Poverty and living standards in Osaka, Japan: official figures
The number of people receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) per 1,000 people in Osaka was 30.42 in 2023, the highest of 47 prefectures.
How many older people receive welfare in Osaka?
The number of people aged 65 or over receiving public assistance per 1,000 people aged 65 or over in Osaka was 58.6 in 2022, 2nd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people get housing assistance in Osaka?
The number of people receiving housing assistance per 1,000 people in Osaka was 27.79 in 2023, the highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Osaka have a disability certificate?
The number of physical disability certificates issued per 1,000 people in Osaka was 42.6 in 2023, 22nd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many disabled job seekers find work in Osaka?
The employment rate of job seekers with disabilities in Osaka was 44.3% in 2024, tied for 16th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Osaka claim unemployment benefit?
The share of insured workers receiving unemployment benefit in Osaka was 0.90% in 2023, tied for 3rd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Osaka?
The number of recorded criminal offences per 1,000 people in Osaka was 9.15 in 2023, the highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many crimes are solved in Osaka?
The share of recorded offences that police cleared in Osaka was 26.7% in 2023, the lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many police officers are there in Osaka?
The number of police officers per 1,000 people in Osaka was 2.44 in 2024, 7th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in road accidents in Osaka?
The number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Osaka was 1.50 in 2024, tied for 4th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many road accidents happen in Osaka?
The number of road traffic accidents per 100,000 people in Osaka was 283.0 in 2024, 8th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Osaka?
The number of deaths from unintentional accidents per 100,000 people in Osaka was 31.3 in 2023, 7th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much damage do disasters cause in Osaka?
The value of disaster damage per person in Osaka was 6 yen in 2023, tied for 2nd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many fires are there in Osaka?
The number of fires per 100,000 people in Osaka was 22.4 in 2023, 4th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people receive welfare in Osaka?
259,765 people in Osaka were receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo, Japan's last-resort welfare payment) in March 2026, which is 2.97 per 100 residents, the 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 Osaka?
217,351 households in Osaka were receiving public assistance in March 2026, 2nd most of 47 prefectures, an average of 1.20 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 Osaka?
Households of people aged 65 or over made up 57.3% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (123,986 households), 22nd 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 Osaka?
Single-person households made up 86.2% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (186,630 households), 23rd 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 Osaka?
Single-mother households made up 3.7% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (8,024 households), 12th highest 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 Osaka?
Households with a disabled or sick member as the main reason made up 26.0% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (56,223 households), 20th 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 Osaka?
Households of working-age people with none of the above reasons ("other households") made up 13.0% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (28,178 households), 9th 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 Osaka are working?
Households with someone in work made up 16.5% of the 216,411 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Osaka in March 2026 (35,795 households), 12th highest 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 Osaka get rent support?
The share of people on public assistance who received housing assistance (rent support) in Osaka was 91.2% in March 2026, the 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 Osaka receive living allowances?
The share of people on public assistance who received living assistance (the basic monthly payment) in Osaka was 90.9% in March 2026, the 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 Osaka get school support?
The share of people on public assistance who received education assistance (mostly schoolchildren) in Osaka was 4.2% in March 2026, 14th 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 Osaka get medical help?
The share of people on public assistance who received medical assistance (free treatment) in Osaka was 85.7% in March 2026, 22nd 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 Osaka?
3,160 applications for public assistance were received in Osaka in March 2026, which is 36.1 per 100,000 residents, the highest of 47 prefectures, and 2,747 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 Osaka?
The share of households receiving public assistance whose head does not hold Japanese nationality in Osaka was 5.3% in March 2026, 4th highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 2.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow Osaka compares with other prefectures
People on public assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Osaka ranks 1 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)
Osaka ranks 1 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Osaka | 9.15 |
| 2 | Gunma | 7.01 |
| 3 | Ibaraki | 7.00 |
| 4 | Hyogo | 6.94 |
| 5 | Saitama | 6.77 |
| 6 | Fukuoka | 6.52 |
| 7 | Tokyo | 6.33 |
People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Osaka ranks 1 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)
Osaka ranks 22 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Ibaraki | 57.9% |
| 20 | Fukuoka | 57.7% |
| 21 | Kagoshima | 57.6% |
| 22 | Osaka | 57.3% |
| 23 | Mie | 56.8% |
| 24 | Nara | 56.5% |
| 25 | Yamagata | 56.4% |
Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Osaka ranks 1 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 Osaka: 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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