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Japan vs Malaysia statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population of 124M (ranked 12/197), compared with 35.6M in Malaysia (ranked 44/197). Japan's land area is 140,761 sq mi versus 126,854 sq mi for Malaysia (ranked 61st vs. 65th).

By GDP, Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T) and Malaysia ranks 38/197 ($422B). By GDP per capita, Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487), while Malaysia ranks 79/197 ($11,874).

Main facts and rankings

Japan Malaysia
Population
122677250
36512221
Population rank 12/197 45/197
GDP
$4.03T
2024
$422B
2024
GDP rank 4/197 38/197
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$11,874
2024
GDP per capita rank 38/197 79/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$38,779
2024
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$296B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
70.1%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$8,322
2024
Government debt per person rank 3/185 62/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$11,005
2026
Land area 140,761 sq mi 126,854 sq mi
Population density
872 ppl/mi²
2026
287 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.2
2023
1.55
2023
Median age
50.4 years
2024
31.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
85.1 years
2026
77.2 years
2026

Japan and Malaysia: Comparison Charts

Japan and Malaysia economies compared

GDP
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP
Japan Malaysia
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 $422,227,005,429
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 $399,949,418,753
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 $407,830,525,990
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 $373,784,553,030
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 $337,456,163,961
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 $365,177,721,022
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 $358,788,845,713
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 $319,109,094,160
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 $301,256,033,870
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $301,355,266,965
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $338,066,095,097
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $323,276,235,524
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $314,443,047,642
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $297,951,668,675
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $255,017,638,456
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $202,257,453,037
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $230,811,614,370
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 $193,549,569,478
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 $162,692,258,307
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 $143,534,405,819
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 $124,749,473,684
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 $110,202,368,421
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 $100,845,526,316
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 $92,783,947,368
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 $93,789,736,842
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 $79,148,421,053
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 $72,167,498,981
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 $100,005,323,302
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 $100,855,393,910
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 $88,705,342,903
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 $74,478,356,958
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 $66,894,966,969
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 $59,167,550,163
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 $49,143,148,094
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 $44,024,585,240
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 $38,847,965,293
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 $35,272,109,220
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 $32,181,210,158
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 $27,734,111,400
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 $31,199,633,353
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 $33,942,897,422
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 $30,347,442,111
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 $26,804,493,635
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 $25,004,285,792
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 $24,488,224,677
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 $21,213,264,962
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 $16,358,079,862
1977 $737,069,290,928 $13,139,488,633
1976 $598,883,902,156 $11,050,234,599
1975 $532,861,438,885 $9,298,800,799
1974 $490,035,789,970 $9,496,204,302
1973 $441,460,582,536 $7,662,902,678
1972 $324,933,841,269 $5,043,347,250
1971 $245,364,056,622 $4,244,395,956
1970 $217,223,652,719 $3,864,145,667
1969 $184,298,841,305 $3,664,552,041
1968 $156,897,496,759 $3,330,371,551
1967 $132,475,614,227 $3,188,924,677
1966 $113,046,784,179 $3,143,517,944
1965 $97,338,107,606 $2,956,337,669
1964 $87,490,590,818 $2,674,423,922
1963 $74,379,284,603 $2,510,110,348
1962 $64,987,857,542 $2,001,489,602
1961 $57,266,758,180 $1,901,856,123
1960 $47,419,238,274 $1,916,229,477

