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Iceland vs Japan statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population of 387K (ranked 173/197), compared with 124M in Japan (ranked 12/197). Iceland's land area is 38,931 sq mi versus 140,761 sq mi for Japan (ranked 104th vs. 61st).

By GDP, Iceland ranks 108/197 ($33.3B) and Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T). By GDP per capita, Iceland ranks 9/197 ($86,041), while Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487).

Main facts and rankings

Iceland Japan
Population
397129
122677250
Population rank 173/197 12/197
GDP
$33.3B
2024
$4.03T
2024
GDP rank 108/197 4/197
GDP per capita
$86,041
2024
$32,487
2024
GDP per capita rank 9/197 38/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$84,257
2024
$52,039
2024
Government debt
$19.8B
2024
$9.51T
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
59.4%
2024
236.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$51,148
2024
$76,704
2024
Government debt per person rank 9/185 3/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$55,565
2026
$23,653
2026
Land area 38,931 sq mi 140,761 sq mi
Population density
10.2 ppl/mi²
2026
872 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.59
2023
1.2
2023
Median age
37.1 years
2024
50.4 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
85.1 years
2026

Iceland and Japan: Comparison Charts

Iceland and Japan economies compared

GDP
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year GDP
Iceland Japan
2024 $33,255,181,469 $4,027,597,523,551
2023 $31,677,891,897 $4,213,167,237,906
2022 $29,166,102,877 $4,262,463,317,797
2021 $26,234,872,402 $5,039,148,168,861
2020 $22,034,665,041 $5,054,068,005,376
2019 $24,985,687,022 $5,117,993,853,017
2018 $26,677,652,544 $5,040,880,939,325
2017 $25,060,086,488 $4,930,837,369,151
2016 $21,083,713,310 $5,003,677,627,544
2015 $17,700,486,957 $4,444,930,651,964
2014 $18,052,183,515 $4,896,994,405,353
2013 $16,244,319,959 $5,212,328,181,166
2012 $14,943,757,823 $6,272,362,996,105
2011 $15,394,005,872 $6,233,147,172,341
2010 $13,922,711,577 $5,759,071,769,013
2009 $13,212,543,838 $5,289,493,117,994
2008 $18,247,921,360 $5,106,679,115,127
2007 $21,960,110,030 $4,579,750,920,355
2006 $17,671,649,843 $4,601,663,122,650
2005 $17,146,410,561 $4,831,467,035,390
2004 $13,963,943,244 $4,893,116,005,657
2003 $11,564,687,742 $4,519,561,645,254
2002 $9,416,199,700 $4,182,846,045,874
2001 $8,323,401,820 $4,374,711,694,091
2000 $9,140,168,922 $4,968,359,075,957
1999 $9,107,644,691 $4,635,982,224,064
1998 $8,637,732,542 $4,098,362,709,531
1997 $7,716,781,803 $4,492,448,605,639
1996 $7,686,566,105 $4,923,391,533,852
1995 $7,372,640,169 $5,545,563,663,890
1994 $6,612,804,056 $4,998,797,547,741
1993 $6,435,952,174 $4,536,940,479,038
1992 $7,328,497,599 $3,980,702,922,118
1991 $7,151,260,062 $3,648,065,760,649
1990 $6,694,851,159 $3,185,904,656,664
1989 $5,870,854,233 $3,109,455,047,824
1988 $6,320,093,411 $3,125,724,434,401
1987 $5,713,281,235 $2,580,748,422,781
1986 $4,129,080,094 $2,120,083,812,110
1985 $3,088,359,967 $1,427,019,759,717
1984 $2,964,568,006 $1,345,824,500,837
1983 $2,862,634,164 $1,270,859,919,743
1982 $3,318,714,326 $1,158,731,426,906
1981 $3,615,094,820 $1,245,221,410,764
1980 $3,499,616,683 $1,129,377,244,854
1979 $2,953,176,971 $1,077,910,077,676
1978 $2,599,627,089 $1,035,611,588,217
1977 $2,285,707,749 $737,069,290,928
1976 $1,727,845,419 $598,883,902,156
1975 $1,456,052,700 $532,861,438,885
1974 $1,568,154,077 $490,035,789,970
1973 $1,194,794,186 $441,460,582,536
1972 $869,002,946 $324,933,841,269
1971 $693,679,545 $245,364,056,622
1970 $545,115,909 $217,223,652,719
1969 $435,659,610 $184,298,841,305
1968 $498,365,200 $156,897,496,759
1967 $652,609,076 $132,475,614,227
1966 $660,663,763 $113,046,784,179
1965 $550,150,988 $97,338,107,606
1964 $456,206,299 $87,490,590,818
1963 $357,240,896 $74,379,284,603
1962 $299,309,938 $64,987,857,542
1961 $266,711,460 $57,266,758,180
1960 $260,984,499 $47,419,238,274

