Updated
Overview
Mexico and Japan are nearly matched in population: 131.95 million versus 123.37 million people (2025).
Japan's economy is 2.4 times the size of Mexico's, at $4.44T versus $1.83T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $13,889 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Mexico | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $1.83T | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $1.85T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $13,889 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.8% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 4.7% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 2.7% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 54 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $551 | Higher: $2,801 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $353 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.27 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 131.95 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 130.74 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.6 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.87 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 75.3 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 83% | Higher: 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,964,375 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 67.2/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 461 Mt | 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.5 t | 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $16.73B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.9% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 341,000 | 261,000 | 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 0.6%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.8% in Mexico and 3.2% in Japan.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Mexico: a price level of 54 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $551 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Mexico is the far younger society: median age 29.6 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 8.8 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 75.3).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 80%.
Geography
By land area, Mexico is 5.2 times the size of Japan: 1,964,375 km² versus 377,930 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 67.
Military
Japan spends 3.3 times as much on defence as Mexico: $55.27B versus $16.73B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Mexico fields the larger armed forces: 341,000 personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Mexico bigger than Japan?
- Mexico is larger by land area. Mexico covers 1,964,375 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so Mexico is 5.2 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Mexico or Japan?
- Mexico has the larger population: 131.95 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Mexico richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $13,889. Total GDP tells the same story: $1.83T for Mexico versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, Mexico or Japan?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $16.73B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).