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Economy of Japan vs Nauru compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a GDP of $4.03T compared to $163M for Nauru, ranking 4/197 and 195/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.51T in government debt (236.1% of GDP), compared to $28.3M (17.4% of GDP) in Nauru.

Japan vs Nauru GDP by year

Japan
Nauru
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Nauru
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 $162,588,621
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 $151,435,610
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 $152,373,434
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 $175,390,281
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 $124,685,688
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 $125,160,116
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 $130,995,566
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 $109,355,639
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 $97,541,943
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $84,863,441
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $99,149,244
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $94,385,015
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $101,055,723
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $65,071,880
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $47,562,845
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $44,176,246
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $37,602,265
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 $22,766,972
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 $29,200,359
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 $30,070,666
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 $30,587,566
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 $24,778,160
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 $21,017,424
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 $22,613,288
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 $26,930,980
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 $27,328,613
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 $29,664,451
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 $37,331,507
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 $37,458,801
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 $39,969,706
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 $39,742,511
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 $43,542,088
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 $51,133,123
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 $52,533,789
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 $55,572,376
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 $53,736,786
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 $45,931,134
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 $40,118,410
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 $39,939,391
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 $41,548,741
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 $47,363,231
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 $48,439,093
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 $52,877,742
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 $51,689,637
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 $46,947,124
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 $44,431,330
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 $41,754,147
1977 $737,069,290,928 $40,444,702
1976 $598,883,902,156 $40,287,427
1975 $532,861,438,885 $40,106,776
1974 $490,035,789,970 $35,994,511
1973 $441,460,582,536 $26,529,817
1972 $324,933,841,269 $21,734,269
1971 $245,364,056,622 $19,009,433
1970 $217,223,652,719 $17,570,366
1969 $184,298,841,305 -
1968 $156,897,496,759 -
1967 $132,475,614,227 -
1966 $113,046,784,179 -
1965 $97,338,107,606 -
1964 $87,490,590,818 -
1963 $74,379,284,603 -
1962 $64,987,857,542 -
1961 $57,266,758,180 -
1960 $47,419,238,274 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

GDP per capita in Japan vs Nauru by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Nauru
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Nauru
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $32,487 $52,039 $13,609 $14,173
2023 $33,836 $50,662 $12,752 $13,732
2022 $34,066 $47,192 $12,912 $13,245
2021 $40,095 $44,355 $14,979 $12,112
2020 $40,029 $42,426 $10,709 $10,811
2019 $40,416 $42,678 $10,802 $10,555
2018 $39,751 $42,142 $11,414 $9,657
2017 $38,834 $41,444 $9,657 $9,650
2016 $39,375 $40,597 $8,748 $10,281
2015 $34,961 $40,899 $7,747 $9,955
2014 $38,475 $39,555 $9,230 $9,726
2013 $40,899 $39,402 $8,975 $8,429
2012 $49,145 $37,606 $9,843 $8,153
2011 $48,760 $36,214 $6,444 $6,544
2010 $44,968 $35,336 $4,736 $5,620
2009 $41,309 $33,543 $4,411 $5,568
2008 $39,876 $35,274 $3,757 $5,863
2007 $35,779 $35,015 $2,272 $4,789
2006 $35,992 $33,632 $2,910 $5,975
2005 $37,813 $32,170 $2,992 $5,336
2004 $38,299 $30,832 $3,041 $5,169
2003 $35,387 $29,392 $2,463 $5,261
2002 $32,821 $28,624 $2,085 $5,132
2001 $34,406 $27,943 $2,232 $5,587
2000 $39,169 $27,288 $2,649 $5,838
1999 $36,610 $25,736 $2,683 $6,118
1998 $32,424 $25,508 $2,909 $6,450
1997 $35,638 $25,619 $3,661 $7,231
1996 $39,150 $24,999 $3,679 $7,818
1995 $44,198 $23,858 $3,932 $8,726
1994 $39,934 $22,823 $3,921 $9,308
1993 $36,345 $22,168 $4,310 $9,513
1992 $31,993 $21,825 $5,103 $11,167
1991 $29,428 $21,227 $5,333 $13,265
1990 $25,801 $19,912 $5,776 $16,215
1989 $25,266 - $5,723 -
1988 $25,500 - $5,012 -
1987 $21,142 - $4,485 -
1986 $17,452 - $4,569 -
1985 $11,809 - $4,859 -
1984 $11,207 - $5,654 -
1983 $10,652 - $5,896 -
1982 $9,780 - $6,577 -
1981 $10,583 - $6,594 -
1980 $9,669 - $6,138 -
1979 $9,301 - $5,950 -
1978 $9,012 - $5,721 -
1977 $6,473 - $5,646 -
1976 $5,310 - $5,703 -
1975 $4,776 - $5,740 -
1974 $4,448 - $5,199 -
1973 $4,061 - $3,864 -
1972 $3,031 - $3,191 -
1971 $2,321 - $2,811 -
1970 $2,101 - $2,619 -
1969 $1,803 - - -
1968 $1,553 - - -
1967 $1,326 - - -
1966 $1,144 - - -
1965 $994 - - -
1964 $903 - - -
1963 $776 - - -
1962 $685 - - -
1961 $609 - - -
1960 $509 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $32,487, ranking 38/197, compared to $13,609 in Nauru, ranking 74/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Nauru ranks 119th at $14,173.

