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Japan vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Japan has a population of 124M (ranked 12/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Japan's land area is 140,761 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 61st vs. 24th).

By GDP, Japan ranks 4/197 ($4.03T) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Japan ranks 38/197 ($32,487), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Japan South Africa
Population
122677250
65683993
Population rank 12/197 24/197
GDP
$4.03T
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 4/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$32,487
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 38/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$52,039
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$9.51T
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
236.1%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$76,704
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 3/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,653
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 140,761 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
872 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.2
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
50.4 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
85.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Japan and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Japan and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Japan South Africa
2024 $4,027,597,523,551 $401,144,998,374
2023 $4,213,167,237,906 $381,440,724,491
2022 $4,262,463,317,797 $407,596,043,068
2021 $5,039,148,168,861 $419,986,284,375
2020 $5,054,068,005,376 $337,974,655,408
2019 $5,117,993,853,017 $389,330,032,224
2018 $5,040,880,939,325 $405,260,723,893
2017 $4,930,837,369,151 $381,448,814,653
2016 $5,003,677,627,544 $323,585,509,674
2015 $4,444,930,651,964 $346,709,790,459
2014 $4,896,994,405,353 $381,198,869,776
2013 $5,212,328,181,166 $400,886,013,596
2012 $6,272,362,996,105 $434,400,545,086
2011 $6,233,147,172,341 $458,199,494,831
2010 $5,759,071,769,013 $417,363,822,802
2009 $5,289,493,117,994 $329,754,060,647
2008 $5,106,679,115,127 $316,131,258,616
2007 $4,579,750,920,355 $333,077,117,254
2006 $4,601,663,122,650 $303,858,675,364
2005 $4,831,467,035,390 $288,867,217,197
2004 $4,893,116,005,657 $255,806,908,595
2003 $4,519,561,645,254 $197,018,965,309
2002 $4,182,846,045,874 $129,087,556,612
2001 $4,374,711,694,091 $135,429,905,923
2000 $4,968,359,075,957 $151,752,757,215
1999 $4,635,982,224,064 $151,516,957,079
1998 $4,098,362,709,531 $152,982,984,557
1997 $4,492,448,605,639 $168,978,057,328
1996 $4,923,391,533,852 $163,234,925,381
1995 $5,545,563,663,890 $171,735,933,897
1994 $4,998,797,547,741 $153,512,712,382
1993 $4,536,940,479,038 $147,194,747,566
1992 $3,980,702,922,118 $146,956,150,987
1991 $3,648,065,760,649 $135,203,698,238
1990 $3,185,904,656,664 $126,048,140,142
1989 $3,109,455,047,824 $108,055,624,082
1988 $3,125,724,434,401 $103,976,831,871
1987 $2,580,748,422,781 $96,535,763,418
1986 $2,120,083,812,110 $73,354,771,399
1985 $1,427,019,759,717 $64,459,376,087
1984 $1,345,824,500,837 $84,870,163,366
1983 $1,270,859,919,743 $96,204,110,942
1982 $1,158,731,426,906 $85,904,057,409
1981 $1,245,221,410,764 $93,141,472,164
1980 $1,129,377,244,854 $89,411,864,402
1979 $1,077,910,077,676 $63,038,658,089
1978 $1,035,611,588,217 $51,607,412,902
1977 $737,069,290,928 $45,328,411,332
1976 $598,883,902,156 $41,150,460,288
1975 $532,861,438,885 $42,906,905,672
1974 $490,035,789,970 $41,389,186,095
1973 $441,460,582,536 $33,262,772,008
1972 $324,933,841,269 $24,515,919,217
1971 $245,364,056,622 $23,411,076,638
1970 $217,223,652,719 $21,218,391,513
1969 $184,298,841,305 $19,256,992,297
1968 $156,897,496,759 $17,124,793,150
1967 $132,475,614,227 $15,821,393,671
1966 $113,046,784,179 $14,211,394,315
1965 $97,338,107,606 $13,068,994,772
1964 $87,490,590,818 $11,955,995,218
1963 $74,379,284,603 $10,854,195,658
1962 $64,987,857,542 $9,813,996,074
1961 $57,266,758,180 $9,225,996,310
1960 $47,419,238,274 $8,748,596,501

