Updated
Overview
Japan has 22 times the population of Finland: 123.37 million people against 5.65 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 14 times the size of Finland's, at $4.44T versus $317.04B.
Per person, Finland is the wealthier of the two: $56,149 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Finland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $317.04B | 2025 | $4.03T / $299.84B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $56,149 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.2% | 0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 0.3% | 2025 | 2.7% / 1.6% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 9.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $5,760 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 5.65 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 5.55 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.30 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 82.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 75% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 338,424 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 16.7/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 30 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 5.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $6.99B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 22,000 | 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 0.2%.
Japan runs the hotter price environment: 3.2% inflation versus 0.3%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 85 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Finland: $5,760 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Finland is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 1.7 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 82.3).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 12% larger than Finland: 377,930 km² versus 338,424 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 17.
Military
Japan spends 7.9 times as much on defence as Finland: $55.27B versus $6.99B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Finland carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 22,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Finland?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Finland covers 338,424 km², so Japan is 12% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Finland?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 5.65 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Finland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Finland is richer: $56,149 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $317.04B for Finland.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Finland?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $6.99B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).