Country comparison
Japan South Korea
How do Japan and South Korea compare on area, population, economy and living standards? Every figure below comes from open data, computed at build time.
Japan vs South Korea at a glance
- Japan's surface area is larger: about 3.8× South Korea's (377,969 km² vs 100,450 km²).
- Japan's population is larger: about 2.4× South Korea's (123.4M vs 51.7M).
- Japan's GDP (total) is larger: about 2.4× South Korea's ($4.4T vs $1.9T).
- Japan's GDP per capita is about 99% of South Korea's.
Japan vs South Korea in the world: GDP per capita
GDP per capita log axis
Every dot is one country with data — the two highlighted dots are these countries; the dashed line marks the world median. Wide-range metrics use a logarithmic axis (tagged).
Pick the first country of the comparison.
Pick the country to compare it against.
JapanSouth Korea — Japan's GDP per capita is about 99% of South Korea's.
| Metric | Japan | South Korea | A vs B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population & land | |||
| Population | 123.4M (2025) | 51.7M (2025) | 2.4× |
| Population growth | -0.5% (2025) | -0.1% (2025) | N/A |
| Urban population share | 92.3% (2025) | 81.2% (2025) | 1.1× |
| Population aged 65+ | 30.0% (2025) | 20.3% (2025) | 1.5× |
| Fertility rate | 1.2 (2024) | 0.7 (2024) | 1.5× |
| Birth rate | 5.7‰ (2024) | 4.7‰ (2024) | 1.2× |
| Death rate | 13.3‰ (2024) | 7.0‰ (2024) | 1.9× |
| Net migration | 140.6K (2025) | 65.7K (2025) | 2.1× |
| Surface area | 377,969 km² (2023) | 100,450 km² (2023) | 3.8× |
| Population densityderived | 326/km² (2025) | 515/km² (2025) | 63% |
| Economy | |||
| GDP (total) | $4.4T (2025) | $1.9T (2025) | 2.4× |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 (2025) | $36,227 (2025) | 99% |
| GNI per capita | $38,340 (2025) | $37,880 (2025) | 1.0× |
| GDP growth (annual) | 1.2% (2025) | 1.0% (2025) | 1.2× |
| Inflation rate | 3.2% (2025) | 2.1% (2025) | 1.5× |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 91% |
| Gini index | 32.3 (2020) | 32.9 (2021) | 98% |
| Poverty rate ($2.15/day) | 1.2% (2020) | 0.1% (2021) | 12× |
| Trade & industry | |||
| Exports share of GDP | 22.0% (2024) | 45.8% (2025) | 48% |
| Imports share of GDP | 22.9% (2024) | 40.6% (2025) | 56% |
| Agriculture share of GDP | 1.0% (2024) | 1.5% (2025) | 65% |
| Manufacturing share of GDP | 18.8% (2024) | 27.4% (2025) | 69% |
| International tourist arrivals | 4.1M (2020) | 2.5M (2020) | 1.6× |
| Tourism receipts | $11.4B (2020) | $11.8B (2020) | 97% |
| Health & education | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.0 years (2024) | 83.6 years (2024) | 1.0× |
| Infant mortality | 1.8‰ (2024) | 2.3‰ (2024) | 78% |
| Under-five mortality | 2.4‰ (2024) | 2.8‰ (2024) | 86% |
| DPT immunization | 99.0% (2024) | 97.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Hospital beds | 12.6 per 1,000 (2022) | 12.8 per 1,000 (2022) | 98% |
| Health spending share of GDP | 10.7% (2023) | 8.7% (2024) | 1.2× |
| Secondary school enrollment | 101.5% (2023) | 96.3% (2024) | 1.1× |
| Education spending share of GDP | 3.3% (2021) | 5.4% (2022) | 62% |
| Society & living | |||
| Human Development Index | 0.925 (2023) | 0.937 (2023) | 99% |
| Internet users | 85.5% (2024) | 97.9% (2024) | 87% |
| Mobile subscriptions | 178.4 per 100 (2023) | 172.5 per 100 (2024) | 1.0× |
| Fixed broadband | 38.6 per 100 (2023) | 47.8 per 100 (2024) | 81% |
| Electricity access | 100.0% (2024) | 100.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Environment & security | |||
| CO₂ emissions per capita | 7.8 t (2024) | 11.4 t (2024) | 69% |
| CO₂ emissions (total)derived | 972 Mt (2024) | 588 Mt (2024) | 1.7× |
| Renewable electricity share | 21.1% (2021) | 6.6% (2021) | 3.2× |
| Renewable energy consumption | 8.8% (2021) | 3.6% (2021) | 2.4× |
| Forest area | 68.4% (2023) | 64.1% (2023) | 1.1× |
| Agricultural land | 12.6% (2023) | 16.1% (2023) | 79% |
| Arable land | 11.1% (2023) | 14.9% (2023) | 74% |
| PM2.5 exposure | 11.5 µg/m³ (2023) | 21.9 µg/m³ (2023) | 52% |
| Military spending | 1.4% (2024) | 2.6% (2024) | 54% |
Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the displayed surface area (World Bank surface-area figures where available) — so it can differ from the World Bank's own land-area-based density.
