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China vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 124M in Japan (ranked 12/197). China's land area is 3,624,808 sq mi versus 140,761 sq mi for Japan (ranked 2nd vs. 61st).

By GDP, China ranks 2/197 ($18.7T) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T). By GDP per capita, China ranks 76/197 ($13,303), while Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487).

Main facts and rankings

China Japan
Population
1402578808
122677250
Population rank 2/197 12/197
GDP
$18.7T
2024
$4.03T
2024
GDP rank 2/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$13,303
2024
$32,487
2024
GDP per capita rank 76/197 38/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$16.6T
2024
$9.51T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
88.3%
2024
236.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$11,749
2024
$76,704
2024
Government debt per person rank 47/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$9,826
2026
$23,653
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
40.6 years
2024
50.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
85.1 years
2026

China and Japan: Comparison Charts

China and Japan economies compared

GDP
China

Japan
1x
Year GDP
China Japan
2024 $18,743,803,170,827 $4,027,597,523,551
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $4,213,167,237,906
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $4,262,463,317,797
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $5,039,148,168,861
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $5,054,068,005,376
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $5,117,993,853,017
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $5,040,880,939,325
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $4,930,837,369,151
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $5,003,677,627,544
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $4,444,930,651,964
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $4,896,994,405,353
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $5,212,328,181,166
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $6,272,362,996,105
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $6,233,147,172,341
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $5,759,071,769,013
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $5,289,493,117,994
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $5,106,679,115,127
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $4,579,750,920,355
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $4,601,663,122,650
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $4,831,467,035,390
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $4,893,116,005,657
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $4,519,561,645,254
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $4,182,846,045,874
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $4,374,711,694,091
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $4,968,359,075,957
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $4,635,982,224,064
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $4,098,362,709,531
1997 $967,753,570,435 $4,492,448,605,639
1996 $868,523,936,530 $4,923,391,533,852
1995 $738,190,896,228 $5,545,563,663,890
1994 $566,929,539,493 $4,998,797,547,741
1993 $446,557,291,212 $4,536,940,479,038
1992 $428,502,354,788 $3,980,702,922,118
1991 $384,510,452,962 $3,648,065,760,649
1990 $361,560,229,446 $3,185,904,656,664
1989 $348,380,566,802 $3,109,455,047,824
1988 $312,888,888,889 $3,125,724,434,401
1987 $273,455,156,951 $2,580,748,422,781
1986 $301,310,144,928 $2,120,083,812,110
1985 $310,064,625,850 $1,427,019,759,717
1984 $260,442,857,143 $1,345,824,500,837
1983 $231,130,268,199 $1,270,859,919,743
1982 $205,480,916,031 $1,158,731,426,906
1981 $196,218,253,968 $1,245,221,410,764
1980 $191,487,500,000 $1,129,377,244,854
1979 $178,573,913,043 $1,077,910,077,676
1978 $149,788,617,886 $1,035,611,588,217
1977 $175,226,595,860 $737,069,290,928
1976 $154,196,810,059 $598,883,902,156
1975 $163,687,619,736 $532,861,438,885
1974 $144,418,433,058 $490,035,789,970
1973 $138,764,340,892 $441,460,582,536
1972 $113,871,930,714 $324,933,841,269
1971 $99,959,013,880 $245,364,056,622
1970 $92,752,930,873 $217,223,652,719
1969 $79,847,786,729 $184,298,841,305
1968 $70,980,323,819 $156,897,496,759
1967 $73,011,350,596 $132,475,614,227
1966 $76,854,053,259 $113,046,784,179
1965 $70,565,994,356 $97,338,107,606
1964 $59,821,862,703 $87,490,590,818
1963 $50,812,227,919 $74,379,284,603
1962 $47,310,737,754 $64,987,857,542
1961 $50,162,299,350 $57,266,758,180
1960 $59,846,235,025 $47,419,238,274

