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Economy of Japan vs Tuvalu compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Japan has a GDP of $4.44T compared to $62.3M for Tuvalu, ranking 4/197 and 196/197 by economy size, respectively.

Japan has $9.16T in government debt (206.5% of GDP), compared to $4.15M (3.6% of GDP) in Tuvalu.

Japan vs Tuvalu GDP by year

Japan
Tuvalu
1x
Year GDP, current $
Japan Tuvalu
2025 $4,435,162,999,977 -
2024 $4,190,008,188,359 -
2023 $4,384,854,269,962 $62,280,312
2022 $4,447,976,207,315 $59,065,982
2021 $5,225,933,520,753 $60,196,406
2020 $5,189,197,543,645 $51,746,594
2019 $5,245,755,000,479 $54,123,199
2018 $5,154,293,721,630 $48,015,260
2017 $5,038,231,631,661 $45,276,595
2016 $5,110,357,383,254 $41,629,064
2015 $4,534,438,580,495 $36,811,936
2014 $4,985,763,289,561 $38,760,983
2013 $5,272,297,037,397 $38,615,891
2012 $6,333,803,928,788 $39,345,579
2011 $6,279,422,550,219 $39,196,957
2010 $5,811,578,109,447 $32,105,408
2009 $5,336,765,697,589 $28,076,984
2008 $5,160,197,175,876 $31,874,435
2007 $4,624,670,179,655 $28,450,169
2006 $4,648,058,930,707 $24,096,875
2005 $4,875,648,486,366 $22,909,980
2004 $4,941,485,123,807 $22,798,275
2003 $4,573,413,206,709 $19,456,338
2002 $4,245,946,980,572 $16,842,673
2001 $4,438,792,748,062 $13,964,732
2000 $5,042,381,838,343 $15,073,976
1999 $4,688,983,449,627 $14,800,503
1998 $4,150,359,076,370 $13,795,146
1997 $4,579,780,793,432 $13,734,210
1996 $5,021,441,618,840 $13,338,597
1995 $5,639,649,753,986 $11,922,614
1994 $5,104,063,486,348 $11,772,611
1993 $4,632,480,515,091 $10,414,400
1992 $4,064,529,567,505 $10,535,028
1991 $3,724,887,648,862 $10,127,314
1990 $3,252,994,239,867 $9,542,901
1989 $3,174,934,735,896 $8,454,523
1988 $3,191,546,727,316 $7,011,059
1987 $2,635,094,473,494 $5,020,513
1986 $2,164,729,071,349 $4,574,706
1985 $1,457,070,301,468 $3,862,852
1984 $1,374,165,212,365 $4,481,978
1983 $1,297,622,008,229 $4,152,550
1982 $1,183,132,285,328 $4,118,945
1981 $1,271,443,597,067 $4,773,018
1980 $1,153,159,955,513 $4,206,128
1979 $1,100,608,979,757 $4,065,659
1978 $1,057,419,758,047 $3,798,782
1977 $752,590,681,822 $3,669,420
1976 $611,495,350,304 $3,919,072
1975 $544,082,569,364 $4,014,748
1974 $500,355,087,138 $4,122,329
1973 $450,756,970,744 $3,411,915
1972 $331,776,379,992 $2,968,458
1971 $250,530,994,765 $2,716,990
1970 $221,798,003,144 $2,585,956
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/tuvalu | CC BY

