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Economy of Japan vs South Sudan compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a GDP of $4.03T compared to $12B for South Sudan, ranking 4/197 and 149/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.51T in government debt (236.1% of GDP), compared to $7.04B (50.7% of GDP) in South Sudan.

Japan vs South Sudan GDP by year

Japan
South Sudan
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan South Sudan
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 -
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 -
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 -
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 -
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 -
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 -
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 -
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 -
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 -
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $11,997,800,760
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $13,962,212,847
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $18,426,469,017
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $11,931,472,169
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $14,907,308,933
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $14,602,072,411
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $12,231,264,525
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $14,586,253,383
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 -
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 -
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 -
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 -
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 -
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 -
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 -
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 -
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 -
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 -
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 -
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 -
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 -
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 -
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 -
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 -
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 -
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 -
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 -
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 -
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 -
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 -
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 -
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 -
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 -
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 -
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 -
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 -
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 -
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 -
1977 $737,069,290,928 -
1976 $598,883,902,156 -
1975 $532,861,438,885 -
1974 $490,035,789,970 -
1973 $441,460,582,536 -
1972 $324,933,841,269 -
1971 $245,364,056,622 -
1970 $217,223,652,719 -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

GDP per capita in Japan vs South Sudan by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
South Sudan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan South Sudan
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $32,487 $52,039 - -
2023 $33,836 $50,662 - -
2022 $34,066 $47,192 - -
2021 $40,095 $44,355 - -
2020 $40,029 $42,426 - -
2019 $40,416 $42,678 - -
2018 $39,751 $42,142 - -
2017 $38,834 $41,444 - -
2016 $39,375 $40,597 - -
2015 $34,961 $40,899 $1,080 $1,155
2014 $38,475 $39,555 $1,243 $1,373
2013 $40,899 $39,402 $1,650 $1,917
2012 $49,145 $37,606 $1,109 $1,417
2011 $48,760 $36,214 $1,449 $2,718
2010 $44,968 $35,336 $1,498 $2,948
2009 $41,309 $33,543 $1,323 $2,911
2008 $39,876 $35,274 $1,654 $2,887
2007 $35,779 $35,015 - -
2006 $35,992 $33,632 - -
2005 $37,813 $32,170 - -
2004 $38,299 $30,832 - -
2003 $35,387 $29,392 - -
2002 $32,821 $28,624 - -
2001 $34,406 $27,943 - -
2000 $39,169 $27,288 - -
1999 $36,610 $25,736 - -
1998 $32,424 $25,508 - -
1997 $35,638 $25,619 - -
1996 $39,150 $24,999 - -
1995 $44,198 $23,858 - -
1994 $39,934 $22,823 - -
1993 $36,345 $22,168 - -
1992 $31,993 $21,825 - -
1991 $29,428 $21,227 - -
1990 $25,801 $19,912 - -
1989 $25,266 - - -
1988 $25,500 - - -
1987 $21,142 - - -
1986 $17,452 - - -
1985 $11,809 - - -
1984 $11,207 - - -
1983 $10,652 - - -
1982 $9,780 - - -
1981 $10,583 - - -
1980 $9,669 - - -
1979 $9,301 - - -
1978 $9,012 - - -
1977 $6,473 - - -
1976 $5,310 - - -
1975 $4,776 - - -
1974 $4,448 - - -
1973 $4,061 - - -
1972 $3,031 - - -
1971 $2,321 - - -
1970 $2,101 - - -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $32,487, ranking 38/197, compared to $1,080 in South Sudan, ranking 175/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while South Sudan ranks 197th at $1,155.