Japan
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Languages
- Japanese
- Currencies
- JPY
- Subregion
- Eastern Asia
South Korea
- Capital
- Seoul
- Languages
- Korean
- Currencies
- KRW
- Subregion
- Eastern Asia
Japan vs South Korea in five metrics
Full metric comparison
| Metric | Japan | South Korea | A vs B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population & land | |||
| Population | 123.4M (2025) | 51.7M (2025) | 2.4× |
| Population growth | -0.5% (2025) | -0.1% (2025) | N/A |
| Urban population share | 92.3% (2025) | 81.2% (2025) | 1.1× |
| Population aged 65+ | 30.0% (2025) | 20.3% (2025) | 1.5× |
| Fertility rate | 1.2 (2024) | 0.7 (2024) | 1.5× |
| Birth rate | 5.7‰ (2024) | 4.7‰ (2024) | 1.2× |
| Death rate | 13.3‰ (2024) | 7.0‰ (2024) | 1.9× |
| Net migration | 140.6K (2025) | 65.7K (2025) | 2.1× |
| Surface area | 377,969 km² (2023) | 100,450 km² (2023) | 3.8× |
| Population density derived | 326/km² (2025) | 515/km² (2025) | 63% |
| Economy | |||
| GDP (total) | $4.4T (2025) | $1.9T (2025) | 2.4× |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 (2025) | $36,227 (2025) | 99% |
| GNI per capita | $38,340 (2025) | $37,880 (2025) | 1.0× |
| GDP growth (annual) | 1.2% (2025) | 1.0% (2025) | 1.2× |
| Inflation rate | 3.2% (2025) | 2.1% (2025) | 1.5× |
| Unemployment rate | 2.5% (2025) | 2.7% (2025) | 91% |
| Gini index | 32.3 (2020) | 32.9 (2021) | 98% |
| Poverty rate ($2.15/day) | 1.2% (2020) | 0.1% (2021) | 12× |
| Trade & industry | |||
| Exports share of GDP | 22.0% (2024) | 45.8% (2025) | 48% |
| Imports share of GDP | 22.9% (2024) | 40.6% (2025) | 56% |
| Agriculture share of GDP | 1.0% (2024) | 1.5% (2025) | 65% |
| Manufacturing share of GDP | 18.8% (2024) | 27.4% (2025) | 69% |
| International tourist arrivals | 4.1M (2020) | 2.5M (2020) | 1.6× |
| Tourism receipts | $11.4B (2020) | $11.8B (2020) | 97% |
| Health & education | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.0 years (2024) | 83.6 years (2024) | 1.0× |
| Infant mortality | 1.8‰ (2024) | 2.3‰ (2024) | 78% |
| Under-five mortality | 2.4‰ (2024) | 2.8‰ (2024) | 86% |
| DPT immunization | 99.0% (2024) | 97.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Hospital beds | 12.6 per 1,000 (2022) | 12.8 per 1,000 (2022) | 98% |
| Health spending share of GDP | 10.7% (2023) | 8.7% (2024) | 1.2× |
| Secondary school enrollment | 101.5% (2023) | 96.3% (2024) | 1.1× |
| Education spending share of GDP | 3.3% (2021) | 5.4% (2022) | 62% |
| Society & living | |||
| Human Development Index | 0.925 (2023) | 0.937 (2023) | 99% |
| Internet users | 85.5% (2024) | 97.9% (2024) | 87% |
| Mobile subscriptions | 178.4 per 100 (2023) | 172.5 per 100 (2024) | 1.0× |
| Fixed broadband | 38.6 per 100 (2023) | 47.8 per 100 (2024) | 81% |
| Electricity access | 100.0% (2024) | 100.0% (2024) | 1.0× |
| Environment & security | |||
| CO₂ emissions per capita | 7.8 t (2024) | 11.4 t (2024) | 69% |
| CO₂ emissions (total) derived | 972 Mt (2024) | 588 Mt (2024) | 1.7× |
| Renewable electricity share | 21.1% (2021) | 6.6% (2021) | 3.2× |
| Renewable energy consumption | 8.8% (2021) | 3.6% (2021) | 2.4× |
| Forest area | 68.4% (2023) | 64.1% (2023) | 1.1× |
| Agricultural land | 12.6% (2023) | 16.1% (2023) | 79% |
| Arable land | 11.1% (2023) | 14.9% (2023) | 74% |
| PM2.5 exposure | 11.5 µg/m³ (2023) | 21.9 µg/m³ (2023) | 52% |
| Military spending | 1.4% (2024) | 2.6% (2024) | 54% |
Population density is our own derived metric: latest population ÷ the displayed surface area (World Bank surface-area figures where available) — so it can differ from the World Bank's own land-area-based density.
Reference facts
| Metric | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Tokyo | Seoul |
| Languages | Japanese | Korean |
| Currencies | JPY | KRW |
| Subregion | Eastern Asia | Eastern Asia |
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, Japan or South Korea?
Japan's surface area is larger: about 3.8× South Korea's (377,969 km² vs 100,450 km²).
Which has a larger population, Japan or South Korea?
Japan's population is larger: about 2.4× South Korea's (123.4M vs 51.7M).
Which economy is larger, Japan or South Korea?
Japan's GDP (total) is larger: about 2.4× South Korea's ($4.4T vs $1.9T).
Which has a higher GDP per capita, Japan or South Korea?
Japan's GDP per capita is smaller: about 99% of South Korea's ($35,951 vs $36,227).
Related tools and comparisons
Open the interactive compare tool with Japan and South Korea preselected
See Japan and South Korea's true size on a drag-and-drop map →
Distance between Japan and South Korea →
Japan country profile: key metrics vs world median →
South Korea country profile: key metrics vs world median →
More comparisons with Japan and South Korea
Data & method
Indicators: World Bank Open Data, 43 indicators — CC BY 4.0 © World Bank — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; Surface area (sq. km) — CC BY 4.0 © World Bank — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/; Human Development Index — CC BY 3.0 IGO © United Nations Development Programme — https://hdr.undp.org/terms-use
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m (public domain); surface areas follow the World Bank AG.SRF.TOTL.K2 figures, with mledoze/countries (or a measured Natural Earth boundary, marked †) only where World Bank coverage is missing.
Reference facts (capital, languages, currencies, subregion): mledoze/countries (ODbL).