Updated
Overview
Japan has 3.4 times the population of Poland: 123.37 million people against 36.44 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 4.3 times the size of Poland's, at $4.44T versus $1.04T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $28,420 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Poland | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $1.04T | 2025 | $4.03T / $914.70B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $28,420 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 3.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 3.8% | 2025 | 2.7% / 3.8% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 3.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 52 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $2,302 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | Higher: $1,241 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $6.22 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 36.44 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 38.75 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | -0.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 42.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.31 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 78.4 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 60% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 89% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 312,679 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 116.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 273 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 7.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $38.00B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 4.2% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 189,000 | 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
Poland is growing faster: 3.6% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 3.8% in Poland.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Poland: a price level of 52 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $2,302 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Poland is the younger society: median age 42.5 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 5.6 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 78.4).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 60%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 21% larger than Poland: 377,930 km² versus 312,679 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 117.
Military
Japan spends about 45% more on defence than Poland: $55.27B versus $38.00B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Poland carries the heavier military burden: 4.2% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 189,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Poland?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Poland covers 312,679 km², so Japan is 21% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Poland?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 36.44 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Poland?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $28,420. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $1.04T for Poland.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Poland?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $38.00B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).