Japan has a population of 123M (ranked 12/197), compared with 51.7M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Japan's land area is 140,761 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 61st vs. 105th).
By GDP, Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.44T) and South Korea ranks 13/197 ($1.87T). By GDP per capita, Japan ranks 34/197 ($35,951), while South Korea ranks 33/197 ($36,227).
Main facts and rankings
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population |
122704252
|
51624449
|
| Population rank | 12/197 | 31/197 |
| GDP |
$4.44T
2025 |
$1.87T
2025 |
| GDP rank | 4/197 | 13/197 |
| GDP per capita |
$35,951
2025 |
$36,227
2025 |
| GDP per capita rank | 34/197 | 33/197 |
| GDP per capita, PPP |
$52,039
2024 |
$61,051
2024 |
| Government debt |
$9.16T
2025 |
$978B
2025 |
| Debt-to-GDP ratio |
206.5%
2025 |
52.3%
2025 |
| Government debt per person |
$74,248
2025 |
$18,930
2025 |
| Government debt per person rank | 3/185 | 34/185 |
| Average annual personal income after taxes |
$22,962
2026 |
$25,661
2026 |
| Land area | 140,761 sq mi | 37,684 sq mi |
| Population density |
872 ppl/mi²
2026 |
1,370 ppl/mi²
2026 |
| Fertility rate |
1.15
2024 |
0.75
2024 |
| Median age |
50.8 years
2025 |
46.7 years
2025 |
| Life expectancy |
85.1 years
2026 |
84.6 years
2026 |
Japan and South Korea: Comparison Charts
Japan and South Korea economies compared
| Year | GDP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2025 | $4,435,162,999,977 | $1,872,374,961,553 |
| 2024 | $4,190,008,188,359 | $1,875,388,209,407 |
| 2023 | $4,384,854,269,962 | $1,844,800,934,392 |
| 2022 | $4,447,976,207,315 | $1,799,363,116,867 |
| 2021 | $5,225,933,520,753 | $1,942,313,560,966 |
| 2020 | $5,189,197,543,645 | $1,744,070,276,373 |
| 2019 | $5,245,755,000,479 | $1,751,045,752,055 |
| 2018 | $5,154,293,721,630 | $1,824,251,454,307 |
| 2017 | $5,038,231,631,661 | $1,710,196,756,713 |
| 2016 | $5,110,357,383,254 | $1,579,150,518,945 |
| 2015 | $4,534,438,580,495 | $1,539,212,301,136 |
| 2014 | $4,985,763,289,561 | $1,556,252,422,020 |
| 2013 | $5,272,297,037,397 | $1,434,669,686,502 |
| 2012 | $6,333,803,928,788 | $1,335,343,586,438 |
| 2011 | $6,279,422,550,219 | $1,307,103,477,219 |
| 2010 | $5,811,578,109,447 | $1,192,830,015,738 |
| 2009 | $5,336,765,697,589 | $983,065,242,417 |
| 2008 | $5,160,197,175,876 | $1,091,580,692,542 |
| 2007 | $4,624,670,179,655 | $1,220,911,904,593 |
| 2006 | $4,648,058,930,707 | $1,095,175,538,508 |
| 2005 | $4,875,648,486,366 | $971,740,329,984 |
| 2004 | $4,941,485,123,807 | $823,251,107,639 |
| 2003 | $4,573,413,206,709 | $728,516,494,684 |
| 2002 | $4,245,946,980,572 | $650,014,391,470 |
| 2001 | $4,438,792,748,062 | $567,564,806,235 |
| 2000 | $5,042,381,838,343 | $597,487,173,479 |
| 1999 | $4,688,983,449,627 | $515,697,079,289 |
| 1998 | $4,150,359,076,370 | $397,297,216,492 |
| 1997 | $4,579,780,793,432 | $589,202,526,424 |
| 1996 | $5,021,441,618,840 | $631,196,863,758 |
| 1995 | $5,639,649,753,986 | $586,286,469,401 |
| 1994 | $5,104,063,486,348 | $479,181,794,217 |
| 1993 | $4,632,480,515,091 | $405,705,302,846 |
| 1992 | $4,064,529,567,505 | $366,921,291,825 |
| 1991 | $3,724,887,648,862 | $340,851,946,804 |
| 1990 | $3,252,994,239,867 | $292,064,221,389 |
| 1989 | $3,174,934,735,896 | $254,236,243,100 |
