Poverty and living standards in Shimane, Japan: official figures
The number of people receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) per 1,000 people in Shimane was 8.28 in 2023, 9th lowest of 47 prefectures.
How many older people receive welfare in Shimane?
The number of people aged 65 or over receiving public assistance per 1,000 people aged 65 or over in Shimane was 11.8 in 2022, tied for 5th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people get housing assistance in Shimane?
The number of people receiving housing assistance per 1,000 people in Shimane was 6.05 in 2023, 7th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Shimane have a disability certificate?
The number of physical disability certificates issued per 1,000 people in Shimane was 46.0 in 2023, tied for 14th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many disabled job seekers find work in Shimane?
The employment rate of job seekers with disabilities in Shimane was 55.2% in 2024, 3rd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Shimane claim unemployment benefit?
The share of insured workers receiving unemployment benefit in Shimane was 1.20% in 2023, tied for 20th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Shimane?
The number of recorded criminal offences per 1,000 people in Shimane was 3.01 in 2023, 6th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many crimes are solved in Shimane?
The share of recorded offences that police cleared in Shimane was 72.7% in 2023, the highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many police officers are there in Shimane?
The number of police officers per 1,000 people in Shimane was 2.33 in 2024, 9th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in road accidents in Shimane?
The number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Shimane was 1.40 in 2024, 3rd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many road accidents happen in Shimane?
The number of road traffic accidents per 100,000 people in Shimane was 107.8 in 2024, the lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Shimane?
The number of deaths from unintentional accidents per 100,000 people in Shimane was 43.8 in 2023, 20th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much damage do disasters cause in Shimane?
The value of disaster damage per person in Shimane was 4,989 yen in 2023, 16th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many fires are there in Shimane?
The number of fires per 100,000 people in Shimane was 40.9 in 2023, 10th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people receive welfare in Shimane?
5,225 people in Shimane were receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo, Japan's last-resort welfare payment) in March 2026, which is 0.81 per 100 residents, 8th lowest 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 Shimane?
4,327 households in Shimane were receiving public assistance in March 2026, 3rd fewest 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 Shimane?
Households of people aged 65 or over made up 53.8% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (2,324 households), 14th 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 Shimane?
Single-person households made up 86.6% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (3,737 households), 16th 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 Shimane?
Single-mother households made up 3.2% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (140 households), 19th 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 Shimane?
Households with a disabled or sick member as the main reason made up 22.6% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (975 households), 13th lowest 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 Shimane?
Households of working-age people with none of the above reasons ("other households") made up 20.3% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (877 households), 3rd 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 Shimane are working?
Households with someone in work made up 19.0% of the 4,316 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Shimane in March 2026 (821 households), 3rd 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 Shimane get rent support?
The share of people on public assistance who received housing assistance (rent support) in Shimane was 73.7% in March 2026, 6th lowest 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 Shimane receive living allowances?
The share of people on public assistance who received living assistance (the basic monthly payment) in Shimane was 84.8% in March 2026, 24th 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 Shimane get school support?
The share of people on public assistance who received education assistance (mostly schoolchildren) in Shimane was 4.2% in March 2026, 12th 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 Shimane get medical help?
The share of people on public assistance who received medical assistance (free treatment) in Shimane was 80.7% in March 2026, 8th 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 Shimane?
87 applications for public assistance were received in Shimane in March 2026, which is 13.6 per 100,000 residents, 16th lowest of 47 prefectures, and 80 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 Shimane?
The share of households receiving public assistance whose head does not hold Japanese nationality in Shimane was 1.1% in March 2026, 17th lowest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 2.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow Shimane compares with other prefectures
People on public assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Shimane ranks 39 of 47, highest first. Monthly average, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Rank | Region | People on public assistance per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Saga | 9.18 |
| 37 | Mie | 9.05 |
| 38 | Yamanashi | 8.75 |
| 39 | Shimane | 8.28 |
| 40 | Gunma | 8.04 |
| 41 | Shiga | 7.99 |
| 42 | Yamagata | 7.55 |
Recorded offences per 1,000 residents (2023)
Shimane ranks 42 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Fukui | 3.82 |
| 40 | Kumamoto | 3.61 |
| 41 | Yamaguchi | 3.22 |
| 42 | Shimane | 3.01 |
| 43 | Nagasaki | 2.99 |
| 44 | Yamagata | 2.90 |
| 45 | Oita | 2.73 |
People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Shimane ranks 40 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Mie | 0.90 |
| 38 | Yamanashi | 0.89 |
| 39 | Gunma | 0.85 |
| 40 | Shimane | 0.81 |
| 41 | Shiga | 0.80 |
| 42 | Yamagata | 0.75 |
| 43 | Gifu | 0.64 |
Elderly households as a share of households on public assistance (March 2026) (2026)
Shimane ranks 34 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Hyogo | 54.6% |
| 32 | Shizuoka | 54.5% |
| 33 | Nagano | 54.0% |
| 34 | Shimane | 53.8% |
| 35 | Tottori | 53.8% |
| 36 | Saitama | 53.5% |
| 37 | Kagawa | 53.3% |
Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Shimane ranks 32 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Iwate | 14.1 |
| 30 | Tottori | 13.9 |
| 31 | Tochigi | 13.6 |
| 32 | Shimane | 13.6 |
| 33 | Niigata | 13.4 |
| 34 | Shizuoka | 13.4 |
| 35 | Mie | 12.4 |
More on Shimane: 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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