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Economy of Japan vs Marshall Islands compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Japan has a GDP of $4.44T compared to $308M for the Marshall Islands, ranking 4/197 and 194/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.16T in government debt (206.5% of GDP), compared to $36.3M (11.8% of GDP) in the Marshall Islands.

Japan vs Marshall Islands GDP by year

Japan
Marshall Islands
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Marshall Islands
2025 $4,435,162,999,977 $308,000,000
2024 $4,190,008,188,359 $285,000,000
2023 $4,384,854,269,962 $264,000,000
2022 $4,447,976,207,315 $258,723,500
2021 $5,225,933,520,753 $261,245,500
2020 $5,189,197,543,645 $241,800,000
2019 $5,245,755,000,479 $232,900,000
2018 $5,154,293,721,630 $220,000,000
2017 $5,038,231,631,661 $213,700,000
2016 $5,110,357,383,254 $201,800,000
2015 $4,534,438,580,495 $183,700,000
2014 $4,985,763,289,561 $186,000,000
2013 $5,272,297,037,397 $186,400,000
2012 $6,333,803,928,788 $180,700,000
2011 $6,279,422,550,219 $172,300,000
2010 $5,811,578,109,447 $161,100,000
2009 $5,336,765,697,589 $151,200,000
2008 $5,160,197,175,876 $146,600,000
2007 $4,624,670,179,655 $150,500,000
2006 $4,648,058,930,707 $143,200,000
2005 $4,875,648,486,366 $138,000,000
2004 $4,941,485,123,807 $132,900,000
2003 $4,573,413,206,709 $131,128,500
2002 $4,245,946,980,572 $131,960,000
2001 $4,438,792,748,062 $122,406,100
2000 $5,042,381,838,343 $114,838,500
1999 $4,688,983,449,627 $113,352,100
1998 $4,150,359,076,370 $112,070,100
1997 $4,579,780,793,432 $109,884,700
1996 $5,021,441,618,840 $110,858,000
1995 $5,639,649,753,986 $120,230,000
1994 $5,104,063,486,348 $108,071,000
1993 $4,632,480,515,091 $99,461,000
1992 $4,064,529,567,505 $91,063,000
1991 $3,724,887,648,862 $82,507,000
1990 $3,252,994,239,867 $78,476,000
1989 $3,174,934,735,896 $72,798,000
1988 $3,191,546,727,316 $70,688,000
1987 $2,635,094,473,494 $62,983,000
1986 $2,164,729,071,349 $55,989,000
1985 $1,457,070,301,468 $43,879,000
1984 $1,374,165,212,365 $45,144,000
1983 $1,297,622,008,229 $41,749,000
1982 $1,183,132,285,328 $34,918,000
1981 $1,271,443,597,067 $31,020,000
1980 $1,153,159,955,513 $26,710,653
1979 $1,100,608,979,757 $25,545,346
1978 $1,057,419,758,047 $22,209,370
1977 $752,590,681,822 $20,210,069
1976 $611,495,350,304 $18,153,647
1975 $544,082,569,364 $16,691,301
1974 $500,355,087,138 $15,217,532
1973 $450,756,970,744 $11,607,366
1972 $331,776,379,992 $9,973,652
1971 $250,530,994,765 $9,116,810
1970 $221,798,003,144 $8,408,486
1969 $188,179,852,753 -
1968 $160,201,483,788 -
1967 $135,265,319,098 -
1966 $115,427,351,851 -
1965 $99,387,878,008 -
1964 $89,332,989,729 -
1963 $75,945,582,324 -
1962 $66,356,388,224 -
1961 $58,472,696,006 -
1960 $48,417,804,545 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

