Digital Government Outlook 2026: Japan
Table of contents
This country note presents an overview of the digital government landscape in Japan drawing on the results of the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and the 2025 OECD OURdata Index. The note outlines key policy developments in the country observed during the assessment period. It aims to inform policy dialogue and support Japan in advancing a whole-of-government approach to digital transformation in the public sector.
In the 2025 edition of the OECD Digital Government Index, Japan attained a score of 0.67, below the OECD average of 0.70. This represents a 0.19 increase since 2023 (Figure 1).
Japan recorded higher scores in Digital by Design (0.79), Government as a Platform (0.77) and Proactiveness (0.68), compared with OECD averages of 0.75, 0.71 and 0.67, respectively. These results show that Japan has advanced in integrating digital technologies into government operations and in developing shared platforms for government-wide use.
Japan scored below the OECD average in Open by Default (0.39 vs 0.59), User-Driven (0.69 vs 0.71) and Data-driven Public Sector (0.70 vs 0.74). This means that Japan still has room for improvement in promoting the openness and transparency of government data and in placing user needs more systematically at the centre of service design.
In the 2025 edition of the OECD OURdata Index, Japan attained a score of 0.66, above the OECD average of 0.53 (Figure 2). This represents a 0.29 increase since 2023.
Japan recorded higher scores in Data accessibility (0.77) and Government support for data re-use (0.65), compared with OECD averages of 0.67 and 0.40, respectively. These results reflect Japan's substantial progress in ensuring data accessibility and in strengthening support mechanisms for data re-use.
Japan scored above the OECD average in Data availability (0.55 vs 0.53), though this remains its comparatively lowest-scoring pillar. This suggests that Japan could further broaden the volume and scope of government datasets made available to the public.
Japan has established a comprehensive digital government governance structure. The Digital Agency leads digital policy under the Priority Plan for the Advancement of a Digital Society. Co-ordination is ensured through the Council for the Promotion of a Digital Society, with external input from the Digital Society Initiative Conference.
Ex-post evaluation of digital investments is systematically applied in Japan. The performance-based evaluation report serves as a post-implementation review mechanism, measuring results against predefined goals and budgets. It examines efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes with input from external experts, supporting accountability across the digital investment lifecycle.
Data quality in Japan is supported by the Data Utilization and Data Space Guide. The guide sets out metadata requirements essential for data discovery and assessment, including quality, source, and update history. Data providers are expected to generate metadata when preparing data for sharing, ensuring clarity and usability for users across government.
While Japan has established a strong legislative foundation and strategy for open data, the operational framework supporting its implementation could be strengthened. Mechanisms to incentivise open data publication, indicators to monitor institutional compliance, and assessments evaluating the economic and social impact of open government data are not broadly developed. Furthering these capabilities could help ensure that Japan's open data policies translate into measurable public value.
Japan's human-centred services framework also presents opportunities for development. Formal requirements for user involvement, an omni-channel strategy and accessible service channels are not yet reported. Strengthening these capabilities could support more inclusive and user-centred public services.
The OECD Digital Government Outlook (DGO) provides a comprehensive assessment of digital government policies across OECD Members and accession candidate countries. It draws on the results of the 2025 OECD Digital Government Index (DGI) and the 2025 OECD Open, Useful and Re-usable Data (OURdata) Index to evaluate progress and identify persistent gaps in digital transformation across the public sector.
The DGI assesses the enabling foundations for digital transformation across six dimensions: Digital by Design, Data-driven Public Sector, Government as a Platform, Open by Default, User-Driven and Proactiveness. Rather than measuring the digitalisation of specific services, the DGI focuses on the strategies, policy levers, implementation practices and monitoring mechanisms that enable coherent, whole-of-government digital transformation.
The OURdata Index benchmarks the robustness of open government data policies across three pillars: data availability, data accessibility and government support for data re-use. It supports policymakers in monitoring the design and implementation of national open government data policies.
Both indices were developed with OECD Member countries through the OECD Working Party of Senior Digital Government Officials (E-Leaders) and approved by the OECD Public Governance Committee.
Figure 1: The 2025 DGI OECD average does not include Germany and the United States. 2025 data cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. The 2023 OECD average does not include Germany, Greece, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United States. 2023 data cover the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 October 2022. The composite score is the unweighted average of the six-dimension scores.
Figure 2: The 2025 and 2023 OURdata Index OECD average does not include Denmark, Hungary and the United States. 2025 data cover the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024. 2023 data cover the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. The composite score is the unweighted average of the three-pillar scores.
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The full book is available in English: OECD (2026), Digital Government Outlook 2026: From Foundations to Transformational Impact, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/0496b2bc-en.
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