Updated
Overview
Japan has 5.9 times the population of Kazakhstan: 123.37 million people against 20.84 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 14 times the size of Kazakhstan's, at $4.44T versus $306.24B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Kazakhstan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $306.24B | 2025 | $4.03T / $288.41B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $14,692 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 11.4% | 2025 | 2.7% / 8.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 4.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 33 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $673 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,207 | $181 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 20.84 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 20.43 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 29.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 2.95 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 74.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 62% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 93% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 2,724,900 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 7.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 287 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 13.9 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $1.21B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 0.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 3.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 9.5 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 74.5).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 86% smaller than Kazakhstan: 377,930 km² versus 2,724,900 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 8.
Military
Japan spends 46 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $55.27B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Japan carries the heavier military burden: 1.4% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 71,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Kazakhstan?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km², so Kazakhstan is 7.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Kazakhstan?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 20.84 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Kazakhstan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $306.24B for Kazakhstan.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Kazakhstan?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).