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

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

Iceland and Japan economies compared

GDP per capita
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year GDP per capita
Iceland Japan
2024 $86,041 $32,487
2023 $82,139 $33,836
2022 $76,350 $34,066
2021 $70,425 $40,095
2020 $60,128 $40,029
2019 $69,296 $40,416
2018 $75,634 $39,751
2017 $72,976 $38,834
2016 $62,854 $39,375
2015 $53,506 $34,961
2014 $55,140 $38,475
2013 $50,173 $40,899
2012 $46,595 $49,145
2011 $48,255 $48,760
2010 $43,776 $44,968
2009 $41,484 $41,309
2008 $57,489 $39,876
2007 $70,483 $35,779
2006 $58,172 $35,992
2005 $57,784 $37,813
2004 $47,810 $38,299
2003 $39,944 $35,387
2002 $32,749 $32,821
2001 $29,208 $34,406
2000 $32,504 $39,169
1999 $32,834 $36,610
1998 $31,519 $32,424
1997 $28,462 $35,638
1996 $28,584 $39,150
1995 $27,565 $44,198
1994 $24,858 $39,934
1993 $24,404 $36,345
1992 $28,072 $31,993
1991 $27,740 $29,428
1990 $26,272 $25,801
1989 $23,219 $25,266
1988 $25,307 $25,500
1987 $23,238 $21,142
1986 $16,980 $17,452
1985 $12,793 $11,809
1984 $12,378 $11,207
1983 $12,080 $10,652
1982 $14,191 $9,780
1981 $15,666 $10,583
1980 $15,340 $9,669
1979 $13,082 $9,301
1978 $11,630 $9,012
1977 $10,305 $6,473
1976 $7,848 $5,310
1975 $6,680 $4,776
1974 $7,287 $4,448
1973 $5,627 $4,061
1972 $4,155 $3,031
1971 $3,366 $2,321
1970 $2,666 $2,101
1969 $2,142 $1,803
1968 $2,473 $1,553
1967 $3,284 $1,326
1966 $3,378 $1,144
1965 $2,861 $994
1964 $2,414 $903
1963 $1,924 $776
1962 $1,641 $685
1961 $1,490 $609
1960 $1,486 $509

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

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

Iceland vs. Japan life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Iceland Japan
2026 83.3 85.1
2025 83.2 85
2024 83 84.9
2023 82.7 84.7
2022 81.6 84.1
2021 82.8 84.6
2020 82.7 84.7
2019 82.8 84.4
2018 82.5 84.3
2017 82.2 84.2
2016 81.8 84.1
2015 82.2 83.9
2014 82.4 83.6
2013 81.7 83.4
2012 82.3 83.2
2011 82 82.7
2010 81.6 82.9
2009 81.4 83
2008 81.2 82.6
2007 81.1 82.5
2006 80.9 82.4
2005 81.2 82
2004 80.7 82.1
2003 80.8 81.9
2002 80.3 81.8
2001 80.4 81.5
2000 79.5 81.2
1999 79.2 80.6
1998 79.4 80.6
1997 78.7 80.6
1996 78.6 80.4
1995 77.5 79.7
1994 79 79.8
1993 78.8 79.4
1992 78.6 79.3
1991 77.8 79.3
1990 77.7 79
1989 77.9 79
1988 76.9 78.5
1987 77.1 78.6
1986 77.9 78.2
1985 77.4 77.8
1984 77.3 77.5
1983 76.4 77.1
1982 76.8 77.1
1981 76.2 76.6
1980 76.6 76.1
1979 76.5 76.2
1978 76.4 75.7
1977 76.1 75.3
1976 76.6 74.8
1975 75.3 74.4
1974 74.1 73.8
1973 74.3 73.4
1972 74.4 73.3
1971 73.5 72.8
1970 73.8 72
1969 73.7 71.9
1968 73.9 71.7
1967 73.7 71.4
1966 73.1 71.1
1965 73.8 70.3
1964 73.5 70.2
1963 72.9 69.7
1962 73.6 68.7
1961 73.4 68.4
1960 74 67.7
1959 72.6 67.5
1958 73.3 67
1957 73.4 65.4
1956 72.9 65.6
1955 73.3 65.7
1954 73.3 64.5
1953 72.3 63.3
1952 72.4 63
1951 71 61
1950 71 59.3

