Japan vs South Korea: how the neighbours compare
| Indicator | Japan | South Korea | Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | |||
| Population | 123m2025 | 51.7m2025 | 12 · 29 |
| Area | 377,975 km²2024 | 100,460 km²2024 | 63 · 109 |
| Density | 340.12024 | 530.22024 | 36 · 23 |
| Urban share | 92.3%2025 | 81.2%2025 | 26 · 54 |
| Fertility | 1.152024 | 0.752024 | 203 · 216 |
| Aged 65+ | 30.0%2025 | 20.3%2025 | 2 · 36 |
| Economy | |||
| GDP | $4.4tn2025 | $1.9tn2025 | 4 · 13 |
| GDP per capita | $35,9512025 | $36,2272025 | 48 · 47 |
| GDP per capita, PPP | $55,4222025 | $63,1252025 | 45 · 35 |
| GDP growth | 1.2%2025 | 1.0%2025 | 167 · 174 |
| Agriculture share | 1.0%2024 | 1.5%2025 | 172 · 161 |
| Industry share | 26.8%2024 | 34.3%2025 | 71 · 36 |
| Services share | 71.4%2024 | 57.2%2025 | 31 · 105 |
| Prices & public finance | |||
| Inflation | 3.2%2025 | 2.1%2025 | 91 · 119 |
| Tax revenue | — | 13.3%2024 | — · 96 |
| Military spending | 1.41%2025 | 2.60%2025 | 92 · 38 |
| Trade & investment | |||
| Exports | 22.0%2024 | 45.8%2025 | 139 · 63 |
| FDI inflows | 1.0%2025 | 0.8%2025 | 141 · 148 |
| Labour | |||
| Unemployment | 2.5%2025 | 2.7%2025 | 164 · 159 |
| Aid, poverty & equality | |||
| Women in parliament | 15.7%2025 | 20.3%2025 | 144 · 122 |
| Education | |||
| Tertiary enrolment | 64.5%2023 | 111.9%2024 | 59 · 5 |
| Education spending | 3.3%2021 | 5.4%2022 | 126 · 42 |
| Health | |||
| Life expectancy | 84.0 yrs2024 | 83.6 yrs2024 | 10 · 14 |
| Infant mortality | 1.82024 | 2.32024 | 193 · 181 |
| Health spending | 10.7%2023 | 8.7%2024 | 20 · 50 |
| Physicians | 2.652022 | 2.612022 | 70 · 71 |
| Digital & energy access | |||
| Internet users | 85.5%2024 | 97.9%2024 | 80 · 13 |
| Fixed broadband | 38.62023 | 47.82024 | 30 · 8 |
| Electricity access | 100.0%2024 | 100.0%2024 | 53 · 100 |
| Environment | |||
| CO₂ per person | 7.84 t2024 | 11.36 t2024 | 28 · 17 |
| Renewable energy | 8.8%2021 | 3.6%2021 | 154 · 171 |
| Forest cover | 68.3%2024 | 64.4%2024 | 20 · 23 |
Higher value in each row is highlighted; it is not always the better one (think inflation or emissions). Ranks are world positions.
GDP per capita
JapanSouth Korea
Life expectancy
JapanSouth Korea
Population
JapanSouth Korea
Internet users
JapanSouth Korea
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)
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