Poverty and living standards in Saitama, Japan: official figures
The number of people receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) per 1,000 people in Saitama was 13.43 in 2023, 24th highest of 47 prefectures.
How many older people receive welfare in Saitama?
The number of people aged 65 or over receiving public assistance per 1,000 people aged 65 or over in Saitama was 24.8 in 2022, 19th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people get housing assistance in Saitama?
The number of people receiving housing assistance per 1,000 people in Saitama was 11.79 in 2023, 20th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Saitama have a disability certificate?
The number of physical disability certificates issued per 1,000 people in Saitama was 27.2 in 2023, the lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many disabled job seekers find work in Saitama?
The employment rate of job seekers with disabilities in Saitama was 35.7% in 2024, 3rd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Saitama claim unemployment benefit?
The share of insured workers receiving unemployment benefit in Saitama was 1.50% in 2023, tied for 3rd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Saitama?
The number of recorded criminal offences per 1,000 people in Saitama was 6.77 in 2023, 5th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many crimes are solved in Saitama?
The share of recorded offences that police cleared in Saitama was 31.8% in 2023, 5th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many police officers are there in Saitama?
The number of police officers per 1,000 people in Saitama was 1.60 in 2024, the lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in road accidents in Saitama?
The number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Saitama 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 Saitama?
The number of road traffic accidents per 100,000 people in Saitama was 215.9 in 2024, 16th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Saitama?
The number of deaths from unintentional accidents per 100,000 people in Saitama was 25.7 in 2023, tied for 3rd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much damage do disasters cause in Saitama?
The value of disaster damage per person in Saitama 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 Saitama?
The number of fires per 100,000 people in Saitama was 27.2 in 2023, 8th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people receive welfare in Saitama?
98,044 people in Saitama were receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo, Japan's last-resort welfare payment) in March 2026, which is 1.34 per 100 residents, 24th 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 Saitama?
80,875 households in Saitama were receiving public assistance in March 2026, 6th 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 Saitama?
Households of people aged 65 or over made up 53.5% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (43,105 households), 12th lowest 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 Saitama?
Single-person households made up 84.7% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (68,208 households), 11th lowest 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 Saitama?
Single-mother households made up 3.2% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (2,547 households), 21st 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 Saitama?
Households with a disabled or sick member as the main reason made up 26.3% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (21,189 households), 14th 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 Saitama?
Households of working-age people with none of the above reasons ("other households") made up 17.0% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (13,686 households), 12th highest 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 Saitama are working?
Households with someone in work made up 14.7% of the 80,527 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Saitama in March 2026 (11,835 households), 22nd 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 Saitama get rent support?
The share of people on public assistance who received housing assistance (rent support) in Saitama was 87.5% in March 2026, 6th 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 Saitama receive living allowances?
The share of people on public assistance who received living assistance (the basic monthly payment) in Saitama was 86.2% in March 2026, 9th 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 Saitama get school support?
The share of people on public assistance who received education assistance (mostly schoolchildren) in Saitama was 3.7% in March 2026, 23rd lowest 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 Saitama get medical help?
The share of people on public assistance who received medical assistance (free treatment) in Saitama was 84.2% in March 2026, 19th 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 Saitama?
1,258 applications for public assistance were received in Saitama in March 2026, which is 17.2 per 100,000 residents, 20th highest of 47 prefectures, and 1,098 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 Saitama?
The share of households receiving public assistance whose head does not hold Japanese nationality in Saitama was 2.2% in March 2026, 21st highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 2.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow Saitama compares with other prefectures
People on public assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Saitama ranks 24 of 47, highest first. Monthly average, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Rank | Region | People on public assistance per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kumamoto | 13.97 |
| 22 | Nara | 13.89 |
| 23 | Miyagi | 13.51 |
| 24 | Saitama | 13.43 |
| 25 | Okayama | 12.75 |
| 26 | Tottori | 12.00 |
| 27 | Kagawa | 10.85 |
Recorded offences per 1,000 residents (2023)
Saitama ranks 5 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Gunma | 7.01 |
| 3 | Ibaraki | 7.00 |
| 4 | Hyogo | 6.94 |
| 5 | Saitama | 6.77 |
| 6 | Fukuoka | 6.52 |
| 7 | Tokyo | 6.33 |
| 8 | Tochigi | 6.29 |
People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Saitama ranks 24 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kumamoto | 1.39 |
| 22 | Akita | 1.38 |
| 23 | Nara | 1.37 |
| 24 | Saitama | 1.34 |
| 25 | Okayama | 1.27 |
| 26 | Tottori | 1.17 |
| 27 | Iwate | 1.10 |
Elderly households as a share of households on public assistance (March 2026) (2026)
Saitama ranks 36 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Nagano | 54.0% |
| 34 | Shimane | 53.8% |
| 35 | Tottori | 53.8% |
| 36 | Saitama | 53.5% |
| 37 | Kagawa | 53.3% |
| 38 | Tokyo | 53.2% |
| 39 | Kyoto | 52.9% |
Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Saitama ranks 20 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Kumamoto | 17.4 |
| 18 | Akita | 17.3 |
| 19 | Miyagi | 17.2 |
| 20 | Saitama | 17.2 |
| 21 | Hyogo | 16.8 |
| 22 | Hiroshima | 16.5 |
| 23 | Ehime | 16.1 |
More on Saitama: 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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