JLPT pass rates by level
Last checked: 2026-11-06
About one in three JLPT takers passed in December 2025: 33.9% overall, from 29.8% at N1 to 50.2% at N5. That is 297,582 passes from 876,484 examinees. The December 2025 data is the latest we found on the official past test data page.
December 2025 pass rates
| Level | Examinees | Certified | All sites | Japan | Overseas |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | 121,233 | 36,124 | 29.8% | 24.0% | 34.2% |
| N2 | 232,364 | 76,712 | 33.0% | 25.4% | 40.9% |
| N3 | 249,389 | 77,767 | 31.2% | 26.2% | 37.5% |
| N4 | 194,015 | 67,054 | 34.6% | 33.6% | 35.3% |
| N5 | 79,483 | 39,925 | 50.2% | 53.5% | 50.0% |
| Total | 876,484 | 297,582 | 33.9% | 27.6% | 39.3% |
Figures are from the official data page. Examinee counts include people who took only some test sections.
What the numbers show
These points are our own reading of the table:
- Overseas takers passed more often than takers in Japan at N1 to N4. The gap was largest at N2: 40.9% overseas against 25.4% in Japan, a difference of 15.5 points.
- N5 was the only level with a higher rate in Japan, but only 4,647 people took it there, against 74,836 overseas.
- N1 had the lowest rate in every group, but overseas the gap to N4 was small: 34.2% against 35.3%.
Why a pass rate does not tell you how hard a level is
- Different people take each level. The rate shows how a group did, not how you will do.
- Partial takers count. People who missed a section are in the examinee count, and missing a section means failing.
- One test is one sample. We show one test here. See the last six tests compared before you draw a firm conclusion.
What failing costs you
Here is our own example. In Japan, the fee was 7,500 yen for the July 2026 test. A second attempt doubles that to 15,000 yen, and you wait for the next test, which is usually five to seven months away. In a city with one test a year, such as those in the USA, you wait a full year. See registration by country.
So the real cost of failing is usually time. If a job or school deadline depends on the result, choose a level you can pass with some margin.
How to lower your risk
- Use the official marks. You must reach the overall mark and every section minimum. See the pass marks.
- Practice with the official workbook and find your weakest section.
- Spend your time and any tutor budget on that section. See what tutors cost.
- Check that you chose the right level. See what each level means.
Check tutors and current prices on Preply.
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