GDP per capita in Japan vs Marshall Islands by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Marshall Islands
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Marshall Islands
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $35,951 - $8,489 -
2024 $33,797 $52,039 $7,590 $8,195
2023 $35,215 $50,662 $6,799 $7,549
2022 $35,548 $47,192 $6,456 $7,431
2021 $41,581 $44,355 $6,315 $6,768
2020 $41,099 $42,426 $5,662 $6,137
2019 $41,425 $42,678 $5,292 $6,045
2018 $40,645 $42,142 $4,858 $5,232
2017 $39,680 $41,444 $4,593 $4,719
2016 $40,215 $40,597 $4,230 $4,366
2015 $35,665 $40,899 $3,764 $4,125
2014 $39,173 $39,555 $3,735 $3,931
2013 $41,369 $39,402 $3,678 $3,845
2012 $49,627 $37,606 $3,514 $3,590
2011 $49,122 $36,214 $3,319 $3,537
2010 $45,378 $35,336 $3,095 $3,473
2009 $41,678 $33,543 $2,907 $3,253
2008 $40,294 $35,274 $2,818 $3,118
2007 $36,130 $35,015 $2,892 $3,309
2006 $36,354 $33,632 $2,754 $3,110
2005 $38,159 $32,170 $2,659 $3,017
2004 $38,678 $30,832 $2,566 $2,880
2003 $35,809 $29,392 $2,539 $2,824
2002 $33,316 $28,624 $2,566 $2,825
2001 $34,910 $27,943 $2,394 $2,700
2000 $39,753 $27,288 $2,265 $2,490
1999 $37,029 $25,736 $2,258 $2,400
1998 $32,835 $25,508 $2,254 $2,422
1997 $36,331 $25,619 $2,231 $2,434
1996 $39,930 $24,999 $2,273 $2,583
1995 $44,947 $23,858 $2,491 $2,858
1994 $40,774 $22,823 $2,265 $2,617
1993 $37,111 $22,168 $2,112 $2,452
1992 $32,667 $21,825 $1,963 $2,293
1991 $30,048 $21,227 $1,811 $2,131
1990 $26,345 $19,912 $1,758 $2,102
1989 $25,798 - $1,670 -
1988 $26,037 - $1,670 -
1987 $21,587 - $1,543 -
1986 $17,819 - $1,425 -
1985 $12,058 - $1,162 -
1984 $11,443 - $1,245 -
1983 $10,876 - $1,199 -
1982 $9,986 - $1,046 -
1981 $10,806 - $969 -
1980 $9,872 - $868 -
1979 $9,497 - $859 -
1978 $9,202 - $771 -
1977 $6,609 - $724 -
1976 $5,422 - $672 -
1975 $4,876 - $638 -
1974 $4,542 - $602 -
1973 $4,147 - $472 -
1972 $3,095 - $416 -
1971 $2,370 - $390 -
1970 $2,145 - $373 -
1969 $1,841 - - -
1968 $1,586 - - -
1967 $1,354 - - -
1966 $1,168 - - -
1965 $1,015 - - -
1964 $922 - - -
1963 $792 - - -
1962 $699 - - -
1961 $622 - - -
1960 $519 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $35,951, ranking 34/197, compared to $8,489 in the Marshall Islands, ranking 95/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while the Marshall Islands ranks 139th at $8,195.

Economic indicators

Japan Marshall Islands
Gross domestic product
$4.44T
2025
$308M
2025
GDP rank
4/197
2025
194/197
2025
GDP growth
1.19%
2024-2025
2.28%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
$8,489
2025
GDP per capita rank
34/197
2025
95/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$8,195
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
139/197
2024
Government debt
$9.16T
2025
$36.3M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
206.5%
2025
11.8%
2025
Government debt per person
$74,248
2025
$1,000
2025
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2025
144/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,962
2026
$5,308
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$7.61T
2025
n/a
Number of millionaires
2,902,000
2026
n/a
Number of billionaires
41
2026
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
24.3%
2020
27.5%
2019
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2020
2.8%
2019
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2025
65.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.17%
2024-2025
5.5%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
9.82%
2021
Population
122704252
35039

