Updated
Overview
Japan has 20 times the population of Singapore: 123.37 million people against 6.11 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 7.3 times the size of Singapore's, at $4.44T versus $603.87B.
Per person, Singapore is the wealthier of the two: $98,814 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | Singapore | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $603.87B | 2025 | $4.03T / $547.39B |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $98,814 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.2% | Higher: 5.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 0.9% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.4% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 2.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 60 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $3,483 | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $5.77 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 6.11 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 6.08 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 36.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 0.96 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 100% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 94% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 719 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 8499.5/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 54 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 9.2 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $15.06B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 59,000 | 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
Singapore is growing much faster: 5.0% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Japan runs the hotter price environment: 3.2% inflation versus 0.9%.
Average monthly earnings favour Singapore: $3,483 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Singapore is the far younger society: median age 36.2 versus 49.8 years.
Geography
By land area, Japan is 526 times the size of Singapore: 377,930 km² versus 719 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Singapore is far more densely settled: 8500 people per km² against 326.
Military
Japan spends 3.7 times as much on defence as Singapore: $55.27B versus $15.06B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Singapore carries the heavier military burden: 2.8% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Japan fields the larger armed forces: 261,000 personnel against 59,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than Singapore?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while Singapore covers 719 km², so Japan is 526 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or Singapore?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 6.11 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than Singapore?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Singapore is richer: $98,814 against $35,951. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $603.87B for Singapore.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or Singapore?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $15.06B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).