| 1988 | $3,191,546,727,316 | $205,477,530,605 |
| 1987 | $2,635,094,473,494 | $152,240,393,646 |
| 1986 | $2,164,729,071,349 | $119,965,960,795 |
| 1985 | $1,457,070,301,468 | $103,764,281,281 |
| 1984 | $1,374,165,212,365 | $99,749,645,089 |
| 1983 | $1,297,622,008,229 | $89,621,208,322 |
| 1982 | $1,183,132,285,328 | $79,921,300,447 |
| 1981 | $1,271,443,597,067 | $74,287,368,087 |
| 1980 | $1,153,159,955,513 | $66,547,970,351 |
| 1979 | $1,100,608,979,757 | $68,083,884,298 |
| 1978 | $1,057,419,758,047 | $52,824,793,388 |
| 1977 | $752,590,681,822 | $39,064,462,810 |
| 1976 | $611,495,350,304 | $30,371,074,380 |
| 1975 | $544,082,569,364 | $22,126,033,058 |
| 1974 | $500,355,087,138 | $19,860,929,977 |
| 1973 | $450,756,970,744 | $14,067,523,813 |
| 1972 | $331,776,379,992 | $10,990,490,570 |
| 1971 | $250,530,994,765 | $10,005,257,131 |
| 1970 | $221,798,003,144 | $9,085,001,794 |
| 1969 | $188,179,852,753 | $7,743,940,189 |
| 1968 | $160,201,483,788 | $6,167,109,472 |
| 1967 | $135,265,319,098 | $4,895,076,718 |
| 1966 | $115,427,351,851 | $3,957,064,541 |
| 1965 | $99,387,878,008 | $3,141,131,708 |
| 1964 | $89,332,989,729 | $3,476,789,682 |
| 1963 | $75,945,582,324 | $4,007,692,308 |
| 1962 | $66,356,388,224 | $2,826,923,077 |
| 1961 | $58,472,696,006 | $2,427,244,761 |
| 1960 | $48,417,804,545 | $3,973,069,307 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY 
Japan and South Korea economies compared
| Year | GDP per capita | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2025 | $35,951 | $36,227 |
| 2024 | $33,797 | $36,239 |
| 2023 | $35,215 | $35,674 |
| 2022 | $35,548 | $34,822 |
| 2021 | $41,581 | $37,518 |
| 2020 | $41,099 | $33,646 |
| 2019 | $41,425 | $33,827 |
| 2018 | $40,645 | $35,364 |
| 2017 | $39,680 | $33,297 |
| 2016 | $40,215 | $30,832 |
| 2015 | $35,665 | $30,172 |
| 2014 | $39,173 | $30,667 |
| 2013 | $41,369 | $28,449 |
| 2012 | $49,627 | $26,601 |
| 2011 | $49,122 | $26,175 |
| 2010 | $45,378 | $24,071 |
| 2009 | $41,678 | $19,937 |
| 2008 | $40,294 | $22,252 |
| 2007 | $36,130 | $25,078 |
| 2006 | $36,354 | $22,610 |
| 2005 | $38,159 | $20,167 |
| 2004 | $38,678 | $17,122 |
| 2003 | $35,809 | $15,212 |
| 2002 | $33,316 | $13,643 |
| 2001 | $34,910 | $11,981 |
| 2000 | $39,753 | $12,710 |
| 1999 | $37,029 | $11,063 |
| 1998 | $32,835 | $8,583 |
| 1997 | $36,331 | $12,822 |
| 1996 | $39,930 | $13,865 |
| 1995 | $44,947 | $13,002 |
| 1994 | $40,774 | $10,734 |
| 1993 | $37,111 | $9,180 |
| 1992 | $32,667 | $8,387 |
| 1991 | $30,048 | $7,873 |
| 1990 | $26,345 | $6,813 |
| 1989 | $25,798 | $5,989 |
| 1988 | $26,037 | $4,889 |
| 1987 | $21,587 | $3,658 |
| 1986 | $17,819 | $2,911 |
| 1985 | $12,058 | $2,543 |
| 1984 | $11,443 | $2,469 |
| 1983 | $10,876 | $2,246 |
| 1982 | $9,986 | $2,032 |
| 1981 | $10,806 | $1,918 |
| 1980 | $9,872 | $1,746 |
| 1979 | $9,497 | $1,814 |
| 1978 | $9,202 | $1,429 |
| 1977 | $6,609 | $1,073 |
| 1976 | $5,422 | $847 |
| 1975 | $4,876 | $627 |
| 1974 | $4,542 | $572 |
| 1973 | $4,147 | $412 |
| 1972 | $3,095 | $328 |
| 1971 | $2,370 | $304 |
| 1970 | $2,145 | $281.8 |
| 1969 | $1,841 | $245.5 |
| 1968 | $1,586 | $200 |
| 1967 | $1,354 | $162.5 |
| 1966 | $1,168 | $134.4 |
| 1965 | $1,015 | $109.4 |
| 1964 | $922 | $124.2 |
| 1963 | $792 | $147 |
| 1962 | $699 | $106.6 |
| 1961 | $622 | $94.2 |
