Updated
Overview
Japan has 3.0 times the population of Canada: 123.37 million people against 41.65 million (2025).
Japan's economy is about 90% larger than Canada's, at $4.44T versus $2.32T.
Per person, Canada is the wealthier of the two: $55,698 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Canada | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $2.32T | 2025 | $4.03T / $2.24T |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $55,698 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 1.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 6.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 83 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $4,121 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | Higher: $2,106 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $5.81 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 41.65 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 39.19 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 40.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 82.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 83% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 9,984,670 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 4.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 533 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 13.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $29.35B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 72,000 | 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
Canada is growing faster: 1.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 2.1% in Canada.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 83 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Canada: $4,121 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Canada is the far younger society: median age 40.6 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 1.9 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 82.1).
Geography
By land area, Japan is only about 1/26 the size of Canada: 377,930 km² versus 9,984,670 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 4.
Military
Japan spends about 90% more on defence than Canada: $55.27B versus $29.35B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 72,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Canada?
- Canada is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Canada covers 9,984,670 km², so Canada is 26 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Canada?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 41.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Canada?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Canada is richer: $55,698 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $2.32T for Canada.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Canada?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $29.35B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).