Updated
Overview
Russia has 16% more people than Japan: 143.51 million against 123.37 million (2025).
Japan's economy is about 75% larger than Russia's, at $4.44T versus $2.56T.
Per person, Japan is the wealthier of the two: $35,951 against $17,547 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Russia | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $2.56T | Higher: $4.44T | 2025 | $2.17T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | $17,547 | Higher: $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.0% | Higher: 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 8.7% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | 6.7% / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.1% | 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 32 | 65 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $777 | Higher: $2,801 | 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $208 | Higher: $1,207 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $1.74 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 143.51 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 140.13 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.3 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 73.4 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 75% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 94% | 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 17,098,242 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 8.4/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 1,781 Mt | Lower: 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 12.3 t | Lower: 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $148.97B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 7.1% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.5 million | 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
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (1.0% for Russia, 1.2% for Japan).
Russia runs the hotter price environment: 8.7% inflation versus 3.2%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Russia: a price level of 32 versus 65 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Japan: $2,801 against $777 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Russia is the far younger society: median age 40.3 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 10.6 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 73.4).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 75%.
Geography
By land area, Russia is 45 times the size of Japan: 17,098,242 km² versus 377,930 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 8.
Military
Russia spends 2.7 times as much on defence as Japan: $148.97B versus $55.27B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Russia carries the heavier military burden: 7.1% of GDP versus 1.4%.
Russia fields the larger armed forces: 1.5 million personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Russia bigger than Japan?
- Russia is larger by land area. Russia covers 17,098,242 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so Russia is 45 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Russia or Japan?
- Russia has the larger population: 143.51 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Russia richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Japan is richer: $35,951 against $17,547. Total GDP tells the same story: $2.56T for Russia versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, Russia or Japan?
- Russia spends more: $148.97B versus $55.27B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).