Economic indicators

Japan South Sudan
Gross domestic product
$4.03T
2024
$12B
2015
GDP rank
4/197
2024
149/197
2015
GDP growth
0.1%
2023-2024
-10.8%
2014-2015
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$1,080
2015
GDP per capita rank
38/197
2024
175/197
2015
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$1,155
2015
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
197/197
2015
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$7.04B
2015
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
50.7%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$633
2015
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2024
158/185
2015
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$1,305
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
33%
2016
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
1.8%
2016
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
18.1%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.74%
2023-2024
91.4%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
15%
2023
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
12.3%
2008
Population
122677250
12507858

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
South Sudan
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan South Sudan
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 39.1% 236.1% 18.1% 50.7%
2023 39.2% 240.5% 21.4% 51.9%
2022 41.8% 248.2% 29.4% 37.3%
2021 42.5% 253.7% 44.1% 50.2%
2020 44.5% 258.4% 34.1% 49%
2019 37.3% 236.4% 47.9% 43.1%
2018 36.7% 232.4% 54.5% 77.6%
2017 36.7% 231.3% 97% 178.3%
2016 37.2% 232.4% 66.5% 164.7%
2015 37.3% 228.3% 34% 58.6%
2014 38.4% 233.3% 35.8% 37.7%
2013 38.8% 229.5% 25.3% 17.6%
2012 38.6% 226.1% 31.6% 8.91%
2011 38.6% 219.2% 20.8% -
2010 37.7% 205.9% - -
2009 38.7% 198.8% - -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, Japan's government spending was $1.57T, accounting for 39.1% of its GDP, while South Sudan spent $4.08B, or 18.1% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 236.1% in Japan and 50.7% in South Sudan, ranking 3/185 and 105/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

South Sudan
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan South Sudan
2024 -1.53% 11.7%
2023 -2.26% 8.04%
2022 -4.21% 4.48%
2021 -6.13% -9.3%
2020 -9.08% -5.5%
2019 -3.04% 0.04%
2018 -2.47% -1.06%
2017 -3.1% 9.56%
2016 -3.6% -19.8%
2015 -3.68% -16.4%
2014 -5.62% -9.07%
2013 -7.61% -3.45%
2012 -8.2% -14.8%
2011 -8.99% 4.57%
2010 -9.08% -
2009 -9.69% -
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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2015, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $163B, equivalent to 3.68% of GDP. This compares to South Sudan's deficit of $1.97B, or 16.4% of GDP.

Over the past 5 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 5 of those years, while South Sudan ran a deficit in 4 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 6.82% of GDP, compared to deficit of 7.83% of GDP for South Sudan.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

South Sudan
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan South Sudan
2024 2.74% 91.4%
2023 3.27% 2.38%
2022 2.5% -6.69%
2021 -0.23% 10.5%
2020 -0.02% 29.7%
2019 0.47% 87.2%
2018 0.99% 83.5%
2017 0.48% 187.9%
2016 -0.13% 380%
2015 0.8% 52.8%
2014 2.76% 1.67%
2013 0.34% -0.06%
2012 -0.04% 45.5%
2011 -0.27% 46.9%
2010 -0.73% 1.17%
2009 -1.35% 5.01%
2008 1.38% -
2007 0.06% -
2006 0.25% -
2005 -0.28% -
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).

GeoRank.org/economy/japan/south-sudan | CC BY

Over the past 16 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.72%, compared with 63.7% in South Sudan. In 2024, inflation was 2.74% in Japan and 91.4% in South Sudan.

Balance of trade

Japan South Sudan
Current account balance
$194B
2024
$578M
2023
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2024
60/190
2023
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.82%
2024
-4.17%
2015
Goods imports
$719B
2024
$2.25B
2023
Goods exports
$694B
2024
$4.01B
2023
Service imports
$246B
2024
$2.19B
2023
Service exports
$228B
2024
$484M
2023
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
23.6%
2024
28.9%
2015
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.8%
2024
36.7%
2015

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan South Sudan
Economic freedom 70.3 41
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 186/197
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 South Sudan
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
56.6%
2015
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
33.1%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.94%
2023
10.4%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$11.7B
2015
GNI per capita, PPP
$55,490
2024
$1,010
2015
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
$72.9M
2023
Total reserves ranking
2/177
2024
175/177
2023
Net foreign direct investment
$191B
2024
$2.21M
2019
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$16.2B
2024
$83.4M
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$203B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
66%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
26.2%
2024
5.75%
2015

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/south-sudan | CC BY

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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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

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.