Updated
Overview
Japan has 2.4 times the population of South Korea: 123.37 million people against 51.68 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 2.4 times the size of South Korea's, at $4.44T versus $1.87T.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Japan | South Korea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $4.44T | $1.87T | 2025 | $4.03T / $1.71T |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 | Higher: $36,227 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.2% | 1.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.2% | Lower: 2.1% | 2025 | 2.7% / 2.3% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.5% | 2.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 65 | 57 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $2,801 | Higher: $3,168 | 2021 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,207 | Higher: $1,511 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.08 | $3.84 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 123.37 million | 51.68 million | 2025 | 123.20 million / 51.49 million |
| Population growth | -0.5% | -0.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 49.8 yrs | 45.6 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.23 | 0.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.6 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 81% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 86% | Higher: 98% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 377,930 km² | 100,210 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 326.4/km² | 515.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 962 Mt | Lower: 584 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 7.8 t | 11.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $55.27B | $47.57B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.4% | 2.6% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 261,000 | 569,000 | 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, 1.0% for South Korea).
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.2% in Japan and 2.1% in South Korea.
Average monthly earnings favour South Korea: $3,168 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
South Korea is the younger society: median age 45.6 versus 49.8 years.
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 81%.
Internet adoption is higher in South Korea (98% vs 86% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Japan is 3.8 times the size of South Korea: 377,930 km² versus 100,210 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $55.27B (Japan) and $47.57B (South Korea).
Relative to its economy, South Korea carries the heavier military burden: 2.6% of GDP versus 1.4%.
South Korea fields the larger armed forces: 569,000 personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Japan bigger than South Korea?
- Japan is larger by land area. Japan covers 377,930 km² while South Korea covers 100,210 km², so Japan is 3.8 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Japan or South Korea?
- Japan has the larger population: 123.37 million versus 51.68 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Japan richer than South Korea?
- They are effectively level on GDP per capita: $35,951 for Japan against $36,227 for South Korea, a gap too small to call. Total GDP tells a different story: $4.44T for Japan versus $1.87T for South Korea.
- Who spends more on their military, Japan or South Korea?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $47.57B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).