Updated
Overview
Brazil has about 75% more people than Japan: 212.81 million against 123.37 million (2025).
Japan's economy is about 95% larger than Brazil's, at $4.44T versus $2.28T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $10,713 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Brazil | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $2.28T | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $2.18T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $10,713 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.3% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 5.0% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 4.4% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 6.0% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 46 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $607 | Higher: $2,801 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $262 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.71 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 212.81 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 221.36 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 0.4% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 34.8 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.60 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 76.0 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 88% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 84% | Higher: 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 8,515,767 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 25.0/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 483 Mt | 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.3 t | 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $20.95B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 762,000 | 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
Brazil is growing faster: 2.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 5.0% in Brazil and 3.2% in Japan.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Brazil: a price level of 46 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $607 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Brazil is the far younger society: median age 34.8 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 8.0 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 76.0).
Geography
By land area, Brazil is 23 times the size of Japan: 8,515,767 km² versus 377,930 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 25.
Military
Japan spends 2.6 times as much on defence as Brazil: $55.27B versus $20.95B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Brazil fields the larger armed forces: 762,000 personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Brazil bigger than Japan?
- Brazil is larger by land area. Brazil covers 8,515,767 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so Brazil is 23 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Brazil or Japan?
- Brazil has the larger population: 212.81 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Brazil richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $10,713. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.28T for Brazil versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, Brazil or Japan?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $20.95B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).