OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Japón de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: JAPAN © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) In Japan, homelessness is defined as: those who use city parks, riverbanks, roads, train stations and other facilities as their place of stay in order to live their daily lives. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 2 591 individuals, representing 0.002% of the total population (2025) 6% are women, 91% are men Point-in-time count, based on the National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey) ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces Not included: • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) According to the Act on Special Measures concerning Assistance in Self-Support of Homeless, the State, with the co-operation of local governments, must conduct a nationwide survey on the actual situation of homelessness. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: Measures to Support Homeless Self-Reliance Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)

co-operation of local governments, must conduct a nationwide survey on the actual situation of homelessness. Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: Measures to Support Homeless Self-Reliance Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey): Annual street count performed in January in collaboration with municipal governments (Table 6.1). • National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (fact-finding survey on living conditions): People experiencing homelessness are interviewed about their living conditions (Table 6.2).

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Japan2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: JAPAN © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness According to The Act on Special Measures concerning Assistance in Self-Support of Homeless homelessness is defined as “those who utilise city parks, riverbanks, roads, train stations and other facilities as their place of stay in order to live their daily lives.” Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2018 4 977 0.004% 4 977 Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included 2023 3 065 0.002% 3 065 Not included Not included Not

Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2018 4 977 0.004% 4 977 Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included 2023 3 065 0.002% 3 065 Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included 2025 2 591 0.002% 2 591 Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Unknown o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: It is unclear whether the headline estimate includes children, as the age of respondents is not measured.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2018, 2023, 2025), National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey).

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2025 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA 2 346 163 NA NA NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA 90.50% 6.30% NA NA NA ETHOS Light 1: People living rough NA 2 346 163 NA NA NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions

emergency accommodation Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: JAPAN © OECD 2026

ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Not included Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: No o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: No ‒ Refugees: No ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey).

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness The Act on Special Measures concerning Assistance in Self-Support of Homeless Legal obligations The Act requires that the State, with the co-operation of local governments, conduct a nationwide survey on the actual situation of homelessness. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy Measures to Support Homeless Self-Reliance Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist No. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey) Description The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare collaborate with local governments to perform street counts. The street count takes place in January of every

strategies exist No. Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (approximate survey) Description The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare collaborate with local governments to perform street counts. The street count takes place in January of every year. The number of people experiencing homelessness are classifie d by the following five locations: urban parks, rivers, roads, station b uildings and other facilities.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Street Count Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Source(s) of information Local governments collect information through municipality control. The information is shared with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Scope National level Depth of data Disaggregated by gender and location Frequency Every year ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “in cluded” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Notes and sources Results of a Nationwide Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (Approximate Survey) - Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (mhlw.go.jp)4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: JAPAN © OECD 2026

6.2. National Survey on the Actual Conditions of Homelessness (Fact-finding Survey on Living Conditions) Description A sample of people experiencing homelessness are interviewed about their living conditions. Interviews take place every five years in January. As much as possible, survey respondents selected are equally representativ e of age, gender, distribution of homeless living places, and whethe r the person is fixed or mobile. People experiencing homelessness are informed prior to the survey that they will be interviewed.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Street count (with a survey) Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

fixed or mobile. People experiencing homelessness are informed prior to the survey that they will be interviewed.

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods Street count (with a survey) Lead authority(ies) Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Source(s) of information Local governments collect information through investigators. The information is shared with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Scope Tokyo’s 23 wards and cities where the number of people experiencing homelessness is reported to be above 20. Depth of data Key demographic characteristics, living conditions, time spent experiencing homelessness. Frequency Every 5 years ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces

Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “in cluded” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources Summary of results| Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (mhlw.go.jp)

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html.

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: JAPAN © OECD 2026

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