Updated
Overview
Japan has 3.4 times the population of Malaysia: 123.37 million people against 35.98 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 9.4 times the size of Malaysia's, at $4.44T versus $472.19B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $13,125 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Malaysia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $472.19B | 2025 | $4.03T / $421.97B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $13,125 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 5.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 1.4% | 2025 | 2.7% / 1.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 3.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 32 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $698 | 2021 / 2020 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,207 | $328 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $3.57 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 35.98 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 34.91 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 31.0 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.53 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 76.8 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 77% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 330,803 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 108.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 290 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 8.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $4.31B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 136,000 | 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
Malaysia is growing much faster: 5.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 1.4% in Malaysia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Malaysia: a price level of 32 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $698 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Malaysia is the far younger society: median age 31.0 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 7.2 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 76.8).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 77%.
Internet adoption is higher in Malaysia (98% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 14% larger than Malaysia: 377,930 km² versus 330,803 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 109.
Military
Japan spends 13 times as much on defence as Malaysia: $55.27B versus $4.31B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 136,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Malaysia?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Malaysia covers 330,803 km², so Japan is 14% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Malaysia?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 35.98 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Malaysia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $13,125. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $472.19B for Malaysia.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Malaysia?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $4.31B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).