Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 2.1 times the population of Japan: 255.22 million people against 123.37 million (2025).
Japan's economy is 11 times the size of Pakistan's, at $4.44T versus $407.31B.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $373.07B / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 12.6% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $2,801 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 180 Mt | 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 3.2% in Japan.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 16.2 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 67.8).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Japan (86% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 2.3 times the size of Japan: 881,912 km² versus 377,930 km².
Military
Japan spends 5.4 times as much on defence as Pakistan: $55.27B versus $10.17B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Pakistan carries the heavier military burden: 2.7% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Japan?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so Pakistan is 2.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Japan?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Japan?
- Japan spends more: $55.27B versus $10.17B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).