Economic indicators

Japan Nauru
Gross domestic product
$4.03T
2024
$163M
2024
GDP rank
4/197
2024
195/197
2024
GDP growth
0.1%
2023-2024
1.39%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$13,609
2024
GDP per capita rank
38/197
2024
74/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$14,173
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
119/197
2024
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$28.3M
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
17.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$2,367
2024
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2024
113/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$8,783
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.31T
2024
n/a
Number of millionaires
2,732,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
42
2025
n/a
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2020
25.3%
2012
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
3.4%
2012
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
122.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.74%
2023-2024
9.3%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
5.06%
2021
Population
122677250
12125

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Nauru
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Nauru
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 39.1% 236.1% 122.1% 17.4%
2023 39.2% 240.5% 118.1% 20.5%
2022 41.8% 248.2% 134.8% 22.4%
2021 42.5% 253.7% 93% 20.5%
2020 44.5% 258.4% 109.4% 56.3%
2019 37.3% 236.4% 106% 59.6%
2018 36.7% 232.4% 90.8% 71.1%
2017 36.7% 231.3% 102.3% 78%
2016 37.2% 232.4% 96% 86.3%
2015 37.3% 228.3% 85.4% 113%
2014 38.4% 233.3% 61.3% 147.7%
2013 38.8% 229.5% 66% 166.9%
2012 38.6% 226.1% 46% 157.3%
2011 38.6% 219.2% 44.7% 236.8%
2010 37.7% 205.9% 73.8% 298.9%
2009 38.7% 198.8% 68% 295.6%
2008 34.1% 180.9% - -
2007 33.1% 173% - -
2006 33.1% 174.1% - -
2005 33.5% 174.6% - -
2004 33.7% 169.5% - -
2003 35% 160% - -
2002 35.4% 154.1% - -
2001 35.2% 145.1% - -
2000 36% 135.6% - -
1999 35.6% 129.5% - -
1998 38.6% 116% - -
1997 33.1% 105% - -
1996 33.8% 98.1% - -
1995 33.4% 92.5% - -
1994 32.8% 84.4% - -
1993 32.1% 72.8% - -
1992 30.3% 66.8% - -
1991 29.3% 62.4% - -
1990 29.5% 63.2% - -
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 (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, Japan's government spending was $1.57T, accounting for 39.1% of its GDP, while Nauru spent $199M, or 122.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 236.1% in Japan and 17.4% in Nauru, ranking 3/185 and 176/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Nauru
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Nauru
2024 -1.53% 29.8%
2023 -2.26% 19.4%
2022 -4.21% 24.3%
2021 -6.13% 44.5%
2020 -9.08% 42.8%
2019 -3.04% 31%
2018 -2.47% 29.6%
2017 -3.1% 16.2%
2016 -3.6% 18.9%
2015 -3.68% 10.7%
2014 -5.62% 29.6%
2013 -7.61% 1.71%
2012 -8.2% 8.12%
2011 -8.99% 2.73%
2010 -9.08% 0.09%
2009 -9.69% 0.37%
2008 -4.11% -
2007 -2.9% -
2006 -3.03% -
2005 -4.44% -
2004 -5.31% -
2003 -7.43% -
2002 -7.34% -
2001 -6.2% -
2000 -7.28% -
1999 -6.75% -
1998 -10% -
1997 -3.53% -
1996 -4.87% -
1995 -4.3% -
1994 -3.76% -
1993 -2.39% -
1992 0.57% -
1991 1.67% -
1990 1.96% -
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 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

In 2024, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $61.6B, equivalent to 1.53% of GDP. This compares to Nauru's surplus of $48.4M, or 29.8% of GDP.

Over the past 16 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 16 of those years, while Nauru ran a deficit in 0 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 5.52% of GDP, compared to surplus of 19.4% of GDP for Nauru.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Nauru
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Nauru
2024 2.74% 9.3%
2023 3.27% 4.8%
2022 2.5% 1.1%
2021 -0.23% 2%
2020 -0.02% 0.9%
2019 0.47% 4.1%
2018 0.99% 1.1%
2017 0.48% 4.5%
2016 -0.13% 8.1%
2015 0.8% 9.8%
2014 2.76% 0.3%
2013 0.34% -1.1%
2012 -0.04% 0.3%
2011 -0.27% -3.4%
2010 -0.73% -2%
2009 -1.35% 22.4%
2008 1.38% 1%
2007 0.06% 5.6%
2006 0.25% 19.3%
2005 -0.28% 8.7%
2004 -0.009% -
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 (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.65%, compared with 4.84% in Nauru. In 2024, inflation was 2.74% in Japan and 9.3% in Nauru.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $6.14M
Textiles & consumer goods $458K
Metals $210K
Miscellaneous $10K
Chemicals & pharma $2K
Raw materials & minerals $2K
Nauru
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $626K

Balance of trade

Japan Nauru
Current account balance
$194B
2024
$9.73M
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2024
75/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.82%
2024
+5.98%
2024
Goods imports
$719B
2024
$92.7M
2024
Goods exports
$694B
2024
$25.5M
2024
Service imports
$246B
2024
$88.2M
2024
Service exports
$228B
2024
$64.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
110.5%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
55.3%
2024

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan Nauru
Economic freedom 70.3 60
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 97/197
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 Nauru
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.94%
2023
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$244M
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$55,490
2024
$21,970
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
n/a
Total reserves ranking
2/177
2024
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$191B
2024
$4.51M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$16.2B
2024
-$5.85M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$203B
2024
-$1.34M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.2%
2024
n/a

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/nauru | CC BY

Compare countries by 7 more topics

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1875–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  6. TradeMap (2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  9. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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.