Inflation rates by country and year

-1.4%4.8%10.9%17.1%23.2%
-1.4%4.8%10.9%17.1%23.2%
19603.6%
19921.8%
20253.2%
Source: World Bank

Data: World Bank, annual %. For information only — not financial advice.

Year2025Inflation Rate3.2%

Behind the curve

Turning points in Japan

  1. 1973↑ Upward pressure

    The first oil crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Heavy dependence on imported oil made Japan especially vulnerable. The 1973 embargo pushed inflation to a sharp peak in 1974.

    Statistics Bureau of Japan · Consumer Price Index
  2. 1990↕ Mixed effects

    The asset-price bubble and its collapse — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The bursting of the late-1980s bubble began a long stagnation, and inflation slid toward the deflation of the lost decades.

    Bank of Japan · Monetary Policy
  3. 2009↓ Downward pressure

    The global financial crisis — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    The global downturn and a strong yen drove Japan deeper into deflation in 2009.

    Statistics Bureau of Japan · Consumer Price Index
  4. 2013↕ Mixed effects

    Abenomics and the fight against deflation — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    Aggressive monetary easing aimed to lift inflation toward the 2% target. A 2014 consumption-tax rise temporarily boosted prices, but sustained inflation proved elusive.

    Bank of Japan · Monetary Policy
  5. 2022↑ Upward pressure

    Weak yen and higher import prices — Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

    A weaker yen and higher energy and food import costs pushed Japanese inflation up in 2022 for the first time in years.

    Statistics Bureau of Japan · Consumer Price Index

These are selected historical influences, not a complete account of inflation. An upward-pressure event can coincide with a peak when its inflationary effect has already occurred or when other forces begin pushing inflation lower. The markers show the years in which events occurred, although their effects may extend into later years.

What is the inflation in Japan?

The annual inflation rate in Japan was 3.2% in 2025, the most recent year in the World Bank dataset. That means prices rose 3.2% on average compared with the year before. Use the chart above to explore Japan's full inflation history from 1960 to 2025, and to compare it with any other country.

How inflation in Japan has changed

Inflation in Japan peaked at 23.2% in 1974 and reached its lowest point at -1.4% in 2009. Averaged across the 66 years of available data (1960–2025), the rate has been 2.9% per year.

Frequently asked questions about inflation in Japan

What is the current inflation rate in Japan?

The latest available annual figure is 3.2% in 2025, from the World Bank. Because the figures are reported annually, they may not reflect the most recent monthly reading published by Japan's statistical office.

What was the highest inflation rate in Japan?

The highest annual inflation rate on record is 23.2%, reached in 1974.

What was the lowest inflation rate in Japan?

The lowest annual inflation rate on record is -1.4%, recorded in 2009.

Where does the inflation data for Japan come from?

All figures come from the World Bank's World Development Indicators (indicator FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG), which report annual consumer price inflation for more than 200 countries and territories from 1960 onward.