Economy, jobs and prices in Saitama, Japan: official figures
Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Saitama averaged 4.47 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 23rd 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 Saitama earn in total?
Residents of Saitama had 2.97 trillion yen of taxable income in total in fiscal 2024, from 663,268 resident-tax payers (50.1 per 100 residents, above the national figure (45.3)).
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people work in Saitama?
At the 2020 census 593,727 residents of Saitama were in work and 615,596 were in the labour force (working or seeking work), equal to 44.8 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 Saitama?
The unemployment rate in Saitama was 3.6% at the 2020 census (21,869 people out of 615,596 in the labour force), 80th lowest of 262 cities, below 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 Saitama?
By sector, 0.7% of employed residents of Saitama worked in primary industries (farming, forestry, fishing), 17.6% in secondary (mining, construction, manufacturing) and 78.5% 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 Saitama?
85.3% of employed residents of Saitama were employees (excluding company directors), 6.0% were self-employed business owners and 5.5% 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 Saitama?
At the 2020 census 377,791 residents of Saitama commuted to work in another municipality and 285,482 people living elsewhere commuted in. The daytime population was 1,229,480, or 92.9 per 100 night-time residents, 78th lowest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Saitama?
Saitama had 40,233 private-sector business establishments employing 517,261 people in 2021 (government offices are excluded), about 12.9 workers per establishment.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is manufacturing in Saitama?
Factories in Saitama shipped goods worth 872.9 billion yen in 2023 and employed 28,137 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 Saitama?
Wholesale and retail businesses in Saitama sold goods worth 5.22 trillion yen in the year covered by the 2021 Economic Census (sales for 2020), across 7,394 commercial establishments employing 95,697 people.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many shops and restaurants are there in Saitama?
Saitama had 6,184 retail stores and 3,356 eating and drinking places in 2021, including 198 large retail stores (50+ staff) and 14 department stores or general supermarkets.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much farmland is there in Saitama?
Farmland in Saitama covered 31.00 square kilometres in 2024, 14.3% of the total area.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much waste does Saitama recycle?
Saitama produced 387,313 tonnes of household and business waste in 2023 and recycled 23.3% of it.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Saitama compares with other cities in Japan
Taxable income per resident-tax payer (fiscal 2024)
Saitama ranks 23 of 262, highest first. Municipal resident tax base before deductions, from SSDS items C120110 and C120120
| Rank | City | Taxable income per resident-tax payer |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Kariya | 4,514 thousand yen |
| 21 | Ikeda | 4,494 thousand yen |
| 22 | Nagareyama | 4,480 thousand yen |
| 23 | Saitama | 4,472 thousand yen |
| 24 | Fuchu | 4,462 thousand yen |
| 25 | Asaka | 4,451 thousand yen |
| 26 | Nishitokyo | 4,401 thousand yen |
Unemployment rate (2020 census)
Saitama ranks 183 of 262, highest first. Unemployed people as a share of the labour force, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 180 | Yokohama | 3.6% |
| 181 | Yachiyo | 3.6% |
| 182 | Nasushiobara | 3.6% |
| 183 | Saitama | 3.6% |
| 184 | Yamaguchi | 3.6% |
| 185 | Kitami | 3.5% |
| 186 | Maebashi | 3.5% |
Daytime population per 100 residents (2020 census)
Saitama ranks 185 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 182 | Itami | 93.2 |
| 183 | Akishima | 93.0 |
| 184 | Fujisawa | 92.9 |
| 185 | Saitama | 92.9 |
| 186 | Kuwana | 92.8 |
| 187 | Yokohama | 92.5 |
| 188 | Sakado | 92.4 |
More on Saitama: 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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