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

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

China and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
China

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
China Japan
2024 $13,303 $32,487
2023 $12,951 $33,836
2022 $12,971 $34,066
2021 $12,887 $40,095
2020 $10,627 $40,029
2019 $10,343 $40,416
2018 $10,086 $39,751
2017 $8,980 $38,834
2016 $8,255 $39,375
2015 $8,175 $34,961
2014 $7,781 $38,475
2013 $7,147 $40,899
2012 $6,405 $49,145
2011 $5,704 $48,760
2010 $4,629 $44,968
2009 $3,898 $41,309
2008 $3,523 $39,876
2007 $2,735 $35,779
2006 $2,129 $35,992
2005 $1,778 $37,813
2004 $1,531 $38,299
2003 $1,307 $35,387
2002 $1,164 $32,821
2001 $1,065 $34,406
2000 $969 $39,169
1999 $881 $36,610
1998 $835 $32,424
1997 $787 $35,638
1996 $713 $39,150
1995 $613 $44,198
1994 $476 $39,934
1993 $379 $36,345
1992 $368 $31,993
1991 $334 $29,428
1990 $319 $25,801
1989 $311 $25,266
1988 $284 $25,500
1987 $252.3 $21,142
1986 $282.4 $17,452
1985 $295 $11,809
1984 $251.2 $11,207
1983 $225.9 $10,652
1982 $203.7 $9,780
1981 $197.4 $10,583
1980 $195.1 $9,669
1979 $184.3 $9,301
1978 $156.7 $9,012
1977 $185.7 $6,473
1976 $165.7 $5,310
1975 $178.6 $4,776
1974 $160.4 $4,448
1973 $157.3 $4,061
1972 $132.1 $3,031
1971 $118.8 $2,321
1970 $113.3 $2,101
1969 $100.3 $1,803
1968 $91.6 $1,553
1967 $96.8 $1,326
1966 $104.5 $1,144
1965 $98.7 $994
1964 $85.7 $903
1963 $74.5 $776
1962 $71.1 $685
1961 $76 $609
1960 $89.7 $509

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

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

China vs. Japan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
China

Japan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
China Japan
2026 79 85.1
2025 78.4 85
2024 78 84.9
2023 78 84.7
2022 78.2 84.1
2021 78.1 84.6
2020 78 84.7
2019 77.9 84.4
2018 77.7 84.3
2017 77.2 84.2
2016 77.2 84.1
2015 77 83.9
2014 76.7 83.6
2013 76.5 83.4
2012 76.2 83.2
2011 75.9 82.7
2010 75.7 82.9
2009 75.3 83
2008 74.8 82.6
2007 74.8 82.5
2006 74.4 82.4
2005 74.1 82
2004 73.7 82.1
2003 73.4 81.9
2002 73 81.8
2001 72.7 81.5
2000 72.3 81.2
1999 72 80.6
1998 71.6 80.6
1997 71.2 80.6
1996 70.8 80.4
1995 70.4 79.7
1994 69.8 79.8
1993 69.5 79.4
1992 69.1 79.3
1991 68.6 79.3
1990 68.2 79
1989 67.9 79
1988 67.6 78.5
1987 67.3 78.6
1986 66.9 78.2
1985 66.5 77.8
1984 66.1 77.5
1983 65.7 77.1
1982 65.2 77.1
1981 64.8 76.6
1980 64.2 76.1
1979 63.7 76.2
1978 63.1 75.7
1977 62.5 75.3
1976 61.2 74.8
1975 61 74.4
1974 60.2 73.8
1973 59.5 73.4
1972 58.6 73.3
1971 57.7 72.8
1970 56.8 72
1969 56 71.9
1968 55.2 71.7
1967 54.4 71.4
1966 53.7 71.1
1965 53 70.3
1964 52.3 70.2
1963 51.7 69.7
1962 51 68.7
1961 40.2 68.4
1960 33.4 67.7
1959 40.2 67.5
1958 48.8 67
1957 48.4 65.4
1956 47.8 65.6
1955 47.2 65.7
1954 46.8 64.5
1953 45.9 63.3
1952 45.3 63
1951 44.6 61
1950 43.8 59.3

