According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s FY2024 Basic Survey on Equal Employment, the rate of men taking parental leave reached 40.5%, a significant increase from 32.1% in the previous year — the highest ever recorded.
The survey covers men whose spouses gave birth between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023, and who started parental leave (including “paternity leave at childbirth”) by October 1, 2024.
While this brings Japan closer to the government’s goal of a 50% male parental leave rate by 2025, challenges remain — including short leave durations and workplace culture issues.
Companies are encouraged to continue developing workplace systems that make it easier for men to take childcare leave.
