Japan’s housing starts increased 11.4% yoy in April 2026, shifting from a 29.3% decline in the previous month and marking the first expansion since last October. However, the figure fell short of market expectations for a 15.5% rise. Growth was broad-based across all segments, including owner-occupied homes (19.5% vs -27.4% in March), rental housing (17.3% vs -35.2%), built-for-sale housing (3.4% vs -21.7%), prefabricated housing (11.1% vs -4.7%), and two-by-four homes (64.8% vs -28.4%). source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan

Housing Starts YoY in Japan increased to 11.40 percent in April from -29.30 percent in March of 2026. Housing Starts YoY in Japan averaged 1.84 Percent from 1961 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 67.60 Percent in March of 1972 and a record low of -44.00 Percent in September of 2007. This page includes a chart with historical data for Japan Housing Starts YoY. Japan Housing Starts YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Housing Starts YoY in Japan increased to 11.40 percent in April from -29.30 percent in March of 2026. Housing Starts YoY in Japan is expected to be -5.00 Percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Japan Housing Starts YoY is projected to trend around 0.80 Percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-30 05:00 AM
Housing Starts YoY
Mar -29.3% -4.9% -28.5% -26.0%
2026-05-29 05:00 AM
Housing Starts YoY
Apr 11.4% -29.3% 15.5% 16.5%
2026-06-29 05:00 AM
Housing Starts YoY
May 11.4%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Construction Orders YoY -32.30 -14.40 percent Apr 2026
Housing Index 146.28 145.20 points Mar 2026
Housing Starts 62569.00 63495.00 Units Apr 2026
Housing Starts YoY 11.40 -29.30 Percent Apr 2026
Price to Rent Ratio 138.00 136.50 points Sep 2025
Residential Property Prices 5.04 4.33 Percent Dec 2025


Japan Housing Starts YoY
In Japan, housing starts refers to the year-on-year change in volume of new housing construction started.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
11.40 -29.30 67.60 -44.00 1961 - 2026 Percent Monthly
NSA

News Stream
Japan Housing Starts Rebound Less than Estimated
Japan’s housing starts increased 11.4% yoy in April 2026, shifting from a 29.3% decline in the previous month and marking the first expansion since last October. However, the figure fell short of market expectations for a 15.5% rise. Growth was broad-based across all segments, including owner-occupied homes (19.5% vs -27.4% in March), rental housing (17.3% vs -35.2%), built-for-sale housing (3.4% vs -21.7%), prefabricated housing (11.1% vs -4.7%), and two-by-four homes (64.8% vs -28.4%).
2026-05-29
Japan Housing Starts Fall the Most in 10 Months
Japan’s housing starts plunged 29.3% yoy in March 2026, worsening from a 4.9% decline in the previous month and underperforming market expectations for a 28.5% fall. This marked the fifth straight month of contraction and the steepest decline since May 2025, highlighting persistent weakness in the property sector amid higher construction costs and weak demand. Declines were broad-based across all segments, including rental housing (-35.2% vs -2.7% in February), owner-occupied homes (-27.4% vs -4.7%), built-for-sale housing (-21.7% vs -8.8%), prefabricated housing (-4.7% vs -2.2%), and two-by-four homes (-28.4% vs -7.7%).
2026-04-30
Japan Housing Starts Drop the Most in 3 Months
Japan’s housing starts fell 4.9% yoy in February 2026, worsening from a 0.4% decline in the previous month and slightly missing market expectations for a 4.7% drop. This marked the fourth straight month of contraction and the steepest decline since last November, pointing to sustained weakness in the property sector amid higher construction costs and soft demand. Declines were broad-based across all segments, including rental housing (-2.7% vs -1.5% in January), owner-occupied homes (-4.7% vs 6.6%), built-for-sale housing (-8.8% vs -4.8%), prefabricated housing (-2.2% vs 5.1%), and two-by-four homes (-7.7% vs 8.7%).
2026-03-31