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

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

Japan and Malaysia economies compared

GDP per capita
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year GDP per capita
Japan Malaysia
2024 $32,487 $11,874
2023 $33,836 $11,386
2022 $34,066 $11,755
2021 $40,095 $10,903
2020 $40,029 $9,958
2019 $40,416 $10,920
2018 $39,751 $10,902
2017 $38,834 $9,863
2016 $39,375 $9,477
2015 $34,961 $9,649
2014 $38,475 $11,013
2013 $40,899 $10,714
2012 $49,145 $10,601
2011 $48,760 $10,217
2010 $44,968 $8,899
2009 $41,309 $7,191
2008 $39,876 $8,372
2007 $35,779 $7,169
2006 $35,992 $6,158
2005 $37,813 $5,556
2004 $38,299 $4,939
2003 $35,387 $4,465
2002 $32,821 $4,184
2001 $34,406 $3,944
2000 $39,169 $4,084
1999 $36,610 $3,528
1998 $32,424 $3,294
1997 $35,638 $4,679
1996 $39,150 $4,837
1995 $44,198 $4,363
1994 $39,934 $3,758
1993 $36,345 $3,462
1992 $31,993 $3,141
1991 $29,428 $2,679
1990 $25,801 $2,469
1989 $25,266 $2,244
1988 $25,500 $2,100
1987 $21,142 $1,977
1986 $17,452 $1,760
1985 $11,809 $2,046
1984 $11,207 $2,300
1983 $10,652 $2,124
1982 $9,780 $1,938
1981 $10,583 $1,866
1980 $9,669 $1,886
1979 $9,301 $1,680
1978 $9,012 $1,327
1977 $6,473 $1,092
1976 $5,310 $940
1975 $4,776 $811
1974 $4,448 $848
1973 $4,061 $701
1972 $3,031 $472
1971 $2,321 $407
1970 $2,101 $380
1969 $1,803 $368
1968 $1,553 $342
1967 $1,326 $335
1966 $1,144 $339
1965 $994 $326
1964 $903 $303
1963 $776 $291.8
1962 $685 $238.8
1961 $609 $232.9
1960 $509 $240.8

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

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

Japan vs. Malaysia life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Japan Malaysia
2026 85.1 77.2
2025 85 77
2024 84.9 76.8
2023 84.7 76.7
2022 84.1 75.4
2021 84.6 73.9
2020 84.7 76.1
2019 84.4 75.9
2018 84.3 75.7
2017 84.2 75.5
2016 84.1 75.4
2015 83.9 75.3
2014 83.6 75.3
2013 83.4 75.5
2012 83.2 75.6
2011 82.7 75.5
2010 82.9 75.4
2009 83 75.3
2008 82.6 75.2
2007 82.5 75
2006 82.4 74.7
2005 82 74.4
2004 82.1 74
2003 81.9 73.7
2002 81.8 73.5
2001 81.5 73.1
2000 81.2 72.7
1999 80.6 72.4
1998 80.6 72.4
1997 80.6 72.3
1996 80.4 72.1
1995 79.7 72
1994 79.8 71.9
1993 79.4 71.7
1992 79.3 71.5
1991 79.3 71.2
1990 79 71
1989 79 70.8
1988 78.5 70.6
1987 78.6 70.4
1986 78.2 70.1
1985 77.8 69.9
1984 77.5 69.6
1983 77.1 69.2
1982 77.1 68.9
1981 76.6 68.5
1980 76.1 68.1
1979 76.2 67.6
1978 75.7 67.2
1977 75.3 66.7
1976 74.8 66.2
1975 74.4 65.7
1974 73.8 65.2
1973 73.4 64.7
1972 73.3 64.2
1971 72.8 63.8
1970 72 63.3
1969 71.9 62.9
1968 71.7 62.4
1967 71.4 62
1966 71.1 61.7
1965 70.3 61.1
1964 70.2 60.4
1963 69.7 59.7
1962 68.7 58.9
1961 68.4 58
1960 67.7 57.2
1959 67.5 56.3
1958 67 55.4
1957 65.4 54.5
1956 65.6 53.7
1955 65.7 52.8
1954 64.5 52
1953 63.3 51.1
1952 63 50.1
1951 61 49.2
1950 59.3 48.5