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

China and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
China

Japan
1x
Year Population
China Japan
2024 1,408,975,000 123,975,371
2023 1,410,710,000 124,516,650
2022 1,412,175,000 125,124,989
2021 1,412,360,000 125,681,593
2020 1,411,100,000 126,261,000
2019 1,407,745,000 126,633,000
2018 1,402,760,000 126,811,000
2017 1,396,215,000 126,972,000
2016 1,387,790,000 127,076,000
2015 1,379,860,000 127,141,000
2014 1,371,860,000 127,276,000
2013 1,363,240,000 127,445,000
2012 1,354,190,000 127,629,000
2011 1,345,035,000 127,833,000
2010 1,337,705,000 128,070,000
2009 1,331,260,000 128,047,000
2008 1,324,655,000 128,063,000
2007 1,317,885,000 128,001,000
2006 1,311,020,000 127,854,000
2005 1,303,720,000 127,773,000
2004 1,296,075,000 127,761,000
2003 1,288,400,000 127,718,000
2002 1,280,400,000 127,445,000
2001 1,271,850,000 127,149,000
2000 1,262,645,000 126,843,000
1999 1,252,735,000 126,631,000
1998 1,241,935,000 126,400,000
1997 1,230,075,000 126,057,000
1996 1,217,550,000 125,757,000
1995 1,204,855,000 125,472,000
1994 1,191,835,000 125,178,000
1993 1,178,440,000 124,829,000
1992 1,164,970,000 124,425,000
1991 1,150,780,000 123,964,000
1990 1,135,185,000 123,478,000
1989 1,118,650,000 123,069,000
1988 1,101,630,000 122,578,000
1987 1,084,035,000 122,069,000
1986 1,066,790,000 121,482,000
1985 1,051,040,000 120,837,000
1984 1,036,825,000 120,083,000
1983 1,023,310,000 119,307,000
1982 1,008,630,000 118,480,000
1981 993,885,000 117,661,000
1980 981,235,000 116,807,000
1979 969,005,000 115,890,000
1978 956,165,000 114,913,000
1977 943,455,000 113,872,000
1976 930,685,000 112,775,000
1975 916,395,000 111,573,000
1974 900,350,000 110,162,000
1973 881,940,000 108,707,000
1972 862,030,000 107,188,000
1971 841,105,000 105,697,000
1970 818,315,000 103,403,000
1969 796,025,000 102,219,000
1968 774,510,000 101,011,000
1967 754,550,000 99,879,000
1966 735,400,000 98,851,000
1965 715,185,000 97,952,000
1964 698,355,000 96,903,000
1963 682,335,000 95,900,000
1962 665,770,000 94,933,000
1961 660,330,000 94,055,000
1960 667,070,000 93,216,000

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

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

Fertility rates in China and Japan

Fertility rate
China

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Japan
2023 1 1.2
2022 1.03 1.26
2021 1.12 1.3
2020 1.24 1.33
2019 1.5 1.36
2018 1.54 1.42
2017 1.8 1.43
2016 1.77 1.44
2015 1.67 1.45
2014 1.77 1.42
2013 1.71 1.43
2012 1.8 1.41
2011 1.67 1.39
2010 1.69 1.39
2009 1.71 1.37
2008 1.7 1.37
2007 1.67 1.34
2006 1.64 1.32
2005 1.62 1.26
2004 1.61 1.29
2003 1.57 1.29
2002 1.57 1.32
2001 1.56 1.33
2000 1.63 1.36
1999 1.53 1.34
1998 1.52 1.38
1997 1.53 1.39
1996 1.55 1.43
1995 1.59 1.42
1994 1.63 1.5
1993 1.69 1.46
1992 1.78 1.5
1991 1.93 1.53
1990 2.51 1.54
1989 2.52 1.57
1988 2.54 1.66
1987 2.76 1.69
1986 2.72 1.72
1985 2.63 1.76
1984 2.61 1.81
1983 2.56 1.8
1982 2.97 1.77
1981 2.79 1.74
1980 2.74 1.75
1979 2.75 1.77
1978 2.72 1.79
1977 2.84 1.8
1976 3.24 1.85
1975 3.57 1.91
1974 4.17 2.05
1973 4.73 2.14
1972 5.11 2.14
1971 5.52 2.16
1970 6.09 2.13
1969 6.18 2.13
1968 6.51 2.13
1967 5.81 2.23
1966 6.31 1.58
1965 6.61 2.14
1964 6.67 2.05
1963 7.51 2
1962 6.09 1.98
1961 3.86 1.96
1960 4.45 2

