Updated
Overview
Japan has 22 times the population of Norway: 123.37 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 8.4 times the size of Norway's, at $4.44T versus $530.76B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $530.76B | 2025 | $4.03T / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.2% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 2.7% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $6,440 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 25,000 | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.2% for Japan, 1.1% for Norway).
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Norway is the far younger society: median age 39.8 versus 49.8 years.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 17% larger than Norway: 377,930 km² versus 323,802 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 17.
Military
Japan spends 5.3 times as much on defence as Norway: $55.27B versus $10.44B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Norway?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Japan is 17% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Norway?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Norway?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $10.44B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).