Poverty and living standards in Wakayama, Japan: official figures
The number of people receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo) per 1,000 people in Wakayama was 16.19 in 2023, 15th highest of 47 prefectures.
How many older people receive welfare in Wakayama?
The number of people aged 65 or over receiving public assistance per 1,000 people aged 65 or over in Wakayama was 29.1 in 2022, 14th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people get housing assistance in Wakayama?
The number of people receiving housing assistance per 1,000 people in Wakayama was 12.88 in 2023, 15th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Wakayama have a disability certificate?
The number of physical disability certificates issued per 1,000 people in Wakayama was 58.2 in 2023, the highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many disabled job seekers find work in Wakayama?
The employment rate of job seekers with disabilities in Wakayama was 44.7% in 2024, 18th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people in Wakayama claim unemployment benefit?
The share of insured workers receiving unemployment benefit in Wakayama was 1.40% in 2023, tied for 10th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Wakayama?
The number of recorded criminal offences per 1,000 people in Wakayama was 4.52 in 2023, tied for 22nd lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many crimes are solved in Wakayama?
The share of recorded offences that police cleared in Wakayama was 60.0% in 2023, 6th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many police officers are there in Wakayama?
The number of police officers per 1,000 people in Wakayama was 2.48 in 2024, 3rd highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in road accidents in Wakayama?
The number of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in Wakayama was 3.90 in 2024, 4th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many road accidents happen in Wakayama?
The number of road traffic accidents per 100,000 people in Wakayama was 146.5 in 2024, 8th lowest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Wakayama?
The number of deaths from unintentional accidents per 100,000 people in Wakayama was 50.1 in 2023, 9th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow much damage do disasters cause in Wakayama?
The value of disaster damage per person in Wakayama was 33,962 yen in 2023, 4th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many fires are there in Wakayama?
The number of fires per 100,000 people in Wakayama was 38.5 in 2023, 16th highest of 47 prefectures.
Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications · saved copyHow many people receive welfare in Wakayama?
14,381 people in Wakayama were receiving public assistance (seikatsu hogo, Japan's last-resort welfare payment) in March 2026, which is 1.63 per 100 residents, 14th 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 Wakayama?
12,356 households in Wakayama were receiving public assistance in March 2026, 17th fewest of 47 prefectures, an average of 1.16 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 Wakayama?
Households of people aged 65 or over made up 63.9% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (7,875 households), 2nd 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 Wakayama?
Single-person households made up 87.6% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (10,792 households), 8th 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 Wakayama?
Single-mother households made up 2.3% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (280 households), 10th 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 Wakayama?
Households with a disabled or sick member as the main reason made up 19.8% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (2,444 households), 2nd 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 Wakayama?
Households of working-age people with none of the above reasons ("other households") made up 13.9% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (1,718 households), 18th 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 Wakayama are working?
Households with someone in work made up 11.9% of the 12,317 households receiving public assistance (suspended cases excluded) in Wakayama in March 2026 (1,465 households), 5th 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 Wakayama get rent support?
The share of people on public assistance who received housing assistance (rent support) in Wakayama was 79.5% in March 2026, 22nd 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 Wakayama receive living allowances?
The share of people on public assistance who received living assistance (the basic monthly payment) in Wakayama was 85.8% in March 2026, 15th 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 Wakayama get school support?
The share of people on public assistance who received education assistance (mostly schoolchildren) in Wakayama was 2.7% in March 2026, 3rd 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 Wakayama get medical help?
The share of people on public assistance who received medical assistance (free treatment) in Wakayama was 85.8% in March 2026, 23rd highest 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 Wakayama?
163 applications for public assistance were received in Wakayama in March 2026, which is 18.5 per 100,000 residents, 14th highest of 47 prefectures, and 154 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 Wakayama?
The share of households receiving public assistance whose head does not hold Japanese nationality in Wakayama was 1.8% in March 2026, 23rd highest of 47 prefectures. Japan overall: 2.9%.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, via e-Stat · saved copyHow Wakayama compares with other prefectures
People on public assistance per 1,000 residents (2023)
Wakayama ranks 15 of 47, highest first. Monthly average, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Rank | Region | People on public assistance per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Tokushima | 17.83 |
| 13 | Oita | 16.81 |
| 14 | Kanagawa | 16.62 |
| 15 | Wakayama | 16.19 |
| 16 | Miyazaki | 16.11 |
| 17 | Ehime | 15.15 |
| 18 | Chiba | 14.41 |
Recorded offences per 1,000 residents (2023)
Wakayama ranks 26 of 47, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Recorded offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Kyoto | 4.69 |
| 24 | Fukushima | 4.53 |
| 25 | Nara | 4.52 |
| 26 | Wakayama | 4.52 |
| 27 | Toyama | 4.47 |
| 28 | Shizuoka | 4.39 |
| 29 | Hokkaido | 4.37 |
People on public assistance per 100 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Wakayama ranks 14 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Hyogo | 1.78 |
| 12 | Tokushima | 1.70 |
| 13 | Kanagawa | 1.64 |
| 14 | Wakayama | 1.63 |
| 15 | Oita | 1.63 |
| 16 | Miyazaki | 1.59 |
| 17 | Ehime | 1.47 |
Elderly households as a share of households on public assistance (March 2026) (2026)
Wakayama ranks 2 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aomori | 65.4% |
| 2 | Wakayama | 63.9% |
| 3 | Oita | 63.8% |
| 4 | Saga | 63.3% |
| 5 | Akita | 62.0% |
| 6 | Yamanashi | 61.7% |
| 7 | Kochi | 61.1% |
Applications for public assistance per 100,000 residents (March 2026) (2026)
Wakayama ranks 14 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Oita | 19.5 |
| 12 | Chiba | 19.1 |
| 13 | Kagoshima | 18.5 |
| 14 | Wakayama | 18.5 |
| 15 | Nagasaki | 18.3 |
| 16 | Okayama | 17.8 |
| 17 | Kumamoto | 17.4 |
More on Wakayama: 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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