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

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

Japan and Malaysia population clocks and comparison

Population
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year Population
Japan Malaysia
2024 123,975,371 35,557,673
2023 124,516,650 35,126,298
2022 125,124,989 34,695,493
2021 125,681,593 34,282,399
2020 126,261,000 33,889,558
2019 126,633,000 33,440,596
2018 126,811,000 32,910,967
2017 126,972,000 32,355,644
2016 127,076,000 31,789,685
2015 127,141,000 31,232,798
2014 127,276,000 30,696,137
2013 127,445,000 30,174,265
2012 127,629,000 29,662,831
2011 127,833,000 29,162,039
2010 128,070,000 28,655,776
2009 128,047,000 28,124,778
2008 128,063,000 27,570,059
2007 128,001,000 26,998,389
2006 127,854,000 26,417,909
2005 127,773,000 25,836,071
2004 127,761,000 25,256,772
2003 127,718,000 24,679,602
2002 127,445,000 24,102,477
2001 127,149,000 23,526,538
2000 126,843,000 22,967,816
1999 126,631,000 22,435,531
1998 126,400,000 21,906,713
1997 126,057,000 21,375,218
1996 125,757,000 20,850,087
1995 125,472,000 20,330,599
1994 125,178,000 19,820,446
1993 124,829,000 19,322,664
1992 124,425,000 18,834,572
1991 123,964,000 18,342,464
1990 123,478,000 17,833,171
1989 123,069,000 17,314,997
1988 122,578,000 16,796,605
1987 122,069,000 16,276,737
1986 121,482,000 15,760,419
1985 120,837,000 15,252,258
1984 120,083,000 14,759,009
1983 119,307,000 14,285,907
1982 118,480,000 13,832,798
1981 117,661,000 13,399,203
1980 116,807,000 12,983,363
1979 115,890,000 12,627,862
1978 114,913,000 12,328,157
1977 113,872,000 12,035,713
1976 112,775,000 11,750,097
1975 111,573,000 11,471,914
1974 110,162,000 11,200,906
1973 108,707,000 10,935,621
1972 107,188,000 10,676,835
1971 105,697,000 10,423,453
1970 103,403,000 10,178,802
1969 102,219,000 9,947,597
1968 101,011,000 9,725,281
1967 99,879,000 9,507,099
1966 98,851,000 9,284,688
1965 97,952,000 9,056,408
1964 96,903,000 8,828,406
1963 95,900,000 8,602,160
1962 94,933,000 8,380,172
1961 94,055,000 8,164,443
1960 93,216,000 7,956,197

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

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

Fertility rates in Japan and Malaysia

Fertility rate
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan Malaysia
2023 1.2 1.55
2022 1.26 1.55
2021 1.3 1.56
2020 1.33 1.68
2019 1.36 1.78
2018 1.42 1.84
2017 1.43 1.89
2016 1.44 1.94
2015 1.45 2.01
2014 1.42 2.06
2013 1.43 2.07
2012 1.41 2.12
2011 1.39 2.15
2010 1.39 2.14
2009 1.37 2.22
2008 1.37 2.26
2007 1.34 2.25
2006 1.32 2.31
2005 1.26 2.39
2004 1.29 2.49
2003 1.29 2.6
2002 1.32 2.66
2001 1.33 2.81
2000 1.36 2.94
1999 1.34 3.07
1998 1.38 3.12
1997 1.39 3.23
1996 1.43 3.3
1995 1.42 3.32
1994 1.5 3.35
1993 1.46 3.36
1992 1.5 3.37
1991 1.53 3.34
1990 1.54 3.3
1989 1.57 3.31
1988 1.66 3.5
1987 1.69 3.57
1986 1.72 3.7
1985 1.76 3.8
1984 1.81 3.89
1983 1.8 3.93
1982 1.77 3.97
1981 1.74 4
1980 1.75 4.04
1979 1.77 4.09
1978 1.79 4.18
1977 1.8 4.28
1976 1.85 4.4
1975 1.91 4.5
1974 2.05 4.62
1973 2.14 4.73
1972 2.14 4.82
1971 2.16 4.92
1970 2.13 5.04
1969 2.13 5.16
1968 2.13 5.29
1967 2.23 5.43
1966 1.58 5.64
1965 2.14 5.84
1964 2.05 6.03
1963 2 6.19
1962 1.98 6.3
1961 1.96 6.37
1960 2 6.41