GDP per capita in Japan vs Tuvalu by year

Japan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Tuvalu
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Japan Tuvalu
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $35,951 - - -
2024 $33,797 $52,039 - -
2023 $35,215 $50,662 $6,345 $6,151
2022 $35,548 $47,192 $5,911 $5,661
2021 $41,581 $44,355 $5,905 $5,353
2020 $41,099 $42,426 $4,976 $5,122
2019 $41,425 $42,678 $5,115 $5,210
2018 $40,645 $42,142 $4,466 $4,432
2017 $39,680 $41,444 $4,166 $4,227
2016 $40,215 $40,597 $3,809 $4,031
2015 $35,665 $40,899 $3,358 $3,776
2014 $39,173 $39,555 $3,529 $3,419
2013 $41,369 $39,402 $3,510 $3,277
2012 $49,627 $37,606 $3,598 $3,170
2011 $49,122 $36,214 $3,636 $3,176
2010 $45,378 $35,336 $3,025 $2,945
2009 $41,678 $33,543 $2,684 $3,082
2008 $40,294 $35,274 $3,088 $3,291
2007 $36,130 $35,015 $2,794 $3,034
2006 $36,354 $33,632 $2,396 $2,787
2005 $38,159 $32,170 $2,305 $2,728
2004 $38,678 $30,832 $2,323 $2,765
2003 $35,809 $29,392 $2,007 $2,770
2002 $33,316 $28,624 $1,750 $2,915
2001 $34,910 $27,943 $1,457 $2,596
2000 $39,753 $27,288 $1,579 $2,597
1999 $37,029 $25,736 $1,559 $2,543
1998 $32,835 $25,508 $1,460 $2,560
1997 $36,331 $25,619 $1,461 $2,204
1996 $39,930 $24,999 $1,428 $1,982
1995 $44,947 $23,858 $1,285 $2,083
1994 $40,774 $22,823 $1,279 $2,165
1993 $37,111 $22,168 $1,141 $1,939
1992 $32,667 $21,825 $1,166 $1,837
1991 $30,048 $21,227 $1,134 $1,769
1990 $26,345 $19,912 $1,085 $1,676
1989 $25,798 - $976 -
1988 $26,037 - $823 -
1987 $21,587 - $600 -
1986 $17,819 - $557 -
1985 $12,058 - $480 -
1984 $11,443 - $567 -
1983 $10,876 - $533 -
1982 $9,986 - $537 -
1981 $10,806 - $634 -
1980 $9,872 - $571 -
1979 $9,497 - $566 -
1978 $9,202 - $546 -
1977 $6,609 - $549 -
1976 $5,422 - $612 -
1975 $4,876 - $656 -
1974 $4,542 - $708 -
1973 $4,147 - $601 -
1972 $3,095 - $522 -
1971 $2,370 - $478 -
1970 $2,145 - $457 -
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/tuvalu | CC BY

Japan's GDP per capita is $35,951, ranking 34/197, compared to $6,345 in Tuvalu, ranking 113/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Japan ranks 41st at $52,039, while Tuvalu ranks 152nd at $6,151.

Economic indicators

Japan Tuvalu
Gross domestic product
$4.44T
2025
$62.3M
2023
GDP rank
4/197
2025
196/197
2023
GDP growth
1.19%
2024-2025
3.85%
2022-2023
GDP per capita
$35,951
2025
$6,345
2023
GDP per capita rank
34/197
2025
113/197
2023
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$6,151
2023
GDP per capita PPP rank
41/197
2024
152/197
2023
Government debt
$9.16T
2025
$4.15M
2023
Debt-to-GDP ratio
206.5%
2025
3.6%
2025
Government debt per person
$74,248
2025
$423
2023
Government debt per person rank
3/185
2025
171/185
2023
Average annual personal income after taxes
$22,962
2026
$4,485
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
30.8%
2010
Income share by poorest 10%
2.3%
2020
2.7%
2010
Government expenditure, % of GDP
36.9%
2025
105.3%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
3.17%
2024-2025
2%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
0.75%
2025
n/a
Unemployment rate
2.5%
2025
7.32%
2022
Population
122704252
9349

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Japan
Spending

Debt
Tuvalu
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Japan Tuvalu
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 36.9% 206.5% 105.3% 3.6%
2024 37.3% 214.5% 117.5% 6.96%
2023 37.8% 220.3% 145.9% 6.67%
2022 40.2% 227.8% 115.3% 6.33%
2021 41.3% 222.7% 113.8% 11.3%
2020 43.6% 228.8% 119.5% 12.1%
2019 36.4% 206.3% 113.6% 11.6%
2018 36% 203.7% 125.6% 11.8%
2017 35.9% 203.1% 106.4% 12%
2016 36.5% 202.1% 119.6% 11.5%
2015 36.6% 200.1% 116.9% 14.4%
2014 37.8% 203.6% 96.8% 16.4%
2013 38.4% 201.2% 80.2% 17.8%
2012 38.4% 197.1% 76.8% 19.3%
2011 38.4% 190.6% 77.2% 19.1%
2010 37.4% 178.6% 93.9% 21.1%
2009 38.3% 172.9% 100% 20.6%
2008 33.7% 153.6% 85.8% 19.8%
2007 32.8% 150.4% 88.6% 32.4%
2006 32.7% 152.1% 98.5% 37.5%
2005 33.2% 153.4% 82.1% 37.4%
2004 33.3% 148.8% 74.1% -
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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2025, Japan's government spending was $1.63T, accounting for 36.9% of its GDP, while Tuvalu spent $90.9M, or 105.3% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 206.5% in Japan and 3.6% in Tuvalu, ranking 3/185 and 184/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Japan

