Many people hear that Japan’s average annual income is about 4.6 million yen, but they might wonder how this compares to their own earnings or if it applies to those living in rural areas. In many rural regions, income levels tend to be lower compared to urban areas, making the figure of 4.6 million yen seem unrealistic to some.
The average annual income of 4.6 million yen often cited comes from the National Tax Agency’s “Survey on Private Sector Salaries.” This data includes wages for all salary earners, such as full-time, part-time, and contract workers. However, the presence of high-income earners in urban areas like Tokyo can significantly raise the national average.
Looking at average salaries by regional tax office, there are distinct differences between Tokyo and other areas:
- Tokyo: about 5.3 million yen
- Sapporo: about 3.92 million yen
- Sendai: about 3.79 million yen
- Fukuoka: about 3.65 million yen
- Okinawa: about 3.5 million yen
In many rural areas, average incomes often range from the high 3-million to low 4-million yen marks, which is below the national average. Especially in regions such as Kyushu, Okinawa, and Tohoku, the average annual income is 800,000 to 1,000,000 yen lower than the national average. This disparity can reflect factors like the types of industries present, regional economic conditions, and cost of living.
Instead of focusing solely on average income, the “median income” can provide a more realistic view. The median income is less skewed by high earners and shows how much the middle person in the income distribution earns. Nationally, this median is around 3.7 million to 4.1 million yen, which is 500,000 to 900,000 yen lower than the average. For rural areas, the median income often goes lower, to around 3.5 million yen.
In summary, the typical income in rural Japan is generally lower than the national average. It’s important to consider factors like local cost of living and the median income when evaluating earnings. Focusing on what kind of lifestyle is possible in a given region can lead to more practical decisions regarding work and future planning, rather than just comparing raw income numbers.
by MagazineKey4532