Economy, jobs and prices in Sano, Japan: official figures
Taxable income for municipal resident tax in Sano averaged 3.30 million yen per taxpayer in fiscal 2024, 38th 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 Sano earn in total?
Residents of Sano had 168.0 billion yen of taxable income in total in fiscal 2024, from 50,959 resident-tax payers (43.8 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 Sano?
At the 2020 census 56,734 residents of Sano were in work and 59,445 were in the labour force (working or seeking work), equal to 48.8 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 Sano?
The unemployment rate in Sano was 4.6% at the 2020 census (2,711 people out of 59,445 in the labour force), 32nd 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 Sano?
By sector, 2.5% of employed residents of Sano worked in primary industries (farming, forestry, fishing), 35.4% in secondary (mining, construction, manufacturing) and 61.1% 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 Sano?
82.4% of employed residents of Sano were employees (excluding company directors), 8.0% were self-employed business owners and 5.7% 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 Sano?
At the 2020 census 16,054 residents of Sano commuted to work in another municipality and 15,322 people living elsewhere commuted in. The daytime population was 115,777, or 99.6 per 100 night-time residents, 111th highest of 262 cities.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many businesses are there in Sano?
Sano had 5,884 private-sector business establishments employing 54,287 people in 2021 (government offices are excluded), about 9.2 workers per establishment.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow big is manufacturing in Sano?
Factories in Sano shipped goods worth 471.6 billion yen in 2023 and employed 13,946 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 Sano?
Wholesale and retail businesses in Sano sold goods worth 319.4 billion yen in the year covered by the 2021 Economic Census (sales for 2020), across 1,329 commercial establishments employing 9,322 people.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many shops and restaurants are there in Sano?
Sano had 1,164 retail stores and 553 eating and drinking places in 2021, including 16 large retail stores (50+ staff) and 1 department stores or general supermarkets.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much farmland is there in Sano?
Farmland in Sano covered 40.00 square kilometres in 2024, 11.2% of the total area.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much waste does Sano recycle?
Sano produced 35,947 tonnes of household and business waste in 2023 and recycled 10.2% of it.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow Sano compares with other cities in Japan
Taxable income per resident-tax payer (fiscal 2024)
Sano ranks 225 of 262, highest first. Municipal resident tax base before deductions, from SSDS items C120110 and C120120
| Rank | City | Taxable income per resident-tax payer |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Hakusan | 3,307 thousand yen |
| 223 | Tochigi | 3,305 thousand yen |
| 224 | Marugame | 3,305 thousand yen |
| 225 | Sano | 3,297 thousand yen |
| 226 | Hakodate | 3,296 thousand yen |
| 227 | Kiryu | 3,285 thousand yen |
| 228 | Shimonoseki | 3,280 thousand yen |
Unemployment rate (2020 census)
Sano ranks 32 of 262, highest first. Unemployed people as a share of the labour force, taken during the Covid-19 pandemic
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Yao | 4.6% |
| 30 | Osaki | 4.6% |
| 31 | Habikino | 4.6% |
| 32 | Sano | 4.6% |
| 33 | Sayama | 4.6% |
| 34 | Sakai | 4.5% |
| 35 | Hachinohe | 4.5% |
Daytime population per 100 residents (2020 census)
Sano ranks 111 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Fukuyama | 99.8 |
| 109 | Takaoka | 99.7 |
| 110 | Higashihiroshima | 99.7 |
| 111 | Sano | 99.6 |
| 112 | Tama | 99.5 |
| 113 | Hamamatsu | 99.1 |
| 114 | Hachioji | 99.1 |
More on Sano: 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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