Updated
Overview
Japan has 22 times the population of Ireland: 123.37 million people against 5.48 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 6.1 times the size of Ireland's, at $4.44T versus $721.70B.
Per person, Ireland is the wealthier of the two: $131,592 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Ireland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $721.70B | 2025 | $4.03T / $577.39B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $131,592 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 12.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.2% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 85 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $5,697 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | Higher: $2,579 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 5.48 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 5.23 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 1.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 39.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 65% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 97% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 70,273 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 78.0/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 33 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 6.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $1.33B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 0.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 9,000 | 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
Ireland is growing much faster: 12.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 2.2% in Ireland.
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 Ireland: $5,697 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Ireland is the far younger society: median age 39.0 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 1.0 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 83.0).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 65%.
Internet adoption is higher in Ireland (97% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 5.4 times the size of Ireland: 377,930 km² versus 70,273 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 78.
Military
Japan spends 42 times as much on defence as Ireland: $55.27B versus $1.33B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Japan carries the heavier military burden: 1.4% of GDP versus 0.2%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 9,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Ireland?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Ireland covers 70,273 km², so Japan is 5.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Ireland?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 5.48 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Ireland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ireland is richer: $131,592 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $721.70B for Ireland.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Ireland?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $1.33B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).