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Marshall Islands
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Marshall Islands
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 36.9% 206.5% 65.3% 11.8%
2024 37.3% 214.5% 70.9% 14.2%
2023 37.8% 220.3% 67.5% 18.2%
2022 40.2% 227.8% 65.8% 19.6%
2021 41.3% 222.7% 69.2% 19.9%
2020 43.6% 228.8% 67.8% 21.7%
2019 36.4% 206.3% 65.5% 25.1%
2018 36% 203.7% 60.5% 24.7%
2017 35.9% 203.1% 63.7% 26.5%
2016 36.5% 202.1% 56.8% 29.2%
2015 36.6% 200.1% 56.3% 33.9%
2014 37.8% 203.6% 49.2% 34.9%
2013 38.4% 201.2% 55% 33.4%
2012 38.4% 197.1% 53.2% 37.6%
2011 38.4% 190.6% 55.9% 35.9%
2010 37.4% 178.6% 59.2% 38.8%
2009 38.3% 172.9% 63.1% 41.2%
2008 33.7% 153.6% 64.3% 44.1%
2007 32.8% 150.4% 67.2% 42.2%
2006 32.7% 152.1% 61.2% 44.4%
2005 33.2% 153.4% 85.3% 45.8%
2004 33.3% 148.8% 54.5% 46.8%
2003 34.6% 140.2% 52.9% 43.7%
2002 34.9% 134.6% 55.2% 37.2%
2001 34.7% 126.8% 58.8% 32.7%
2000 35.4% 118.5% 56.5% 27.3%
1999 35.2% 113.5% 48.7% 26.1%
1998 38.1% 101.6% 50.5% 18.1%
1997 32.4% 91.3% 55% 8.73%
1996 33.1% 85.3% - -
1995 32.8% 80.7% - -
1994 32.1% 73.3% - -
1993 31.4% 63.2% - -
1992 29.6% 57.9% - -
1991 28.6% 54.1% - -
1990 28.8% 54.8% - -
1989 29.2% 65.7% - -
1988 29.9% 71.9% - -
1987 30.6% 75.8% - -
1986 30.4% 74.1% - -
1985 30.4% 68.3% - -
1984 31.2% 65.6% - -
1983 31.8% 63.5% - -
1982 31.7% 57.7% - -
1981 31.5% 52.8% - -
1980 33.5% 47.8% - -
1979 33.2% 43.8% - -
1978 32.1% 39% - -
1977 30.4% 31.1% - -
1976 29.1% 26.1% - -
1975 28.5% 20.9% - -
1974 25.5% 16.7% - -
1973 23.3% 15.9% - -
1972 23.1% 16.3% - -
1971 21.8% 12.6% - -
1970 20.2% 11.2% - -
1969 19.8% 11.4% - -
1968 20.1% 11.8% - -
1967 19.9% 11.4% - -
1966 20.8% 11.2% - -
1965 20.4% 9.78% - -
1964 19.8% 8.53% - -
1963 20% 8.66% - -
1962 19.4% 9.01% - -
1961 18.2% 8.44% - -
1960 18.4% 10.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government spending was $1.63T, accounting for 36.9% of its GDP, while the Marshall Islands spent $201M, or 65.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 206.5% in Japan and 11.8% in the Marshall Islands, ranking 3/185 and 180/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Marshall Islands
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Marshall Islands
2025 -1.05% 1.35%
2024 -1.67% 2.62%
2023 -2.39% 1.01%
2022 -4.23% 0.51%
2021 -6.32% 0.18%
2020 -9.04% 2.54%
2019 -3.05% -1.8%
2018 -2.44% 2.55%
2017 -3.05% 4.38%
2016 -3.58% 3.88%
2015 -3.64% 2.81%
2014 -5.58% 3.2%
2013 -7.62% -0.23%
2012 -8.22% -0.76%
2011 -9.02% 2.13%
2010 -9.05% 3.51%
2009 -9.62% 1.51%
2008 -4.07% 3.68%
2007 -2.86% 0.27%
2006 -3% 0.24%
2005 -4.39% -22.3%
2004 -5.26% -1.6%
2003 -7.35% 10.5%
2002 -7.22% 5.12%
2001 -6.11% 7.83%
2000 -7.17% 7.84%
1999 -6.68% 9.01%
1998 -9.91% 13.5%
1997 -3.44% 7.91%
1996 -4.75% -
1995 -4.22% -
1994 -3.7% -
1993 -2.34% -
1992 0.56% -
1991 1.64% -
1990 1.91% -
1989 1.23% -
1988 0.49% -
1987 -0.36% -
1986 -1.36% -
1985 -1.37% -
1984 -2.62% -
1983 -3.95% -
1982 -3.81% -
1981 -3.85% -
1980 -4.66% -
1979 -5% -
1978 -5.79% -
1977 -4.02% -
1976 -3.89% -
1975 -2.92% -
1974 0.38% -
1973 0.56% -
1972 -0.13% -
1971 1.21% -
1970 1.74% -
1969 1.26% -
1968 0.88% -
1967 0.8% -
1966 -0.34% -
1965 0.48% -
1964 0.85% -
1963 1.08% -
1962 1.49% -
1961 2.58% -
1960 1.85% -
1959 0.97% -
1958 -0.1% -
1957 1.27% -
1956 1.39% -
1955 -0.67% -
1954 0.7% -
1953 1.65% -
1952 2.22% -
1951 5.06% -
1950 6.99% -
1949 12.5% -
1948 7.53% -
1947 6.09% -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 0.32% -
1942 -0.13% -
1941 -0.19% -
1940 0.31% -
1939 0.11% -
1938 0.45% -
1937 0.71% -
1936 0.34% -
1935 0.26% -
1934 0.34% -
1933 0.28% -
1932 0.31% -
1931 0.23% -
1930 0.19% -
1929 0.5% -
1928 0.42% -
1927 0.58% -
1926 0.65% -
1925 0.75% -
1924 0.84% -
1923 0.87% -
1922 0.89% -
1921 1.43% -
1920 1.19% -
1919 1.21% -
1918 1.58% -
1917 1.54% -
1916 1.37% -
1915 1.41% -
1914 1.31% -
1913 1.21% -
1912 1.27% -
1911 1.21% -
1910 1.57% -
1909 1.51% -
1908 1.63% -
1907 1.77% -
1906 0.46% -
1905 -0.68% -
1904 -0.81% -
1903 0.19% -
1902 0.44% -
1901 0.21% -
1900 0.53% -
1899 0.2% -
1898 0.6% -
1897 0.33% -
1896 0.88% -
1895 0.28% -
1894 -0.24% -
1893 0.6% -
1892 0.63% -
1891 0.61% -
1890 0.74% -
1889 0.18% -
1888 0.13% -
1887 0.11% -
1886 0.03% -
1885 0.01% -
1884 0.001% -
1883 0.03% -
1882 0.001% -
1881 0.001% -
1880 0.004% -
1879 0.02% -
1878 0.02% -
1877 -0.29% -
1876 -0.42% -
1875 0.005% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $46.7B, equivalent to 1.05% of GDP. This compares to the Marshall Islands' surplus of $4.17M, or 1.35% of GDP.

