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China vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank

China has a population of 1.41B (ranked 2/197), compared with 123M 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 ($19.5T) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.44T). By GDP per capita, China ranks 77/197 ($13,862), while Japan ranks 34/197 ($35,951).

Main facts and rankings

China Japan
Population
1403335670
122704252
Population rank 2/197 12/197
GDP
$19.5T
2025
$4.44T
2025
GDP rank 2/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$13,862
2025
$35,951
2025
GDP per capita rank 77/197 34/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$27,105
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$19.3T
2025
$9.16T
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
99.2%
2025
206.5%
2025
Government debt per person
$13,756
2025
$74,248
2025
Government debt per person rank 47/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,414
2026
$22,962
2026
Land area 3,624,808 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
387 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.01
2024
1.15
2024
Median age
41.1 years
2025
50.8 years
2025
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
2025 $19,498,039,388,043 $4,435,162,999,977
2024 $18,729,668,435,848 $4,190,008,188,359
2023 $18,270,356,654,533 $4,384,854,269,962
2022 $18,316,765,021,690 $4,447,976,207,315
2021 $18,201,698,719,564 $5,225,933,520,753
2020 $14,996,414,166,715 $5,189,197,543,645
2019 $14,560,167,101,283 $5,245,755,000,479
2018 $14,147,765,772,964 $5,154,293,721,630
2017 $12,537,559,062,283 $5,038,231,631,661
2016 $11,456,024,084,962 $5,110,357,383,254
2015 $11,280,814,787,469 $4,534,438,580,495
2014 $10,674,533,168,257 $4,985,763,289,561
2013 $9,743,124,247,267 $5,272,297,037,397
2012 $8,673,664,713,189 $6,333,803,928,788
2011 $7,671,757,207,851 $6,279,422,550,219
2010 $6,192,564,874,453 $5,811,578,109,447
2009 $5,189,577,094,998 $5,336,765,697,589
2008 $4,667,346,414,522 $5,160,197,175,876
2007 $3,604,055,822,572 $4,624,670,179,655
2006 $2,791,498,472,804 $4,648,058,930,707
2005 $2,317,551,298,052 $4,875,648,486,366
2004 $1,984,196,551,300 $4,941,485,123,807
2003 $1,683,903,309,844 $4,573,413,206,709
2002 $1,489,821,682,051 $4,245,946,980,572
2001 $1,355,036,590,252 $4,438,792,748,062
2000 $1,223,754,919,971 $5,042,381,838,343
1999 $1,103,843,203,576 $4,688,983,449,627
1998 $1,037,134,141,760 $4,150,359,076,370
1997 $967,753,570,435 $4,579,780,793,432
1996 $868,523,936,530 $5,021,441,618,840
1995 $738,190,896,228 $5,639,649,753,986
1994 $566,929,539,493 $5,104,063,486,348
1993 $446,557,291,212 $4,632,480,515,091
1992 $428,502,354,788 $4,064,529,567,505
1991 $384,510,452,962 $3,724,887,648,862
1990 $361,560,229,446 $3,252,994,239,867
1989 $348,380,566,802 $3,174,934,735,896
1988 $312,888,888,889 $3,191,546,727,316
1987 $273,455,156,951 $2,635,094,473,494
1986 $301,310,144,928 $2,164,729,071,349
1985 $310,064,625,850 $1,457,070,301,468
1984 $260,442,857,143 $1,374,165,212,365
1983 $231,130,268,199 $1,297,622,008,229
1982 $205,480,916,031 $1,183,132,285,328
1981 $196,218,253,968 $1,271,443,597,067
1980 $191,487,500,000 $1,153,159,955,513
1979 $178,573,913,043 $1,100,608,979,757
1978 $149,788,617,886 $1,057,419,758,047
1977 $175,226,595,860 $752,590,681,822
1976 $154,196,810,059 $611,495,350,304
1975 $163,687,619,736 $544,082,569,364
1974 $144,418,433,058 $500,355,087,138
1973 $138,764,340,892 $450,756,970,744
1972 $113,871,930,714 $331,776,379,992
1971 $99,959,013,880 $250,530,994,765
1970 $92,752,930,873 $221,798,003,144
1969 $79,847,786,729 $188,179,852,753
1968 $70,980,323,819 $160,201,483,788
1967 $73,011,350,596 $135,265,319,098
1966 $76,854,053,259 $115,427,351,851
1965 $70,565,994,356 $99,387,878,008
1964 $59,821,862,703 $89,332,989,729
1963 $50,812,227,919 $75,945,582,324
1962 $47,310,737,754 $66,356,388,224
1961 $50,162,299,350 $58,472,696,006
1960 $59,846,235,025 $48,417,804,545

