Poverty and living standards in Okinawa, Japan: official figures
The number of people receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) per 1,000 people in Okinawa was 27.07 in 2023, 3rd highest of 47 prefectures.
How many older people receive welfare in Okinawa?
The number of people aged 65 or over receiving public assistance per 1,000 people aged 65 or over in Okinawa was 61.8 in 2022, the highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people get housing assistance in Okinawa?
The number of people receiving housing assistance per 1,000 people in Okinawa was 22.14 in 2023, 3rd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Okinawa have a disability certificate?
The number of physical disability certificates issued per 1,000 people in Okinawa was 45.7 in 2023, 16th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many disabled job seekers find work in Okinawa?
The employment rate of job seekers with disabilities in Okinawa was 52.4% in 2024, 7th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Okinawa claim unemployment benefit?
The share of insured workers receiving unemployment benefit in Okinawa was 1.30% in 2023, tied for 15th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Okinawa?
The number of recorded criminal offences per 1,000 people in Okinawa was 6.22 in 2023, tied for 10th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many crimes are solved in Okinawa?
The share of recorded offences that police cleared in Okinawa was 44.7% in 2023, 20th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many police officers are there in Okinawa?
The number of police officers per 1,000 people in Okinawa was 1.99 in 2024, 20th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in road accidents in Okinawa?
The number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Okinawa was 3.00 in 2024, tied for 18th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many road accidents happen in Okinawa?
The number of road traffic accidents per 100,000 people in Okinawa was 196.1 in 2024, 22nd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Okinawa?
The number of deaths from unintentional accidents per 100,000 people in Okinawa was 20.2 in 2023, the lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much damage do disasters cause in Okinawa?
The value of disaster damage per person in Okinawa was 2,489 yen in 2023, 22nd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many fires are there in Okinawa?
The number of fires per 100,000 people in Okinawa was 35.6 in 2023, 20th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people receive welfare in Okinawa?
39,899 people in Okinawa were receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo, Japan's last-resort welfare payment) in March 2026, which is 2.72 per 100 residents, 3rd highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 1,980,808 people (1.60 per 100 residents).
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many households receive welfare in Okinawa?
32,850 households in Okinawa were receiving public assistance in March 2026, 11th most of 47 prefectures, an average of 1.21 people per household. Japan overall: 1,644,531 households (1.20 people per household).
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many older people on welfare are there in Okinawa?
Households of people aged 65 or over made up 60.9% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (19,906 households), 9th highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 55.3%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people on welfare live alone in Okinawa?
Single-person households made up 86.2% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (28,202 households), 24th highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 85.6%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many single mothers are on welfare in Okinawa?
Single-mother households made up 2.9% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (947 households), 21st lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 3.4%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many disabled people are on welfare in Okinawa?
Households with a disabled or sick member as the main reason made up 25.3% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (8,263 households), 21st highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 25.4%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many working-age people are on welfare in Okinawa?
Households of working-age people with none of the above reasons ("other households") made up 11.0% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (3,593 households), 4th lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 15.8%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people on welfare in Okinawa are working?
Households with someone in work made up 12.9% of the 32,709 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Okinawa in March 2026 (4,212 households), 11th lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 15.6%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people on welfare in Okinawa get rent support?
The share of people on public assistance who received housing assistance (rent support) in Okinawa was 81.0% in March 2026, 21st highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 85.4%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people on welfare in Okinawa receive living allowances?
The share of people on public assistance who received living assistance (the basic monthly payment) in Okinawa was 85.1% in March 2026, 23rd highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 86.2%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many children on welfare in Okinawa get school support?
The share of people on public assistance who received education assistance (mostly schoolchildren) in Okinawa was 4.0% in March 2026, 20th highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 4.0%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people on welfare in Okinawa get medical help?
The share of people on public assistance who received medical assistance (free treatment) in Okinawa was 76.2% in March 2026, the lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 85.2%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many people apply for welfare in Okinawa?
475 applications for public assistance were received in Okinawa in March 2026, which is 32.4 per 100,000 residents, 2nd highest of 47 prefectures, and 391 households started receiving it that month. Japan overall: 23,636 applications (19.1 per 100,000).
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow many foreign households receive welfare in Okinawa?
The share of households receiving public assistance whose head does not hold Japanese nationality in Okinawa was 0.6% in March 2026, 8th lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 2.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow Okinawa compares with other prefectures
People on public assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Okinawa ranks 3 of 47, highest first. Monthly average, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Rank | Region | People on public assistance per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka | 30.42 |
| 2 | Hokkaido | 29.50 |
| 3 | Okinawa | 27.07 |
| 4 | Kochi | 25.64 |
| 5 | Fukuoka | 23.28 |
| 6 | Aomori | 23.13 |
| 7 | Kyoto | 20.95 |
Recorded offences per 1,000 residents (2023)
Okinawa ranks 11 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Tochigi | 6.29 |
| 9 | Aichi | 6.26 |
| 10 | Kagawa | 6.22 |
| 11 | Okinawa | 6.22 |
| 12 | Gifu | 6.17 |
| 13 | Chiba | 6.00 |
| 14 | Mie | 5.76 |
People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Okinawa ranks 3 of 47, highest first. MHLW Public Assistance Recipients Survey; prefecture totals include the designated cities and core cities in each prefecture, divided by the 1 October 2024 population estimate
| Rank | Region | People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka | 2.97 |
| 2 | Hokkaido | 2.89 |
| 3 | Okinawa | 2.72 |
| 4 | Kochi | 2.47 |
| 5 | Aomori | 2.28 |
| 6 | Fukuoka | 2.26 |
| 7 | Kyoto | 2.01 |
Elderly households as a share of households on public assistance (March 2026) (2026)
Okinawa ranks 9 of 47, highest first. Share of households receiving assistance; the survey excludes suspended cases
| Rank | Region | Elderly households as a share of households on public assistance (March 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Yamanashi | 61.7% |
| 7 | Kochi | 61.1% |
| 8 | Ehime | 60.9% |
| 9 | Okinawa | 60.9% |
| 10 | Tokushima | 60.4% |
| 11 | Yamaguchi | 60.4% |
| 12 | Gifu | 60.3% |
Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Okinawa ranks 2 of 47, highest first. One month only, so it can swing in small prefectures
| Rank | Region | Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka | 36.1 |
| 2 | Okinawa | 32.4 |
| 3 | Hokkaido | 32.1 |
| 4 | Kochi | 31.4 |
| 5 | Aomori | 24.1 |
| 6 | Miyazaki | 23.7 |
| 7 | Fukuoka | 21.8 |
More on Okinawa: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · Japan
Sources
- Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Statistical Observations of Prefectures 2026 (Tōkei de miru todōfuken no sugata), full volume, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b69774a5f40c…)
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat: Public Assistance Recipients Survey, monthly viewing tables for March 2026 (recipients and households by prefecture and city), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 35c582f0afd2…)
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