Updated
Overview
China has 11 times the population of Japan: 1.41 billion people against 123.37 million (2025).
China's economy is 4.4 times the size of Japan's, at $19.50T versus $4.44T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $13,862 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $4.44T | 2025 | $18.74T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $13,862 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 5.0% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 3.2% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $807 | Higher: $2,801 | 2022 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $268 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 123.37 million | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | -0.2% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.0 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 86% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 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
China is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Japan runs the hotter price environment: 3.2% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in China: a price level of 47 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $807 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
China is the far younger society: median age 40.1 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 6.0 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 78.0).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 66%.
Geography
By land area, China is 25 times the size of Japan: 9,596,960 km² versus 377,930 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 147.
Military
China spends 5.7 times as much on defence as Japan: $313.66B versus $55.27B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Japan?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so China is 25 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Japan?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $13,862. Total GDP tells a different story: $19.50T for China versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, China or Japan?
- China spends more: $313.66B versus $55.27B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).