気ままなリライト３９

都道府県ランキング（家計調査編 貯蓄） 京都市、年収の3倍以上

The relationship between an average amount of household savings and an average amount of annual household incomes in each prefecture has reflected the personal characteristic traits particular to the residents in each prefecture and the economic, historical and demographical situations the prefecture is faced with. According to a survey on the household budgets with two household members or more by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2021, the survey results by prefecture showed a stark contrast on the ratio of savings to income in an average budget size of households.
 
The survey showed a huge gap between prefectures in the ratio of an average amount of household savings to an average amount of annual household income. When the national average savings of 14.54 million yen were compared with the national average annual income of 7.49 million yen in 2021, the ratio of 1.94 to 1 stood. Among the prefectures with a higher ratio above the national levels were 16 prefectures, including Kyoto, Nara, Shiga and Gifu. In Kyoto, the prefectural average savings was 3.1 times higher than the prefectural annual income on average. That was in contrast with the ratio of 1.18 to 1 in Osaka with the prefectural average annual income of 6.7 million yen.
 
A high ratio of the prefectural average savings to the prefectural average annual income was not always in proportion to the high average annual income in the prefecture. For example, Kyoto’s average income of 7.12 million yen fell behind the other prefectures including Gifu with 8.1 million yen, Tokyo with 9.78 million yen and Chiba with 7.95 million yen. What Kyoto’s highest ratio of the prefectural average savings was attributed to was the historical and economic value of many traditional companies faring better financially as Kyoto ranked top with 5.2 % in the proportion of century-old or longer companies, compared with other prefectures.
 
For the second-highest ratio of the prefectural average savings in Nara Prefecture with a sixth high prefectural average annual income of 7.95 million yen, the characteristics of lifestyle or working style peculiar to the residents in the prefecture have been taken into account as a key factor. A down-to-earth lifestyle has taken root in the prefecture close to big cities to stay balanced within their budget by avoiding luxury. The income coming from jobs many residents have landed in middle or big-sized companies in neighboring big cities increased their savings as the number of residents commuting outside of the prefecture accounted for 14.7 % of the total residents, the third-highest percentage, following Saitama and Chiba.
 
The third-highest ratio of the prefectural average savings to the prefectural average annual income in Shiga Prefecture has indicated many residents’ potentiality of being a good financial planner. According to a survey by Sony Life Insurance in 2021, more than 30 % of residents answered they were very aware of how to take care of their financial well-being or how to enjoy the growth driven by their savings without stretching their monthly budget beyond a comfortable limit while maintaining a comfortable standard of living. The percentage was what other prefectures couldn’t surpass.
 
With the second-largest prefectural average annual income of 9.37 million, following Tokyo, Saitama was ranked nineteenth as a debt-ridden prefecture in the ratio of the prefectural average savings. The largest debt by prefecture came from home-equity loans for owning the premises. Many residents struggling to pay the debt for the houses they live couldn’t afford to save money.
 
With Osaka, Okinawa ranking the lowest or the second lowest in the ratio of the prefectural average savings, low levels in each prefectural average annual income pushed money-saving power down. The prefectural average annual income of 6.7 million yen in Osaka discouraged many residents from achieving their saving plans. The income for savings was gone with high prices. Okinawa’s average annual income of 5.79 million yen hit the lowest level by prefecture.