Updated
Overview
Japan has 6.5 times the population of Romania: 123.37 million people against 19.02 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 10 times the size of Romania's, at $4.44T versus $428.68B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $22,538 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Romania | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $428.68B | 2025 | $4.03T / $382.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $35,951 | $22,538 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 3.2% | 7.2% | 2025 | 2.7% / 5.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 6.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $2,801 | $1,722 | 2021 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,207 | $906 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $4.01 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 19.02 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 18.15 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | -0.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 43.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 1.71 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 76.5 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 52% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 91% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 238,391 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 79.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 69 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 7.8 t | Lower: 3.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $8.72B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.3% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 128,000 | 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
Japan is growing faster: 1.2% annual GDP growth versus 0.7%.
Romania runs the hotter price environment: 7.2% inflation versus 3.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Romania: a price level of 44 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $1,722 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Romania is the younger society: median age 43.2 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 7.6 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 76.5).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 52%.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 59% larger than Romania: 377,930 km² versus 238,391 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 80.
Military
Japan spends 6.3 times as much on defence as Romania: $55.27B versus $8.72B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Romania carries the heavier military burden: 2.3% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 128,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Romania?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Romania covers 238,391 km², so Japan is 59% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Romania?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 19.02 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Romania?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $22,538. Total GDP tells the same story: $4.44T for Japan versus $428.68B for Romania.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Romania?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $8.72B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).