Updated
Overview
Bangladesh has about 40% more people than Japan: 175.69 million against 123.37 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 9.7 times the size of Bangladesh's, at $4.44T versus $456.32B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $2,597 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Bangladesh | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $456.32B | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $450.12B / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $2,597 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.5% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.8% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 10.5% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 3.8% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 25 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $134 | Higher: $2,801 | 2024 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $108 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 175.69 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 174.37 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.0 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.11 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.9 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 33% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 53% | Higher: 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 147,570 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 1190.5/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 108 Mt | 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.6 t | 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.03B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 227,000 | 261,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Bangladesh is growing faster: 3.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Bangladesh runs the hotter price environment: 8.8% inflation versus 3.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bangladesh: a price level of 25 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $134 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bangladesh is the far younger society: median age 26.0 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 9.1 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 74.9).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 33%.
Internet adoption is higher in Japan (86% vs 53% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Bangladesh is 61% smaller than Japan: 147,570 km² versus 377,930 km².
Bangladesh is far more densely settled: 1191 people per km² against 326.
Military
Japan spends 14 times as much on defence as Bangladesh: $55.27B versus $4.03B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 227,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Bangladesh bigger than Japan?
- Japan is larger by land area. Bangladesh covers 147,570 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so Japan is 2.6 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Bangladesh or Japan?
- Bangladesh has the larger population: 175.69 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Bangladesh richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $2,597. Total GDP tells the same story: $456.32B for Bangladesh versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, Bangladesh or Japan?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $4.03B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).