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Number of College/University Students by Major in Japan, 1960-2020

The following data show the change in the number of students at colleges/universities by their major in Japan from 1960 to 2020. 

The number of medical field students (mainly nursing study) is increasing recently. The number of students in interdisciplinary fields (called "others" in the following table) is also increasing. Surprisingly, the number of agricultural students is increasing. Despite the fact that the number of Japanese farmers is declining.

Table: Change in the number of students at colleges/universities by major in Japan from 1960 to 2020

  1960 1980 2000 2020
Humanities 77,888 239,990 410,979 364,474
Social science 257,979 704,737 985,617 835,595
Science 16,206 54,579 87,901 78,353
Engineering 92,572 337,767 467,162 382,341
Agriculture 28,040 59,558 70,308 77,622
Medicine & Dentistry 23,026 71,413 64,309 72,245
Health (exclude MD/Dentist) 12,607 40,645 79,328 266,803
Mercantile marine 1,429 1,595 905 411
Home economics 8,203 31,930 44,298 72,117
Education & teacher training 63,169 133,211 137,615 189,986
Arts 9,325 44,158 65,208 74,755
Others 11,020 21,921 58,125 208,870
         

Figure 1: Change in the number of students at colleges/universities by major in Japan from 1960 to 2020 (Faculties with a large number of students)

f:id:nbakki:20210725000103p:plain

Figure 2: Change in the number of students at colleges/universities by major in Japan from 1960 to 2020 (Faculties with a small number of students)

f:id:nbakki:20210725000121p:plain

Source is Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. 文部科学統計要覧(令和3年版)

www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/toukei/002/002b/1417059_00006.htm

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