Updated
Overview
Japan has 6.2 times the population of Chile: 123.37 million people against 19.86 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 12 times the size of Chile's, at $4.44T versus $357.37B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $17,995 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Chile | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $357.37B | 2025 | $4.03T / $330.27B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $17,995 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 4.2% | 2025 | 2.7% / 4.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 9.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 48 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $1,024 | 2021 / 2024 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,207 | $530 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $5.41 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 19.86 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 19.09 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 36.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.13 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 81.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 756,102 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 26.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 79 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 4.0 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $5.11B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 114,000 | 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
Chile is growing faster: 2.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 4.2% in Chile.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Chile: a price level of 48 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $1,024 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Chile is the far younger society: median age 36.9 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 2.7 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 81.4).
Internet adoption is higher in Chile (96% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 50% smaller than Chile: 377,930 km² versus 756,102 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 26.
Military
Japan spends 11 times as much on defence as Chile: $55.27B versus $5.11B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 114,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Chile?
- Chile is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Chile covers 756,102 km², so Chile is 2.0 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Chile?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 19.86 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Chile?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $17,995. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $357.37B for Chile.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Chile?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $5.11B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).