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

China and Japan demographics compared

Median age
China

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
China Japan
2024 40.6 50.4
2023 40.1 50
2022 39.6 49.5
2021 39 49.1
2020 38.5 48.7
2019 38.1 48.3
2018 37.7 48
2017 37.4 47.6
2016 37.1 47.3
2015 36.7 47
2014 36.3 46.6
2013 36 46.2
2012 35.7 45.8
2011 35.5 45.5
2010 35.1 45.2
2009 34.7 44.9
2008 34.2 44.6
2007 33.7 44.2
2006 33.1 43.9
2005 32.6 43.6
2004 32.1 43.2
2003 31.6 42.8
2002 31.1 42.5
2001 30.5 42.1
2000 30 41.8
1999 29.4 41.4
1998 28.8 41
1997 28.3 40.7
1996 27.8 40.3
1995 27.2 40
1994 26.6 39.6
1993 26.1 39.2
1992 25.6 38.7
1991 25.1 38.2
1990 24.7 37.7
1989 24.4 37.2
1988 23.9 36.8
1987 23.6 36.3
1986 23.4 35.9
1985 23.2 35.4
1984 23 34.9
1983 22.6 34.3
1982 22.1 33.7
1981 21.8 33.1
1980 21.6 32.8
1979 21.4 32.4
1978 21.2 32
1977 20.8 31.5
1976 20.4 30.9
1975 20.1 30.6
1974 19.7 30.4
1973 19.5 30.2
1972 19.3 29.9
1971 19.2 29.6
1970 19.1 29.2
1969 19.1 28.9
1968 19.2 28.6
1967 19.2 28.4
1966 19.3 28
1965 19.6 27.6
1964 19.9 27.2
1963 20.4 26.9
1962 21 26.5
1961 21.1 26.2
1960 20.9 25.8

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

GeoRank.org/facts/china/japan | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

China Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$19.3T
2024
$4.46T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2024
39.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
4%
2023
3.24%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.71%
2024
1.37%
2024
Armed forces personnel
2,535,000
2020
261,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-7.34%
2024
-1.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
5.11%
2021
2.54%
2024
Services, % of GDP
56.7%
2024
69.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
36.5%
2024
28.6%
2023
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
23.9%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.4%
2020
Number of millionaires
6,327,000
2025
2,732,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
0.57%
2025
2.62%
2025
Number of billionaires
450
2025
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
11,231
2024
3,971
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$11.8T
2024
$6.31T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$3.46T
2024
$1.23T
2024
Personal remittances received
$31.4B
2024
$4.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
30,402,000
2020
4,115,799
2020
International tourism as share of exports
4.59%
2004
1.43%
2020
Banked people share
89.4%
2024
98.5%
2024

Energy

China Japan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
2,851 kg
2023
3,039 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
$16.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
13,125 megatons
2024
972 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
9.32 tons
2024
7.84 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
86.7%
2022
84.8%
2023
Renewable energy use share
15.2%
2021
8.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
9.76%
2023
10.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
7,655 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
8.48%
2023
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
8.38%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

China Japan
% of world population
17.3%
2024
1.53%
2024
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
65.9%
2024
92.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.76 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.36 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
52.3
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
43
2025
71
2025
Higher education index
87
2026
98
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.5
2020
0.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
17.4
2019
3.6
2019
Visa free countries
92
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
99%
2002
English speaking
0.7%
2023
15%
2025
People using the Internet
92%
2024
87%
2023

Health

China Japan
Government health expenditure per capita
$763
2023
$3,638
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$245.6
2023
$445
2023
Life expectancy
79 years
2026
85.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0.005%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
3.11
2022
2.65
2022
Age at first childbirth n/a
30.7 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
16
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
6.2
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
8.37%
2022
5.57%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
11.9%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
14
2026
78
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
23.4%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
4.58 liters
2020
6.38 liters
2020

Territory

China Japan
% of world land
6.3%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
2,573 sq mi
2024
1,135 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,009,326 sq mi
2026
17,788 sq mi
2026
Forest area
871,112 sq mi
2026
96,275 sq mi
2026
Roads length
3,411,576 mi
2024
757,310 mi
2021

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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