Updated
Overview
India has 12 times the population of Japan: 1.46 billion people against 123.37 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 12% larger than India's, at $4.44T versus $3.96T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $2,702 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | India | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $3.96T | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $3.91T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $2,702 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 7.6% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.4% | 3.2% | 2025 | 5.0% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 23 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $255 | Higher: $2,801 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $55 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.45 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.46 billion | 123.37 million | 2025 | 1.42 billion / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 0.9% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 28.8 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.94 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 72.2 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 36% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 70% | Higher: 86% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 3,287,590 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 445.3/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 3,193 Mt | Lower: 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $86.13B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.3% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 3.1 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
India is growing much faster: 7.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.4% in India and 3.2% in Japan.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in India: a price level of 23 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $255 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
India is the far younger society: median age 28.8 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 11.8 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 72.2).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 36%.
Internet adoption is higher in Japan (86% vs 70% of the population).
Geography
By land area, India is 8.7 times the size of Japan: 3,287,590 km² versus 377,930 km².
Military
India spends about 55% more on defence than Japan: $86.13B versus $55.27B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, India carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
India fields the larger armed forces: 3.1 million personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is India bigger than Japan?
- India is larger by land area. India covers 3,287,590 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so India is 8.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, India or Japan?
- India has the larger population: 1.46 billion versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is India richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $2,702. Total GDP tells the same story: $3.96T for India versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, India or Japan?
- India spends more: $86.13B versus $55.27B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).