Tuvalu
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Japan Tuvalu
2025 -1.05% 31.6%
2024 -1.67% -3.44%
2023 -2.39% 10.1%
2022 -4.23% -14.6%
2021 -6.32% -13.3%
2020 -9.04% 13.7%
2019 -3.05% -1.07%
2018 -2.44% 30.3%
2017 -3.05% 2.09%
2016 -3.58% 27.5%
2015 -3.64% 14.7%
2014 -5.58% 3.26%
2013 -7.62% 26%
2012 -8.22% 9.58%
2011 -9.02% -8.8%
2010 -9.05% -23.4%
2009 -9.62% -13.5%
2008 -4.07% -17.2%
2007 -2.86% -18.6%
2006 -3% -36.8%
2005 -4.39% -12.8%
2004 -5.26% -3.6%
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/tuvalu | CC BY

In 2023, Japan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $105B, equivalent to 2.39% of GDP. This compares to Tuvalu's surplus of $6.29M, or 10.1% of GDP.

Over the past 20 years, Japan recorded a fiscal deficit in 20 of those years, while Tuvalu ran a deficit in 11 years. On average, Japan posted an annual deficit equal to 5.32% of GDP, compared to deficit of 1.32% of GDP for Tuvalu.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Japan

Tuvalu
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Japan Tuvalu
2025 3.17% 2%
2024 2.74% 1.2%
2023 3.27% 7.2%
2022 2.5% 12.2%
2021 -0.23% 6.7%
2020 -0.02% 1.6%
2019 0.47% 3.5%
2018 0.99% 2.2%
2017 0.48% 4.1%
2016 -0.13% 3.5%
2015 0.8% 3.1%
2014 2.76% 1.1%
2013 0.34% 2%
2012 -0.04% 1.4%
2011 -0.27% 0.5%
2010 -0.73% -1.9%
2009 -1.35% -0.3%
2008 1.38% 10.4%
2007 0.06% 2.3%
2006 0.25% 4.2%
2005 -0.28% 3.2%
2004 -0.009% 2.4%
2003 -0.26% 2.9%
2002 -0.92% 5.1%
2001 -0.74% 1.5%
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 (2001–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the past 25 years, Japan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 0.57%, compared with 3.28% in Tuvalu. In 2025, inflation was 3.17% in Japan and 2% in Tuvalu.

Top exports between countries

Japan
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $28.3M
Raw materials & minerals $145K
Metals $54K
Miscellaneous $34K
Textiles & consumer goods $29K
Chemicals & pharma $21K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $18K
Wood & paper products $7K
Tuvalu
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $8K

Balance of trade

Japan Tuvalu
Current account balance
$216B
2025
$2.71M
2022
Current account balance ranking
3/190
2025
70/190
2022
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.86%
2025
+4.59%
2022
Goods imports
$729B
2025
$24.2M
2022
Goods exports
$725B
2025
$184K
2022
Service imports
$269B
2025
$33.1M
2022
Service exports
$246B
2025
$2.05M
2022
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
22.9%
2024
n/a
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
22%
2024
8.22%
2026

Economic freedom indices

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

Japan Tuvalu
Economic freedom 70.3 60
Economic freedom ranking 36/197 99/197
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 Tuvalu
Services, % of GDP
71.4%
2024
n/a
Industry, % of GDP
26.8%
2024
7.02%
2015
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.96%
2024
15.9%
2015
GNI, Atlas method
$4.73T
2025
$86M
2023
GNI per capita, PPP
$58,920
2025
$9,850
2023
Total reserves including gold
$1.37T
2025
n/a
Total reserves ranking
3/177
2025
n/a
Net foreign direct investment
$172B
2025
$0
2022
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$18.9B
2024
$258K
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$207B
2024
$0
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
16.1%
2020
26.3%
2020
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/tuvalu | 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 (2002–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2020, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. LivingCost (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.

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.