Over the past 29 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while the Marshall Islands ran a deficit in 5 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 5.41% of GDP, compared to surplus of 2.46% of GDP for the Marshall Islands.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Marshall Islands
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Marshall Islands
2025 3.17% 5.5%
2024 2.74% 5.2%
2023 3.27% 7.4%
2022 2.5% 2.8%
2021 -0.23% 2.2%
2020 -0.02% -0.7%
2019 0.47% -0.1%
2018 0.99% 0.8%
2017 0.48% 0.1%
2016 -0.13% -1.5%
2015 0.8% -2.2%
2014 2.76% 1.1%
2013 0.34% 1.9%
2012 -0.04% 4.3%
2011 -0.27% 5.4%
2010 -0.73% 1.8%
2009 -1.35% 0.5%
2008 1.38% 14.7%
2007 0.06% 2.6%
2006 0.25% 5.3%
2005 -0.28% 3.5%
2004 -0.009% 2%
2003 -0.26% -
2002 -0.92% -
2001 -0.74% -
2000 -0.68% -
1999 -0.34% -
1998 0.66% -
1997 1.75% -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2004–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

Over the past 22 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.73%, compared with 2.85% in the Marshall Islands. In 2025, inflation was 3.17% in Japan and 5.5% in the Marshall Islands.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $1.3B
Raw materials & minerals $3.41M
Metals $2.11M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.06M
Miscellaneous $1.06M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $710K
Chemicals & pharma $652K
Wood & paper products $80K
Precious metals & jewellery $32K
Animal & marine products $4K
Marshall Islands
Export category Export value
Miscellaneous $22.4M
Animal & marine products $2.16M
Precious metals & jewellery $53K
Machinery & equipment $9K
Metals $7K
Wood & paper products $5K

Balance of trade

Japan Marshall Islands
Current account balance
$216B
2025
$62.3M
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2025
67/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.86%
2025
+21.9%
2024
Goods imports
$729B
2025
$173M
2024
Goods exports
$725B
2025
$101M
2024
Service imports
$269B
2025
$64.2M
2024
Service exports
$246B
2025
$21.1M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.9%
2024
79.9%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22%
2024
36%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Japan Marshall Islands
Economic freedom 70.3 58
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 113/197
Property rights 94.2 n/a
Government integrity 81.1 n/a
Judicial effectiveness 97.9 n/a
Tax burden 63 n/a
Government spending 52 n/a
Fiscal health 41.7 n/a
Business freedom 77.8 n/a
Labor freedom 65.9 n/a
Monetary freedom 74.3 n/a
Trade freedom 76.2 n/a
Investment freedom 60 n/a
Financial freedom 60 n/a

Other economic metrics

Japan Marshall Islands
Services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
68.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
13.4%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.96%
2024
19.9%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.73T
2025
$352M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$58,920
2025
$10,590
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.37T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
3/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$172B
2025
-$13.4M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.9B
2024
$13.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$207B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
7.2%
2019
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.7%
2024
21.1%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/marshall-islands | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. TradeMap (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, 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.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.