| 1960 | $519 | $158.8 |
Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY
Japan vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator
| Year | Life expectancy, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2026 | 85.1 | 84.6 |
| 2025 | 85 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 84.9 | 84.4 |
| 2023 | 84.7 | 84.3 |
| 2022 | 84.1 | 82.7 |
| 2021 | 84.6 | 83.9 |
| 2020 | 84.7 | 83.7 |
| 2019 | 84.4 | 83.7 |
| 2018 | 84.3 | 83.3 |
| 2017 | 84.2 | 83.3 |
| 2016 | 84.1 | 82.9 |
| 2015 | 83.9 | 82.5 |
| 2014 | 83.6 | 82.4 |
| 2013 | 83.4 | 81.8 |
| 2012 | 83.2 | 81.3 |
| 2011 | 82.7 | 81.2 |
| 2010 | 82.9 | 80.7 |
| 2009 | 83 | 80.6 |
| 2008 | 82.6 | 80 |
| 2007 | 82.5 | 79.4 |
| 2006 | 82.4 | 79 |
| 2005 | 82 | 78.4 |
| 2004 | 82.1 | 78 |
| 2003 | 81.9 | 77.5 |
| 2002 | 81.8 | 77.2 |
| 2001 | 81.5 | 76.9 |
| 2000 | 81.2 | 76.2 |
| 1999 | 80.6 | 75.6 |
| 1998 | 80.6 | 75 |
| 1997 | 80.6 | 74.5 |
| 1996 | 80.4 | 74 |
| 1995 | 79.7 | 73.4 |
| 1994 | 79.8 | 72.9 |
| 1993 | 79.4 | 72.7 |
| 1992 | 79.3 | 72.2 |
| 1991 | 79.3 | 71.4 |
| 1990 | 79 | 71 |
| 1989 | 79 | 70.7 |
| 1988 | 78.5 | 70.2 |
| 1987 | 78.6 | 69.3 |
| 1986 | 78.2 | 69 |
| 1985 | 77.8 | 68.4 |
| 1984 | 77.5 | 68.1 |
| 1983 | 77.1 | 66.7 |
| 1982 | 77.1 | 67.1 |
| 1981 | 76.6 | 67.1 |
| 1980 | 76.1 | 64.8 |
| 1979 | 76.2 | 66.1 |
| 1978 | 75.7 | 65 |
| 1977 | 75.3 | 64.6 |
| 1976 | 74.8 | 65 |
| 1975 | 74.4 | 64.7 |
| 1974 | 73.8 | 64.2 |
| 1973 | 73.4 | 63.8 |
| 1972 | 73.3 | 63.2 |
| 1971 | 72.8 | 62.7 |
| 1970 | 72 | 62.2 |
| 1969 | 71.9 | 61.4 |
| 1968 | 71.7 | 60.9 |
| 1967 | 71.4 | 60.9 |
| 1966 | 71.1 | 55.4 |
| 1965 | 70.3 | 55.8 |
| 1964 | 70.2 | 55.3 |
| 1963 | 69.7 | 55 |
| 1962 | 68.7 | 55 |
| 1961 | 68.4 | 54.4 |
| 1960 | 67.7 | 53.8 |
| 1959 | 67.5 | 52.9 |
| 1958 | 67 | 51.8 |
| 1957 | 65.4 | 51.6 |
| 1956 | 65.6 | 50.2 |
| 1955 | 65.7 | 48.4 |
| 1954 | 64.5 | 46.1 |
| 1953 | 63.3 | 40.5 |
| 1952 | 63 | 36.6 |
| 1951 | 61 | 26.6 |
| 1950 | 59.3 | 22.2 |
Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY
Japan and South Korea population clocks and comparison
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2025 | 123,366,734 | 51,684,564 |
| 2024 | 123,975,371 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 124,516,650 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 125,124,989 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 125,681,593 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 126,261,000 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 126,633,000 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 126,811,000 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 126,972,000 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 127,076,000 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 127,141,000 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 127,276,000 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 127,445,000 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 127,629,000 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 127,833,000 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 128,070,000 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 128,047,000 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 128,063,000 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 128,001,000 