55 of 262, highest first. Municipal resident tax base before deductions, from SSDS items C120110 and C120120
| Rank | City | Taxable income per resident-tax payer |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Kuwana | 4,032 thousand yen |
| 53 | Yachiyo | 4,023 thousand yen |
| 54 | Tokorozawa | 4,012 thousand yen |
| 55 | Otsu | 3,981 thousand yen |
| 56 | Takatsuki | 3,972 thousand yen |
| 57 | Matsudo | 3,965 thousand yen |
| 58 | Abiko | 3,964 thousand yen |
Unemployment rate (2020 census)
Otsu ranks 138 of 262, highest first. Unemployed people as a share of the labour force, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 135 | Morioka | 3.8% |
| 136 | Ichihara | 3.8% |
| 137 | Misato | 3.8% |
| 138 | Otsu | 3.8% |
| 139 | Kanoya | 3.8% |
| 140 | Kakogawa | 3.8% |
| 141 | Fukushima | 3.8% |
Daytime population per 100 residents (2020 census)
Otsu ranks 198 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 195 | Matsubara | 91.2 |
| 196 | Ikeda | 91.2 |
| 197 | Kasugai | 91.2 |
| 198 | Otsu | 90.8 |
| 199 | Seto | 90.8 |
| 200 | Tajimi | 90.7 |
| 201 | Inzai | 90.6 |
More on Otsu: 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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