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

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

Iceland and Japan population clocks and comparison

Population
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year Population
Iceland Japan
2024 386,506 123,975,371
2023 385,663 124,516,650
2022 382,003 125,124,989
2021 372,520 125,681,593
2020 366,463 126,261,000
2019 360,563 126,633,000
2018 352,721 126,811,000
2017 343,400 126,972,000
2016 335,439 127,076,000
2015 330,815 127,141,000
2014 327,386 127,276,000
2013 323,764 127,445,000
2012 320,716 127,629,000
2011 319,014 127,833,000
2010 318,041 128,070,000
2009 318,499 128,047,000
2008 317,414 128,063,000
2007 311,566 128,001,000
2006 303,782 127,854,000
2005 296,734 127,773,000
2004 292,074 127,761,000
2003 289,521 127,718,000
2002 287,523 127,445,000
2001 284,968 127,149,000
2000 281,205 126,843,000
1999 277,381 126,631,000
1998 274,047 126,400,000
1997 271,128 126,057,000
1996 268,916 125,757,000
1995 267,468 125,472,000
1994 266,021 125,178,000
1993 263,725 124,829,000
1992 261,057 124,425,000
1991 257,797 123,964,000
1990 254,826 123,478,000
1989 252,852 123,069,000
1988 249,740 122,578,000
1987 245,859 122,069,000
1986 243,180 121,482,000
1985 241,405 120,837,000
1984 239,511 120,083,000
1983 236,977 119,307,000
1982 233,860 118,480,000
1981 230,755 117,661,000
1980 228,138 116,807,000
1979 225,735 115,890,000
1978 223,537 114,913,000
1977 221,799 113,872,000
1976 220,154 112,775,000
1975 217,979 111,573,000
1974 215,209 110,162,000
1973 212,317 108,707,000
1972 209,137 107,188,000
1971 206,098 105,697,000
1970 204,438 103,403,000
1969 203,369 102,219,000
1968 201,488 101,011,000
1967 198,751 99,879,000
1966 195,570 98,851,000
1965 192,286 97,952,000
1964 188,983 96,903,000
1963 185,653 95,900,000
1962 182,378 94,933,000
1961 179,029 94,055,000
1960 175,574 93,216,000

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

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

Fertility rates in Iceland and Japan

Fertility rate
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year Fertility rate
Iceland Japan
2023 1.59 1.2
2022 1.59 1.26
2021 1.82 1.3
2020 1.72 1.33
2019 1.74 1.36
2018 1.71 1.42
2017 1.71 1.43
2016 1.74 1.44
2015 1.8 1.45
2014 1.93 1.42
2013 1.93 1.43
2012 2.04 1.41
2011 2.02 1.39
2010 2.2 1.39
2009 2.23 1.37
2008 2.15 1.37
2007 2.09 1.34
2006 2.08 1.32
2005 2.05 1.26
2004 2.04 1.29
2003 1.99 1.29
2002 1.93 1.32
2001 1.95 1.33
2000 2.08 1.36
1999 1.99 1.34
1998 2.05 1.38
1997 2.04 1.39
1996 2.12 1.43
1995 2.08 1.42
1994 2.14 1.5
1993 2.22 1.46
1992 2.21 1.5
1991 2.18 1.53
1990 2.3 1.54
1989 2.19 1.57
1988 2.26 1.66
1987 2.06 1.69
1986 1.92 1.72
1985 1.93 1.76
1984 2.08 1.81
1983 2.24 1.8
1982 2.27 1.77
1981 2.33 1.74
1980 2.48 1.75
1979 2.49 1.77
1978 2.35 1.79
1977 2.31 1.8
1976 2.52 1.85
1975 2.65 1.91
1974 2.66 2.05
1973 2.94 2.14
1972 3.09 2.14
1971 2.92 2.16
1970 2.81 2.13
1969 2.99 2.13
1968 3.06 2.13
1967 3.28 2.23
1966 3.59 1.58
1965 3.73 2.14
1964 3.88 2.05
1963 3.99 2
1962 3.98 1.98
1961 3.88 1.96
1960 4.29 2

