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Economy of Japan vs Nauru compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Japan has a GDP of $4.44T compared to $176M for Nauru, ranking 4/197 and 195/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.16T in government debt (206.5% of GDP), compared to $25.8M (14.6% of GDP) in Nauru.

Japan vs Nauru GDP by year

Japan
Nauru
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Nauru
2025 $4,435,162,999,977 $176,040,044
2024 $4,190,008,188,359 $167,833,415
2023 $4,384,854,269,962 $161,531,317
2022 $4,447,976,207,315 $180,671,357
2021 $5,225,933,520,753 $149,268,324
2020 $5,189,197,543,645 $124,685,688
2019 $5,245,755,000,479 $125,160,116
2018 $5,154,293,721,630 $130,995,566
2017 $5,038,231,631,661 $109,355,639
2016 $5,110,357,383,254 $97,541,943
2015 $4,534,438,580,495 $84,863,441
2014 $4,985,763,289,561 $99,149,244
2013 $5,272,297,037,397 $94,385,015
2012 $6,333,803,928,788 $101,055,723
2011 $6,279,422,550,219 $65,071,880
2010 $5,811,578,109,447 $47,562,845
2009 $5,336,765,697,589 $44,176,246
2008 $5,160,197,175,876 $37,602,265
2007 $4,624,670,179,655 $22,766,972
2006 $4,648,058,930,707 $29,200,359
2005 $4,875,648,486,366 $30,070,666
2004 $4,941,485,123,807 $30,587,566
2003 $4,573,413,206,709 $24,778,160
2002 $4,245,946,980,572 $21,017,424
2001 $4,438,792,748,062 $22,613,288
2000 $5,042,381,838,343 $26,930,980
1999 $4,688,983,449,627 $27,328,613
1998 $4,150,359,076,370 $29,664,451
1997 $4,579,780,793,432 $37,331,507
1996 $5,021,441,618,840 $37,458,801
1995 $5,639,649,753,986 $39,969,706
1994 $5,104,063,486,348 $39,742,511
1993 $4,632,480,515,091 $43,542,088
1992 $4,064,529,567,505 $51,133,123
1991 $3,724,887,648,862 $52,533,789
1990 $3,252,994,239,867 $55,572,376
1989 $3,174,934,735,896 $53,736,786
1988 $3,191,546,727,316 $45,931,134
1987 $2,635,094,473,494 $40,118,410
1986 $2,164,729,071,349 $39,939,391
1985 $1,457,070,301,468 $41,548,741
1984 $1,374,165,212,365 $47,363,231
1983 $1,297,622,008,229 $48,439,093
1982 $1,183,132,285,328 $52,877,742
1981 $1,271,443,597,067 $51,689,637
1980 $1,153,159,955,513 $46,947,124
1979 $1,100,608,979,757 $44,431,330
1978 $1,057,419,758,047 $41,754,147
1977 $752,590,681,822 $40,444,702
1976 $611,495,350,304 $40,287,427
1975 $544,082,569,364 $40,106,776
1974 $500,355,087,138 $35,994,511
1973 $450,756,970,744 $26,529,817
1972 $331,776,379,992 $21,734,269
1971 $250,530,994,765 $19,009,433
1970 $221,798,003,144 $17,570,366
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/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
2025 $35,951 - $14,640 -
2024 $33,797 $52,039 $14,048 $14,173
2023 $35,215 $50,662 $13,603 $13,732
2022 $35,548 $47,192 $15,310 $13,245
2021 $41,581 $44,355 $12,748 $12,112
2020 $41,099 $42,426 $10,709 $10,811
2019 $41,425 $42,678 $10,802 $10,555
2018 $40,645 $42,142 $11,414 $9,657
2017 $39,680 $41,444 $9,657 $9,650
2016 $40,215 $40,597 $8,748 $10,281
2015 $35,665 $40,899 $7,747 $9,955
2014 $39,173 $39,555 $9,230 $9,726
2013 $41,369 $39,402 $8,975 $8,429
2012 $49,627 $37,606 $9,843 $8,153
2011 $49,122 $36,214 $6,444 $6,544
2010 $45,378 $35,336 $4,736 $5,620
2009 $41,678 $33,543 $4,411 $5,568
2008 $40,294 $35,274 $3,757 $5,863
2007 $36,130 $35,015 $2,272 $4,789
2006 $36,354 $33,632 $2,910 $5,975
2005 $38,159 $32,170 $2,992 $5,336
2004 $38,678 $30,832 $3,041 $5,169
2003 $35,809 $29,392 $2,463 $5,261
2002 $33,316 $28,624 $2,085 $5,132
2001 $34,910 $27,943 $2,232 $5,587
2000 $39,753 $27,288 $2,649 $5,838
1999 $37,029 $25,736 $2,683 $6,118
1998 $32,835 $25,508 $2,909 $6,450
1997 $36,331 $25,619 $3,661 $7,231
1996 $39,930 $24,999 $3,679 $7,818
1995 $44,947 $23,858 $3,932 $8,726
1994 $40,774 $22,823 $3,921 $9,308
1993 $37,111 $22,168 $4,310 $9,513
1992 $32,667 $21,825 $5,103 $11,167
1991 $30,048 $21,227 $5,333 $13,265
1990 $26,345 $19,912 $5,776 $16,215
1989 $25,798 - $5,723 -
1988 $26,037 - $5,012 -
1987 $21,587 - $4,485 -
1986 $17,819 - $4,569 -
1985 $12,058 - $4,859 -
1984 $11,443 - $5,654 -
1983 $10,876 - $5,896 -
1982 $9,986 - $6,577 -
1981 $10,806 - $6,594 -
1980 $9,872 - $6,138 -
1979 $9,497 - $5,950 -
1978 $9,202 - $5,721 -
1977 $6,609 - $5,646 -
1976 $5,422 - $5,703 -
1975 $4,876 - $5,740 -
1974 $4,542 - $5,199 -
1973 $4,147 - $3,864 -
1972 $3,095 - $3,191 -
1971 $2,370 - $2,811 -
1970 $2,145 - $2,619 -
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/nauru | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $35,951, ranking 34/197, compared to $14,640 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
$4.44T
2025
$176M
2025
GDP rank
4/197
2025
195/197
2025
GDP growth
1.19%
2024-2025
2.14%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
$14,640
2025
GDP per capita rank
34/197
2025
74/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$14,173
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
119/197
2024
Government debt
$9.16T
2025
$25.8M
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
206.5%
2025
14.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$74,248
2025
$2,145
2025
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2025
118/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,962
2026
$9,187
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
25.3%
2012
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2020
3.4%
2012
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2025
128.7%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.17%
2024-2025
6.1%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
5.06%
2021
Population
122704252
12139