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 127,854,000 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 127,773,000 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 127,761,000 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 127,718,000 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 127,445,000 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 127,149,000 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 126,843,000 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 126,631,000 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 126,400,000 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 126,057,000 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 125,757,000 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 125,472,000 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 125,178,000 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 124,829,000 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 124,425,000 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 123,964,000 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 123,478,000 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 123,069,000 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 122,578,000 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 122,069,000 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 121,482,000 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 120,837,000 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 120,083,000 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 119,307,000 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 118,480,000 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 117,661,000 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 116,807,000 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 115,890,000 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 114,913,000 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 113,872,000 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 112,775,000 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 111,573,000 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 110,162,000 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 108,707,000 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 107,188,000 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 105,697,000 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 103,403,000 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 102,219,000 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 101,011,000 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 99,879,000 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 98,851,000 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 97,952,000 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 96,903,000 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 95,900,000 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 94,933,000 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 94,055,000 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 93,216,000 | 25,012,374 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY
Fertility rates in Japan and South Korea
| Year | Fertility rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2024 | 1.15 | 0.75 |
| 2023 | 1.2 | 0.72 |
| 2022 | 1.26 | 0.78 |
| 2021 | 1.3 | 0.81 |
| 2020 | 1.33 | 0.84 |
| 2019 | 1.36 | 0.92 |
| 2018 | 1.42 | 0.98 |
| 2017 | 1.43 | 1.05 |
| 2016 | 1.44 | 1.17 |
| 2015 | 1.45 | 1.24 |
| 2014 | 1.42 | 1.21 |
| 2013 | 1.43 | 1.19 |
| 2012 | 1.41 | 1.3 |
| 2011 | 1.39 | 1.24 |
| 2010 | 1.39 | 1.23 |
| 2009 | 1.37 | 1.15 |
| 2008 | 1.37 | 1.19 |
| 2007 | 1.34 | 1.26 |
| 2006 | 1.32 | 1.13 |
| 2005 | 1.26 | 1.09 |
| 2004 | 1.29 | 1.16 |
| 2003 | 1.29 | 1.19 |
| 2002 | 1.32 | 1.18 |
| 2001 | 1.33 | 1.31 |
| 2000 | 1.36 | 1.48 |
| 1999 | 1.34 | 1.43 |
| 1998 | 1.38 | 1.46 |
| 1997 | 1.39 | 1.54 |
| 1996 | 1.43 | 1.57 |
| 1995 | 1.42 | 1.63 |
| 1994 | 1.5 | 1.66 |
| 1993 | 1.46 | 1.65 |
| 1992 | 1.5 | 1.76 |
| 1991 | 1.53 | 1.71 |
| 1990 | 1.54 | 1.57 |
| 1989 | 1.57 | 1.56 |
| 1988 | 1.66 | 1.55 |
| 1987 | 1.69 | 1.53 |
| 1986 | 1.72 | 1.58 |
| 1985 | 1.76 | 1.66 |
| 1984 | 1.81 | 1.74 |
| 1983 | 1.8 | 2.06 |
| 1982 | 1.77 | 2.39 |
| 1981 | 1.74 | 2.57 |
| 1980 | 1.75 | 2.82 |
| 1979 | 1.77 | 2.9 |
| 1978 | 1.79 | 2.64 |
| 1977 | 1.8 | 2.99 |
| 1976 | 1.85 | 3 |
| 1975 | 1.91 | 3.43 |
| 1974 | 2.05 | 3.77 |
| 1973 | 2.14 | 4.07 |
| 1972 | 2.14 | 4.12 |
| 1971 | 2.16 | 4.54 |
| 1970 | 2.13 | 4.53 |
| 1969 | 2.13 | 4.45 |
| 1968 | 2.13 | 4.51 |
| 1967 | 2.23 | 4.62 |
| 1966 | 1.58 | 4.78 |
| 1965 | 2.14 | 4.89 |
| 1964 | 2.05 | 5.07 |
| 1963 | 2 | 5.33 |
| 1962 | 1.98 | 5.56 |
| 1961 | 1.96 | 5.8 |
| 1960 | 2 | 5.99 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY
Japan and South Korea demographics compared
| Year | Median age, years | |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2025 | 50.8 | 46.7 |
| 2024 | 50.4 | 46.1 |
| 2023 | 50 | 45.5 |
| 2022 | 49.5 | 44.9 |
| 2021 | 49.1 | 44.4 |
| 2020 | 48.7 | 43.8 |
| 2019 | 48.3 | 43.1 |
| 2018 | 48 | 42.5 |
| 2017 | 47.6 | 41.9 |
| 2016 | 47.3 | 41.4 |
| 2015 | 47 | 40.8 |
| 2014 | 46.6 | 40.2 |
| 2013 | 46.2 | 39.5 |
| 2012 | 45.8 | 38.8 |
| 2011 | 45.5 | 38.2 |
| 2010 | 45.2 | 37.6 |
| 2009 | 44.9 | 37 |
| 2008 | 44.6 | 36.4 |
| 2007 | 44.2 | 35.8 |
| 2006 | 43.9 | 35.2 |
| 2005 | 43.6 | 34.5 |
| 2004 | 43.2 | 33.9 |
| 2003 | 42.8 | 33.4 |
| 2002 | 42.5 | 32.8 |
| 2001 | 42.1 | 32.3 |
| 2000 | 41.8 | 31.7 |
| 1999 | 41.4 | 31.2 |
| 1998 | 41 | 30.7 |
| 1997 | 40.7 | 30.2 |
| 1996 | 40.3 | 29.8 |
| 1995 | 40 | 29.4 |
| 1994 | 39.6 | 28.9 |
| 1993 | 39.2 | 28.3 |
| 1992 | 38.7 | 27.8 |
| 1991 | 38.2 | 27.2 |
| 1990 | 37.7 | 26.7 |
| 1989 | 37.2 | 26.3 |
| 1988 | 36.8 | 25.8 |
| 1987 | 36.3 | 25.3 |
| 1986 | 35.9 | 24.8 |
| 1985 | 35.4 | 24.2 |
| 1984 | 34.9 | 23.7 |
| 1983 | 34.3 | 23.3 |
| 1982 | 33.7 | 22.8 |
| 1981 | 33.1 | 22.5 |
| 1980 | 32.8 | 22.1 |
| 1979 | 32.4 | 21.6 |
| 1978 | 32 | 21.1 |
| 1977 | 31.5 | 20.7 |
| 1976 | 30.9 | 20.2 |
| 1975 | 30.6 | 19.9 |
| 1974 | 30.4 | 19.6 |
| 1973 | 30.2 | 19.3 |
| 1972 | 29.9 | 19.1 |
| 1971 | 29.6 | 19 |
| 1970 | 29.2 | 18.9 |
| 1969 | 28.9 | 18.8 |
| 1968 | 28.6 | 18.7 |
| 1967 | 28.4 | 18.6 |
| 1966 | 28 | 18.5 |
| 1965 | 27.6 | 18.6 |
| 1964 | 27.2 | 18.8 |
| 1963 | 26.9 | 19 |
| 1962 | 26.5 | 19.1 |
| 1961 | 26.2 | 19.2 |
| 1960 | 25.8 | 19.3 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).
GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-korea | CC BY
Interactive Maps
Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Japan and South Korea.
