Updated
Overview
Japan has 21 times the population of Denmark: 123.37 million people against 6.01 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 9.6 times the size of Denmark's, at $4.44T versus $462.53B.
Per person, Denmark is the wealthier of the two: $76,970 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Denmark | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $462.53B | 2025 | $4.03T / $429.46B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $76,970 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 1.9% | 2025 | 2.7% / 1.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 5.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 92 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $6,992 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $7.04 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 6.01 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 6.05 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 41.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 89% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 100% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 43,094 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 139.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 28 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 4.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $9.96B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 15,000 | 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
Denmark is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 1.9% in Denmark.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 92 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Denmark is the far younger society: median age 41.3 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 1.8 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 82.3).
Internet adoption is higher in Denmark (100% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 8.8 times the size of Denmark: 377,930 km² versus 43,094 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 139.
Military
Japan spends 5.6 times as much on defence as Denmark: $55.27B versus $9.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Denmark carries the heavier military burden: 2.4% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Denmark?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Denmark covers 43,094 km², so Japan is 8.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Denmark?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 6.01 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Denmark?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Denmark is richer: $76,970 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $462.53B for Denmark.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Denmark?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $9.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).