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Japan and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Japan South Africa
2024 $32,487 $6,267
2023 $33,836 $6,034
2022 $34,066 $6,534
2021 $40,095 $6,829
2020 $40,029 $5,581
2019 $40,416 $6,534
2018 $39,751 $6,914
2017 $38,834 $6,618
2016 $39,375 $5,651
2015 $34,961 $6,112
2014 $38,475 $6,857
2013 $40,899 $7,332
2012 $49,145 $8,077
2011 $48,760 $8,646
2010 $44,968 $7,973
2009 $41,309 $6,375
2008 $39,876 $6,185
2007 $35,779 $6,592
2006 $35,992 $6,077
2005 $37,813 $5,837
2004 $38,299 $5,221
2003 $35,387 $4,062
2002 $32,821 $2,688
2001 $34,406 $2,847
2000 $39,169 $3,218
1999 $36,610 $3,242
1998 $32,424 $3,310
1997 $35,638 $3,700
1996 $39,150 $3,618
1995 $44,198 $3,856
1994 $39,934 $3,489
1993 $36,345 $3,400
1992 $31,993 $3,462
1991 $29,428 $3,243
1990 $25,801 $3,093
1989 $25,266 $2,727
1988 $25,500 $2,702
1987 $21,142 $2,586
1986 $17,452 $2,027
1985 $11,809 $1,839
1984 $11,207 $2,504
1983 $10,652 $2,938
1982 $9,780 $2,717
1981 $10,583 $3,050
1980 $9,669 $3,029
1979 $9,301 $2,202
1978 $9,012 $1,852
1977 $6,473 $1,671
1976 $5,310 $1,559
1975 $4,776 $1,670
1974 $4,448 $1,656
1973 $4,061 $1,369
1972 $3,031 $1,038
1971 $2,321 $1,020
1970 $2,101 $952
1969 $1,803 $891
1968 $1,553 $817
1967 $1,326 $779
1966 $1,144 $722
1965 $994 $685
1964 $903 $646
1963 $776 $605
1962 $685 $563
1961 $609 $546
1960 $509 $532

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Japan vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Japan South Africa
2026 85.1 66.7
2025 85 66.5
2024 84.9 66.3
2023 84.7 66.1
2022 84.1 65.5
2021 84.6 62
2020 84.7 65.2
2019 84.4 66.1
2018 84.3 65.7
2017 84.2 65.4
2016 84.1 64.7
2015 83.9 64.1
2014 83.6 63.2
2013 83.4 62.4
2012 83.2 61.7
2011 82.7 60.6
2010 82.9 58.9
2009 83 57.4
2008 82.6 56
2007 82.5 54.9
2006 82.4 54.2
2005 82 53.9
2004 82.1 54
2003 81.9 54.2
2002 81.8 55.6
2001 81.5 57.2
2000 81.2 58.4
1999 80.6 59.2
1998 80.6 59.9
1997 80.6 60.5
1996 80.4 61.1
1995 79.7 61.6
1994 79.8 62.1
1993 79.4 62.6
1992 79.3 62.8
1991 79.3 63
1990 79 62.9
1989 79 63
1988 78.5 62.9
1987 78.6 62.7
1986 78.2 62.4
1985 77.8 62.2
1984 77.5 61.8
1983 77.1 61.4
1982 77.1 60.9
1981 76.6 60.4
1980 76.1 60
1979 76.2 59.5
1978 75.7 59
1977 75.3 58.5
1976 74.8 58
1975 74.4 57.6
1974 73.8 57.1
1973 73.4 56.7
1972 73.3 56.4
1971 72.8 56
1970 72 55.7
1969 71.9 55.4
1968 71.7 55.2
1967 71.4 55
1966 71.1 54.7
1965 70.3 54.4
1964 70.2 54.2
1963 69.7 53.9
1962 68.7 53.6
1961 68.4 53.1
1960 67.7 52.6
1959 67.5 51.9
1958 67 51.1
1957 65.4 50.2
1956 65.6 49.2
1955 65.7 48.2
1954 64.5 47.1
1953 63.3 46.1
1952 63 45
1951 61 44.1
1950 59.3 43.1