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

China and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
China

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
China Japan
2025 $13,862 $35,951
2024 $13,293 $33,797
2023 $12,951 $35,215
2022 $12,971 $35,548
2021 $12,887 $41,581
2020 $10,627 $41,099
2019 $10,343 $41,425
2018 $10,086 $40,645
2017 $8,980 $39,680
2016 $8,255 $40,215
2015 $8,175 $35,665
2014 $7,781 $39,173
2013 $7,147 $41,369
2012 $6,405 $49,627
2011 $5,704 $49,122
2010 $4,629 $45,378
2009 $3,898 $41,678
2008 $3,523 $40,294
2007 $2,735 $36,130
2006 $2,129 $36,354
2005 $1,778 $38,159
2004 $1,531 $38,678
2003 $1,307 $35,809
2002 $1,164 $33,316
2001 $1,065 $34,910
2000 $969 $39,753
1999 $881 $37,029
1998 $835 $32,835
1997 $787 $36,331
1996 $713 $39,930
1995 $613 $44,947
1994 $476 $40,774
1993 $379 $37,111
1992 $368 $32,667
1991 $334 $30,048
1990 $319 $26,345
1989 $311 $25,798
1988 $284 $26,037
1987 $252.3 $21,587
1986 $282.4 $17,819
1985 $295 $12,058
1984 $251.2 $11,443
1983 $225.9 $10,876
1982 $203.7 $9,986
1981 $197.4 $10,806
1980 $195.1 $9,872
1979 $184.3 $9,497
1978 $156.7 $9,202
1977 $185.7 $6,609
1976 $165.7 $5,422
1975 $178.6 $4,876
1974 $160.4 $4,542
1973 $157.3 $4,147
1972 $132.1 $3,095
1971 $118.8 $2,370
1970 $113.3 $2,145
1969 $100.3 $1,841
1968 $91.6 $1,586
1967 $96.8 $1,354
1966 $104.5 $1,168
1965 $98.7 $1,015
1964 $85.7 $922
1963 $74.5 $792
1962 $71.1 $699
1961 $76 $622
1960 $89.7 $519

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 2026-07-08).

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

China and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
China

Japan
1x
Year Population
China Japan
2025 1,406,585,000 123,366,734
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Fertility rates in China and Japan

Fertility rate
China

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
China Japan
2024 1.01 1.15
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

China and Japan demographics compared

Median age
China

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
China Japan
2025 41.1 50.8
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 (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

China Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$20T
2025
$4.73T
2025
Government expenditure, % of GDP
32.9%
2025
36.9%
2025
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.9%
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
-7.87%
2025
-1.05%
2025
Unemployment rate
4.57%
2022
2.5%
2025
Services, % of GDP
57.7%
2025
71.4%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
35.6%
2025
26.8%
2024
Economic freedom index
48.3
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
28.4%
2022
24.3%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.1%
2022
2.3%
2020
Number of millionaires
5,305,000
2026
2,902,000
2026
Percentage of millionaires
0.48%
2026
2.79%
2026
Number of billionaires
539
2026
41
2026
Percentage of billionaires
0.00005%
2026
0.00004%
2026
Listed domestic companies
11,149
2025
3,942
2025
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$15.5T
2025
$7.61T
2025
Total reserves including gold
$3.75T
2025
$1.37T
2025
Personal remittances received
$25B
2024
$4.65B
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
3,006 kg
2024
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$8.83
2023
$17.3
2024
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
11.8%
2024
Net energy imports use share
24%
2023
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
6,524 kWh
2023
7,530 kWh
2024
Renewable electricity output share
28.4%
2021
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
13.5%
2023
8.69%
2024
Nuclear share
4.55%
2023
9.52%
2024
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

China Japan
% of world population
17.2%
2025
1.5%
2025
Annual migration change
-268,126
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
66.3%
2025
92.3%
2025
Male:Female ratio
50.9:49.1
2025
48.8:51.2
2025
Average male height
5.56 ft
2026
5.64 ft
2026
Average female height
5.21 ft
2026
5.2 ft
2026
Quality of life index
52.1
2026
90.3
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
94
2026
173
2026
Adult literacy rate
96.7%
2020
99%
2002
English speaking
0.7%
2026
28%
2026
People using the Internet
91.6%
2025
85.5%
2024

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
5.7
2024
2.4
2024
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
22.8%
2024
17.5%
2024
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
2,577 sq mi
2025
1,141 sq mi
2025
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 (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  9. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  10. Passport Index (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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