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

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

Japan and Malaysia demographics compared

Median age
Japan

Malaysia
1x
Year Median age, years
Japan Malaysia
2024 50.4 31.5
2023 50 31.1
2022 49.5 30.6
2021 49.1 30.1
2020 48.7 29.6
2019 48.3 29.2
2018 48 28.8
2017 47.6 28.5
2016 47.3 28.1
2015 47 27.8
2014 46.6 27.5
2013 46.2 27.1
2012 45.8 26.8
2011 45.5 26.4
2010 45.2 26
2009 44.9 25.6
2008 44.6 25.1
2007 44.2 24.8
2006 43.9 24.5
2005 43.6 24.2
2004 43.2 24
2003 42.8 23.9
2002 42.5 23.7
2001 42.1 23.6
2000 41.8 23.5
1999 41.4 23.4
1998 41 23.1
1997 40.7 22.9
1996 40.3 22.7
1995 40 22.5
1994 39.6 22.3
1993 39.2 22.1
1992 38.7 21.9
1991 38.2 21.7
1990 37.7 21.5
1989 37.2 21.3
1988 36.8 21.1
1987 36.3 21
1986 35.9 20.9
1985 35.4 20.7
1984 34.9 20.5
1983 34.3 20.4
1982 33.7 20.1
1981 33.1 19.9
1980 32.8 19.7
1979 32.4 19.5
1978 32 19.3
1977 31.5 19
1976 30.9 18.8
1975 30.6 18.6
1974 30.4 18.3
1973 30.2 18.1
1972 29.9 17.9
1971 29.6 17.6
1970 29.2 17.4
1969 28.9 17.3
1968 28.6 17.1
1967 28.4 17
1966 28 16.9
1965 27.6 16.8
1964 27.2 16.9
1963 26.9 17
1962 26.5 17.1
1961 26.2 17.3
1960 25.8 17.5

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

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

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Japan Malaysia
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$414B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
23.9%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.24%
2022
3.51%
2023
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.37%
2024
0.99%
2024
Armed forces personnel
261,000
2020
136,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.53%
2024
-3.95%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
3.93%
2022
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
53.7%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
37%
2024
Economic freedom index
70.3
2026
68
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2020
30.9%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
2.3%
2021
Number of millionaires
2,732,000
2025
n/a
Percentage of millionaires
2.62%
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
42
2025
19
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00008%
2025
Listed domestic companies
3,971
2024
1,031
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.31T
2024
$449B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
$116B
2024
Personal remittances received
$4.64B
2024
$1.61B
2024
International tourist arrivals
4,115,799
2020
4,333,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.43%
2020
1.63%
2020
Banked people share
98.5%
2024
88.7%
2024

Energy

Japan Malaysia
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,039 kg
2023
2,867 kg
2022
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$16.7
2023
$12
2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
972 megatons
2024
296 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.84 tons
2024
8.32 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
84.8%
2023
96%
2022
Renewable energy use share
8.8%
2021
7.5%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
10.8%
2023
2.88%
2022
Net energy imports use share
87.3%
2023
-0.58%
2022
Electric power consumption per capita
7,655 kWh
2023
4,986 kWh
2022
Renewable electricity output share
21.1%
2021
17%
2021
Hydroelectric share
8.48%
2023
16.6%
2022
Nuclear share
8.38%
2023
0%
2021
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Japan Malaysia
% of world population
1.53%
2024
0.44%
2024
Annual migration change
+140,579
2025
+166,615
2025
Urban population
92.2%
2024
76.9%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.8:51.2
2024
52.4:47.6
2024
Average male height
5.65 ft
2025
5.55 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.15 ft
2025
Quality of life index
89.3
2026
68.2
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
71
2025
52
2025
Higher education index
98
2026
76
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.23
2023
0.72
2021
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.6
2019
22.5
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
174
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2002
95.8%
2022
English speaking
15%
2025
57.3%
2023
People using the Internet
87%
2023
98%
2024

Health

Japan Malaysia
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,638
2023
$450
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$445
2023
$167
2023
Life expectancy
85.1 years
2026
77.2 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0.001%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.65
2022
2.34
2023
Age at first childbirth
30.7 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
26
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.4
2023
8.1
2023
Obesity rate
5.57%
2022
22.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
8.1%
2024
21.1%
2024
Air quality index
78
2026
41
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.2%
2022
22%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.38 liters
2020
0.74 liters
2020

Territory

Japan Malaysia
% of world land
0.24%
2026
0.22%
2026
Land area per capita
1,135 sq mi
2024
3,568 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
17,788 sq mi
2026
33,093 sq mi
2026
Forest area
96,275 sq mi
2026
73,219 sq mi
2026
Roads length
757,310 mi
2021
173,898 mi
2022

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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