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Japan and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Japan South Africa
2024 123,975,371 64,007,187
2023 124,516,650 63,212,384
2022 125,124,989 62,378,410
2021 125,681,593 61,502,603
2020 126,261,000 60,562,381
2019 126,633,000 59,587,885
2018 126,811,000 58,613,001
2017 126,972,000 57,635,162
2016 127,076,000 57,259,551
2015 127,141,000 56,723,537
2014 127,276,000 55,594,838
2013 127,445,000 54,678,791
2012 127,629,000 53,782,567
2011 127,833,000 52,995,205
2010 128,070,000 52,344,051
2009 128,047,000 51,728,516
2008 128,063,000 51,114,599
2007 128,001,000 50,528,584
2006 127,854,000 49,998,277
2005 127,773,000 49,490,033
2004 127,761,000 48,991,421
2003 127,718,000 48,500,348
2002 127,445,000 48,019,415
2001 127,149,000 47,566,800
2000 126,843,000 47,159,719
1999 126,631,000 46,730,335
1998 126,400,000 46,223,880
1997 126,057,000 45,666,838
1996 125,757,000 45,123,018
1995 125,472,000 44,541,554
1994 125,178,000 44,004,139
1993 124,829,000 43,297,156
1992 124,425,000 42,443,509
1991 123,964,000 41,687,898
1990 123,478,000 40,746,268
1989 123,069,000 39,628,575
1988 122,578,000 38,480,649
1987 122,069,000 37,326,190
1986 121,482,000 36,180,515
1985 120,837,000 35,042,093
1984 120,083,000 33,892,788
1983 119,307,000 32,739,304
1982 118,480,000 31,615,339
1981 117,661,000 30,541,044
1980 116,807,000 29,518,857
1979 115,890,000 28,634,162
1978 114,913,000 27,869,507
1977 113,872,000 27,118,952
1976 112,775,000 26,395,450
1975 111,573,000 25,690,940
1974 110,162,000 24,989,108
1973 108,707,000 24,294,263
1972 107,188,000 23,609,456
1971 105,697,000 22,942,143
1970 103,403,000 22,279,984
1969 102,219,000 21,614,676
1968 101,011,000 20,957,287
1967 99,879,000 20,314,066
1966 98,851,000 19,690,087
1965 97,952,000 19,089,380
1964 96,903,000 18,511,361
1963 95,900,000 17,954,564
1962 94,933,000 17,418,522
1961 94,055,000 16,908,035
1960 93,216,000 16,440,172

