Updated
Overview
The United States has 2.8 times the population of Japan: 341.78 million people against 123.37 million (2025).
The United States' economy is 6.9 times the size of Japan's, at $30.77T versus $4.44T.
Per person, the United States is the wealthier of the two: $90,027 against $35,951 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | United States | Japan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $30.77T | $4.44T | 2025 | $29.18T / $4.03T |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $90,027 | $35,951 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.2% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.9% | 3.2% | 2024 / 2025 | — / 2.7% |
| Unemployment | 4.2% | Lower: 2.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 100 | 65 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,273 | $2,801 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $1,257 | $1,207 | 2026 / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $6.22 | $3.08 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 341.78 million | 123.37 million | 2025 | 338.02 million / 123.20 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | -0.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 38.5 yrs | 49.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.62 | 1.23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 78.9 yrs | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 80% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 95% | 86% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,833,517 km² | 377,930 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 34.8/km² | 326.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 4,904 Mt | Lower: 962 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 14.2 t | Lower: 7.8 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $997.31B | $55.27B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 3.4% | 1.4% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 1.4 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
The United States is growing faster: 2.2% annual GDP growth versus 1.2%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.9% in the United States and 3.2% in Japan.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Japan: a price level of 65 versus 100 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour the United States: $6,273 against $2,801 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The United States is the far younger society: median age 38.5 versus 49.8 years.
Life expectancy is 5.1 years longer in Japan (84.0 vs 78.9).
Japan is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 80%.
Geography
By land area, the United States is 26 times the size of Japan: 9,833,517 km² versus 377,930 km².
Japan is far more densely settled: 326 people per km² against 35.
Military
The United States spends 18 times as much on defence as Japan: $997.31B versus $55.27B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, the United States carries the heavier military burden: 3.4% of GDP versus 1.4%.
The United States fields the larger armed forces: 1.4 million personnel against 261,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the United States bigger than Japan?
- The United States is larger by land area. The United States covers 9,833,517 km² while Japan covers 377,930 km², so the United States is 26 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, the United States or Japan?
- The United States has the larger population: 341.78 million versus 123.37 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the United States richer than Japan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, the United States is richer: $90,027 against $35,951. Total GDP tells the same story: $30.77T for the United States versus $4.44T for Japan.
- Who spends more on their military, the United States or Japan?
- The United States spends more: $997.31B versus $55.27B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).