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

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

Iceland and Japan demographics compared

Median age
Iceland

Japan
1x
Year Median age, years
Iceland Japan
2024 37.1 50.4
2023 36.9 50
2022 36.7 49.5
2021 36.7 49.1
2020 36.6 48.7
2019 36.5 48.3
2018 36.4 48
2017 36.3 47.6
2016 36.2 47.3
2015 36 47
2014 35.7 46.6
2013 35.5 46.2
2012 35.4 45.8
2011 35.1 45.5
2010 34.9 45.2
2009 34.6 44.9
2008 34.5 44.6
2007 34.6 44.2
2006 34.5 43.9
2005 34.2 43.6
2004 34 43.2
2003 33.7 42.8
2002 33.4 42.5
2001 33 42.1
2000 32.8 41.8
1999 32.6 41.4
1998 32.4 41
1997 32.1 40.7
1996 31.8 40.3
1995 31.5 40
1994 31.1 39.6
1993 30.8 39.2
1992 30.5 38.7
1991 30.2 38.2
1990 30 37.7
1989 29.6 37.2
1988 29.3 36.8
1987 29.1 36.3
1986 28.8 35.9
1985 28.4 35.4
1984 28 34.9
1983 27.7 34.3
1982 27.5 33.7
1981 27.2 33.1
1980 26.9 32.8
1979 26.7 32.4
1978 26.4 32
1977 26 31.5
1976 25.7 30.9
1975 25.4 30.6
1974 25.1 30.4
1973 24.9 30.2
1972 24.8 29.9
1971 24.7 29.6
1970 24.5 29.2
1969 24.3 28.9
1968 24.2 28.6
1967 24.1 28.4
1966 24.1 28
1965 24.2 27.6
1964 24.4 27.2
1963 24.7 26.9
1962 24.9 26.5
1961 25.2 26.2
1960 25.4 25.8

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Iceland Japan
GNI, Atlas method
$31.8B
2024
$4.46T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
46.5%
2024
39.1%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
7.29%
2022
3.24%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
1.37%
2024
Armed forces personnel
0
2020
261,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-3.51%
2024
-1.53%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.56%
2024
2.54%
2024
Services, % of GDP
64.9%
2024
69.8%
2023
Industry, % of GDP
20.1%
2024
28.6%
2023
Economic freedom index
75
2026
70.3
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.4%
2019
23.9%
2020
Income share by poorest 10%
3.7%
2019
2.4%
2020
Number of millionaires n/a
2,732,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
2.62%
2025
Number of billionaires
1
2025
42
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0003%
2025
0.00004%
2025
Listed domestic companies
34
2004
3,971
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$6.31T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$6.4B
2024
$1.23T
2024
Personal remittances received
$246M
2024
$4.64B
2024
International tourist arrivals
488,000
2020
4,115,799
2020
International tourism as share of exports
11.9%
2008
1.43%
2020
Banked people share
99.9%
2024
98.5%
2024

Energy

Iceland Japan
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
15,686 kg
2023
3,039 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.2
2023
$16.7
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
3.29 megatons
2024
972 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
8.52 tons
2024
7.84 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
10.3%
2023
84.8%
2023
Renewable energy use share
82.4%
2021
8.8%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
88.8%
2023
10.8%
2023
Net energy imports use share
20.5%
2009
87.3%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
50,951 kWh
2023
7,655 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2016
21.1%
2021
Hydroelectric share
70.3%
2023
8.48%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
8.38%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Iceland Japan
% of world population
0.005%
2024
1.53%
2024
Annual migration change
+2,709
2025
+140,579
2025
Urban population
94.2%
2024
92.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
51.2:48.8
2024
48.8:51.2
2024
Average male height
5.97 ft
2025
5.65 ft
2025
Average female height
5.54 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
93.6
2026
89.3
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
77
2025
71
2025
Higher education index
79
2026
98
2026
Homicides per 100K people
1.07
2022
0.23
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2
2019
3.6
2019
Visa free countries
168
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2003
99%
2002
English speaking
98%
2023
15%
2025
People using the Internet
99.8%
2023
87%
2023

Health

Iceland Japan
Government health expenditure per capita
$7,642
2024
$3,638
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,137
2024
$445
2023
Life expectancy
83.3 years
2026
85.1 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.37
2023
2.65
2022
Age at first childbirth
28.8 years
2023
30.7 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
3
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.6
2023
2.4
2023
Obesity rate
21.8%
2022
5.57%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
6.9%
2024
8.1%
2024
Air quality index
98
2026
78
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
9.4%
2022
19.2%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.94 liters
2020
6.38 liters
2020

Territory

Iceland Japan
% of world land
0.07%
2026
0.24%
2026
Land area per capita
100,725 sq mi
2024
1,135 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
6,324 sq mi
2026
17,788 sq mi
2026
Forest area
205.8 sq mi
2026
96,275 sq mi
2026
Roads length
8,014 mi
2012
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)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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