National statistics comparison
Finance
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| GNI, Atlas method |
$4.73T
2025 |
$1.96T
2025 |
| Government expenditure, % of GDP |
36.9%
2025 |
24%
2025 |
| Education expenditure, % of GDP |
3.24%
2022 |
5.41%
2022 |
| Military expenditure, % of GDP |
1.37%
2024 |
2.56%
2024 |
| Armed forces personnel |
261,000
2020 |
569,000
2020 |
| Deficit/surplus, % of GDP |
-1.05%
2025 |
-1.43%
2025 |
| Unemployment rate |
2.5%
2025 |
2.79%
2025 |
| Services, % of GDP |
71.4%
2024 |
57.2%
2025 |
| Industry, % of GDP |
26.8%
2024 |
34.3%
2025 |
| Economic freedom index |
70.3
2026 |
73.7
2026 |
| Income share by richest 10% |
24.3%
2020 |
25%
2021 |
| Income share by poorest 10% |
2.3%
2020 |
2.9%
2021 |
| Number of millionaires |
2,902,000
2026 |
1,317,000
2026 |
| Percentage of millionaires |
2.79%
2026 |
2.99%
2026 |
| Number of billionaires |
41
2026 |
49
2026 |
| Percentage of billionaires |
0.00004%
2026 |
0.0001%
2026 |
| Listed domestic companies |
3,942
2025 |
2,653
2025 |
| Market capitalization of domestic companies |
$7.61T
2025 |
$2.76T
2025 |
| Total reserves including gold |
$1.37T
2025 |
$437B
2025 |
| Personal remittances received |
$4.65B
2024 |
$7.28B
2024 |
| International tourist arrivals |
4,115,799
2020 |
2,519,000
2020 |
| International tourism as share of exports |
1.43%
2020 |
1.92%
2020 |
| Banked people share |
98.5%
2024 |
96.9%
2024 |
Energy
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita |
3,006 kg
2024 |
5,439 kg
2024 |
| GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use |
$17.3
2024 |
$11.2
2024 |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions |
972 megatons
2024 |
588 megatons
2024 |
| CO2 emissions per capita |
7.84 tons
2024 |
11.4 tons
2024 |
| Fossil fuel energy use share |
84.8%
2023 |
79.1%
2023 |
| Renewable energy use share |
8.8%
2021 |
3.6%
2021 |
| Alternative and nuclear energy use share |
11.8%
2024 |
19%
2024 |
| Net energy imports use share |
87.3%
2023 |
84.6%
2023 |
| Electric power consumption per capita |
7,530 kWh
2024 |
11,350 kWh
2024 |
| Renewable electricity output share |
21.1%
2021 |
6.59%
2021 |
| Hydroelectric share |
8.69%
2024 |
1.48%
2024 |
| Nuclear share |
9.52%
2024 |
31.1%
2024 |
| Electricity access |
100%
2023 |
100%
2023 |
Society
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world population |
1.5%
2025 |
0.63%
2025 |
| Annual migration change |
+140,579
2025 |
+65,731
2025 |
| Urban population |
92.3%
2025 |
81.2%
2025 |
| Male:Female ratio |
48.8:51.2
2025 |
49.9:50.1
2025 |
| Average male height |
5.64 ft
2026 |
5.76 ft
2026 |
| Average female height |
5.2 ft
2026 |
5.35 ft
2026 |
| Quality of life index |
90.3
2026 |
87
2026 |
| Corruption Perceptions Index |
71
2025 |
63
2025 |
| Higher education index |
98
2026 |
86
2026 |
| Homicides per 100K people |
0.23
2023 |
0.48
2023 |
| Road traffic mortality per 100K people |
3.6
2019 |
8.6
2019 |
| Visa free countries |
173
2026 |
173
2026 |
| Adult literacy rate |
99%
2002 |
98.8%
2018 |
| English speaking |
28%
2026 |
20%
2026 |
| People using the Internet |
85.5%
2024 |
97.9%
2024 |
Health
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Government health expenditure per capita |
$3,638
2023 |
$3,137
2024 |
| Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita |
$445
2023 |
$1,058
2024 |
| Life expectancy |
85.1 years
2026 |
84.6 years
2026 |
| Foreign aid share of health expenditure |
0%
2023 |
0%
2023 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people |
2.65
2022 |
2.61
2022 |
| Age at first childbirth |
30.7 years
2025 |
32.2 years
2025 |
| Maternal mortality per 100K births |
3
2023 |
4
2023 |
| Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age |
2.4
2024 |
2.8
2024 |
| Obesity rate |
5.57%
2022 |
7.24%
2022 |
| Diabetes prevalence |
8.1%
2024 |
9.6%
2024 |
| Air quality index |
78
2026 |
46
2026 |
| Tobacco use prevalence |
17.5%
2024 |
18.6%
2024 |
| Pure alcohol consumption per capita |
6.38 liters
2020 |
7.79 liters
2020 |
Territory
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| % of world land |
0.24%
2026 |
0.07%
2026 |
| Land area per capita |
1,141 sq mi
2025 |
729 sq mi
2025 |
| Agricultural land area |
17,788 sq mi
2026 |
6,054 sq mi
2026 |
| Forest area |
96,275 sq mi
2026 |
24,158 sq mi
2026 |
| Roads length |
757,310 mi
2021 |
68,794 mi
2018 |
In-depth comparisons
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
- EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.