Updated
Overview
Japan has 13 times the population of Austria: 123.37 million people against 9.21 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 7.7 times the size of Austria's, at $4.44T versus $579.47B.
Per person, Austria is the wealthier of the two: $62,930 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Austria | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $579.47B | 2025 | $4.03T / $521.64B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $62,930 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.2% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 3.5% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 5.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 82 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $6,155 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 9.21 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 9.17 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 43.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 82.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 70% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 92% | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 83,871 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 109.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 56 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 6.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $5.26B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 23,000 | 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
Japan is growing faster: 1.2% annual GDP growth versus 0.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 3.5% in Austria.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 82 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Austria: $6,155 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Austria is the younger society: median age 43.6 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 2.0 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 82.0).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 4.5 times the size of Austria: 377,930 km² versus 83,871 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 110.
Military
Japan spends 11 times as much on defence as Austria: $55.27B versus $5.26B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 23,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Austria?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Austria covers 83,871 km², so Japan is 4.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Austria?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 9.21 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Austria?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Austria is richer: $62,930 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $579.47B for Austria.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Austria?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $5.26B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).