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Japan and South Africa

Fertility rate
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Japan South Africa
2023 1.2 2.22
2022 1.26 2.23
2021 1.3 2.25
2020 1.33 2.26
2019 1.36 2.26
2018 1.42 2.27
2017 1.43 2.28
2016 1.44 2.26
2015 1.45 2.36
2014 1.42 2.42
2013 1.43 2.43
2012 1.41 2.45
2011 1.39 2.44
2010 1.39 2.44
2009 1.37 2.5
2008 1.37 2.68
2007 1.34 2.55
2006 1.32 2.55
2005 1.26 2.51
2004 1.29 2.44
2003 1.29 2.36
2002 1.32 2.32
2001 1.33 2.37
2000 1.36 2.41
1999 1.34 2.56
1998 1.38 2.63
1997 1.39 2.73
1996 1.43 2.99
1995 1.42 3.17
1994 1.5 3.26
1993 1.46 3.37
1992 1.5 3.48
1991 1.53 3.62
1990 1.54 3.72
1989 1.57 3.98
1988 1.66 4.18
1987 1.69 4.35
1986 1.72 4.41
1985 1.76 4.5
1984 1.81 4.57
1983 1.8 4.63
1982 1.77 4.7
1981 1.74 4.71
1980 1.75 4.78
1979 1.77 4.82
1978 1.79 4.85
1977 1.8 4.94
1976 1.85 5.07
1975 1.91 5.19
1974 2.05 5.3
1973 2.14 5.41
1972 2.14 5.49
1971 2.16 5.57
1970 2.13 5.63
1969 2.13 5.72
1968 2.13 5.78
1967 2.23 5.85
1966 1.58 5.91
1965 2.14 5.89
1964 2.05 5.96
1963 2 6.01
1962 1.98 6.05
1961 1.96 6.08
1960 2 6.11

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Japan and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Japan

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Japan South Africa
2024 50.4 29.5
2023 50 29.2
2022 49.5 28.9
2021 49.1 28.6
2020 48.7 28.3
2019 48.3 27.9
2018 48 27.5
2017 47.6 27
2016 47.3 26.7
2015 47 26.4
2014 46.6 26
2013 46.2 25.7
2012 45.8 25.3
2011 45.5 25
2010 45.2 24.6
2009 44.9 24.3
2008 44.6 24
2007 44.2 23.8
2006 43.9 23.5
2005 43.6 23.3
2004 43.2 23.1
2003 42.8 22.8
2002 42.5 22.4
2001 42.1 22.2
2000 41.8 21.9
1999 41.4 21.6
1998 41 21.4
1997 40.7 21.2
1996 40.3 21.2
1995 40 21.5
1994 39.6 22
1993 39.2 21.9
1992 38.7 21.5
1991 38.2 21.5
1990 37.7 21.3
1989 37.2 21.1
1988 36.8 20.9
1987 36.3 20.7
1986 35.9 20.5
1985 35.4 20.4
1984 34.9 20.2
1983 34.3 20
1982 33.7 19.8
1981 33.1 19.6
1980 32.8 19.4
1979 32.4 19.3
1978 32 19.2
1977 31.5 19.1
1976 30.9 19
1975 30.6 18.9
1974 30.4 18.9
1973 30.2 18.8
1972 29.9 18.8
1971 29.6 18.8
1970 29.2 18.8
1969 28.9 18.8
1968 28.6 18.8
1967 28.4 18.8
1966 28 18.8
1965 27.6 18.8
1964 27.2 18.9
1963 26.9 18.9
1962 26.5 18.9
1961 26.2 19
1960 25.8 19

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

GeoRank.org/facts/japan/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Japan and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Japan South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$4.46T
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
39.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
3.24%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
1.37%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
261,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-1.53%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
2.54%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
69.8%
2023
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
28.6%
2023
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
70.3
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2020
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
2.4%
2020
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
2,732,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
2.62%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
42
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.00004%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
3,971
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$6.31T
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$1.23T
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$4.64B
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
4,115,799
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.43%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.5%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Japan South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
3,039 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$16.7
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
972 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.84 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
84.8%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
8.8%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
10.8%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
87.3%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
7,655 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
21.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
8.48%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
8.38%
2023
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Japan South Africa
% of world population
1.53%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+140,579
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
92.2%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
48.8:51.2
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.65 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.2 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
89.3
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
71
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
98
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.23
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
3.6
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
99%
2002
91.2%
2024
English speaking
15%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
87%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Japan South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$3,638
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$445
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
85.1 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
2.65
2022
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.7 years
2025
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
3
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
5.57%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
8.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
78
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
19.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
6.38 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Japan South Africa
% of world land
0.24%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
1,135 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
17,788 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
96,275 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
757,310 mi
2021
466,028 mi
2016

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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