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
2025 36.9% 206.5% 128.7% 14.6%
2024 37.3% 214.5% 118.4% 16.9%
2023 37.8% 220.3% 111% 19.2%
2022 40.2% 227.8% 113.8% 18.9%
2021 41.3% 222.7% 109.5% 24.2%
2020 43.6% 228.8% 109.4% 56.3%
2019 36.4% 206.3% 106% 59.6%
2018 36% 203.7% 90.8% 71.1%
2017 35.9% 203.1% 102.3% 78%
2016 36.5% 202.1% 96% 86.3%
2015 36.6% 200.1% 85.4% 113%
2014 37.8% 203.6% 61.3% 147.7%
2013 38.4% 201.2% 66% 166.9%
2012 38.4% 197.1% 46% 157.3%
2011 38.4% 190.6% 44.7% 236.8%
2010 37.4% 178.6% 73.8% 298.9%
2009 38.3% 172.9% 68% 295.6%
2008 33.7% 153.6% - -
2007 32.8% 150.4% - -
2006 32.7% 152.1% - -
2005 33.2% 153.4% - -
2004 33.3% 148.8% - -
2003 34.6% 140.2% - -
2002 34.9% 134.6% - -
2001 34.7% 126.8% - -
2000 35.4% 118.5% - -
1999 35.2% 113.5% - -
1998 38.1% 101.6% - -
1997 32.4% 91.3% - -
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/nauru | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government spending was $1.63T, accounting for 36.9% of its GDP, while Nauru spent $227M, or 128.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 206.5% in Japan and 14.6% 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
2025 -1.05% 3.51%
2024 -1.67% 28.9%
2023 -2.39% 18.2%
2022 -4.23% 20.5%
2021 -6.32% 52.4%
2020 -9.04% 42.8%
2019 -3.05% 31%
2018 -2.44% 29.6%
2017 -3.05% 16.2%
2016 -3.58% 18.9%
2015 -3.64% 10.7%
2014 -5.58% 29.6%
2013 -7.62% 1.71%
2012 -8.22% 8.12%
2011 -9.02% 2.73%
2010 -9.05% 0.09%
2009 -9.62% 0.37%
2008 -4.07% -
2007 -2.86% -
2006 -3% -
2005 -4.39% -
2004 -5.26% -
2003 -7.35% -
2002 -7.22% -
2001 -6.11% -
2000 -7.17% -
1999 -6.68% -
1998 -9.91% -
1997 -3.44% -
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/nauru | 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 Nauru's surplus of $6.19M, or 3.51% of GDP.

Over the past 17 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 17 of those years, while Nauru ran a deficit in 0 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 5.27% of GDP, compared to surplus of 18.5% of GDP for Nauru.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Nauru
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Nauru
2025 3.17% 6.1%
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 (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 21 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.77%, compared with 4.9% in Nauru. In 2025, inflation was 3.17% in Japan and 6.1% in Nauru.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $3.06M
Textiles & consumer goods $1.03M
Miscellaneous $489K
Metals $147K
Raw materials & minerals $20K
Chemicals & pharma $2K
Wood & paper products $2K
Nauru
Export category Export value
Animal & marine products $2.74M
Machinery & equipment $5K

Balance of trade

Japan Nauru
Current account balance
$216B
2025
$9.73M
2024
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2025
69/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.86%
2025
+5.8%
2024
Goods imports
$729B
2025
$92.7M
2024
Goods exports
$725B
2025
$25.5M
2024
Service imports
$269B
2025
$88.2M
2024
Service exports
$246B
2025
$64.6M
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.9%
2024
103.7%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22%
2024
61.8%
2025

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
71.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
n/a
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.96%
2024
n/a
GNI, Atlas method
$4.73T
2025
$249M
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$58,920
2025
$20,200
2025
Total reserves including gold
$1.37T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
3/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$172B
2025
$4.51M
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.9B
2024
-$5.85M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$207B
2024
-$1.34M
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
n/a
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
27.7%
2024
n/a

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/nauru | 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. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2024–2025, 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.