Japan vs South Korea

Japan (Asia) and South Korea (Asia) side by side. Each value is the latest available for that country, so the year may differ; the rank is among all countries of the world.

Over time

with the world for reference

GDP per capita

US$ · 1960-2025

Japan South Korea World

0 20k 40k 60k 1960 Japan: 519.42 South Korea: 158.84 World: 452.65 1961 Japan: 621.69 South Korea: 94.2 World: 471.93 1962 Japan: 698.98 South Korea: 106.62 World: 496.11 1963 Japan: 791.92 South Korea: 147.01 World: 525.19 1964 Japan: 921.88 South Korea: 124.24 World: 563.85 1965 Japan: 1,014.66 South Korea: 109.43 World: 601.89 1966 Japan: 1,167.69 South Korea: 134.43 World: 638.97 1967 Japan: 1,354.29 South Korea: 162.46 World: 664.4 1968 Japan: 1,585.98 South Korea: 199.98 World: 703.46 1969 Japan: 1,840.95 South Korea: 245.49 World: 761.11 1970 Japan: 2,144.99 South Korea: 281.79 World: 817.68 1971 Japan: 2,370.28 South Korea: 304.27 World: 884.88 1972 Japan: 3,095.28 South Korea: 328.02 World: 1,002 1973 Japan: 4,146.53 South Korea: 412.5 World: 1,201.53 1974 Japan: 4,541.99 South Korea: 572.49 World: 1,362.19 1975 Japan: 4,876.47 South Korea: 627.14 World: 1,488.94 1976 Japan: 5,422.26 South Korea: 847.21 World: 1,589.73 1977 Japan: 6,609.09 South Korea: 1,072.85 World: 1,766.28 1978 Japan: 9,201.92 South Korea: 1,428.89 World: 2,055.49 1979 Japan: 9,497.01 South Korea: 1,813.91 World: 2,335.19 1980 Japan: 9,872.35 South Korea: 1,745.58 World: 2,587.01 1981 Japan: 10,805.99 South Korea: 1,918.42 World: 2,628.62 1982 Japan: 9,985.92 South Korea: 2,032.26 World: 2,554.08 1983 Japan: 10,876.33 South Korea: 2,245.56 World: 2,561.17 1984 Japan: 11,443.46 South Korea: 2,468.69 World: 2,614.33 1985 Japan: 12,058.15 South Korea: 2,542.88 World: 2,690.59 1986 Japan: 17,819.34 South Korea: 2,910.83 World: 3,118.57 1987 Japan: 21,586.93 South Korea: 3,657.72 World: 3,487.88 1988 Japan: 26,036.86 South Korea: 4,888.69 World: 3,829.99 1989 Japan: 25,798.01 South Korea: 5,989.21 World: 3,930.51 1990 Japan: 26,344.73 South Korea: 6,812.9 World: 4,338.94 1991 Japan: 30,048.14 South Korea: 7,872.65 World: 4,453.9 1992 Japan: 32,666.5 South Korea: 8,387.16 World: 4,679.98 1993 Japan: 37,110.61 South Korea: 9,179.97 World: 4,685.3 1994 Japan: 40,774.45 South Korea: 10,733.99 World: 4,967.01 1995 Japan: 44,947.48 South Korea: 13,001.72 World: 5,463.2 1996 Japan: 39,929.72 South Korea: 13,864.94 World: 5,507.22 1997 Japan: 36,331.03 South Korea: 12,821.69 World: 5,408.57 1998 Japan: 32,835.12 South Korea: 8,583.44 World: 5,302.34 1999 Japan: 37,028.72 South Korea: 11,062.5 World: 5,401.23 2000 Japan: 39,752.94 South Korea: 12,710.3 World: 5,512.56 2001 Japan: 34,910.17 South Korea: 11,981.48 World: 5,404.2 2002 Japan: 33,315.92 South Korea: 13,642.94 World: 5,539.32 2003 Japan: 35,808.68 South Korea: 15,211.55 World: 6,129.87 2004 Japan: 38,677.57 South Korea: 17,121.63 World: 6,818 2005 Japan: 38,158.68 South Korea: 20,167.05 World: 7,290.57 2006 Japan: 36,354.43 South Korea: 22,609.71 World: 7,803.19 2007 Japan: 36,129.95 South Korea: 25,078.49 World: 8,685.33 2008 Japan: 40,294.21 South Korea: 22,252.31 World: 9,425.74 2009 Japan: 41,678.18 South Korea: 19,937.3 World: 8,827.04 2010 Japan: 45,378.14 South Korea: 24,071.26 World: 9,555.07 2011 Japan: 49,122.08 South Korea: 26,175.24 World: 10,496.93 2012 Japan: 49,626.68 South Korea: 26,600.55 World: 10,597.85 2013 Japan: 41,369.19 South Korea: 28,449.36 World: 10,759.35 2014 Japan: 39,172.85 South Korea: 30,667.09 World: 10,912.24 2015 Japan: 35,664.64 South Korea: 30,171.79 World: 10,191.98 2016 Japan: 40,214.97 South Korea: 30,832.06 World: 10,239.47 2017 Japan: 39,679.86 South Korea: 33,296.98 World: 10,784.4 2018 Japan: 40,645.48 South Korea: 35,363.95 World: 11,344.73 2019 Japan: 41,424.87 South Korea: 33,826.94 World: 11,417.6 2020 Japan: 41,098.97 South Korea: 33,645.77 World: 10,999.49 2021 Japan: 41,580.74 South Korea: 37,518.46 World: 12,472.91 2022 Japan: 35,548.26 South Korea: 34,822.4 World: 12,876.24 2023 Japan: 35,215 South Korea: 35,674.1 World: 13,313.86 2024 Japan: 33,797.1 South Korea: 36,238.64 World: 13,717.09 2025 Japan: 35,951.05 South Korea: 36,226.97 World: 14,405.85 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010 2025

Life expectancy at birth

years · 1960-2024

Japan South Korea World

50 60 70 80 90 1960 Japan: 67.7 South Korea: 53.8 World: 50.94 1961 Japan: 68.35 South Korea: 54.48 World: 52.8 1962 Japan: 68.63 South Korea: 55.06 World: 55.29 1963 Japan: 69.71 South Korea: 55.03 World: 55.65 1964 Japan: 70.21 South Korea: 55.39 World: 56.1 1965 Japan: 70.27 South Korea: 55.86 World: 55.93 1966 Japan: 70.92 South Korea: 55.52 World: 56.45 1967 Japan: 71.47 South Korea: 60.93 World: 56.9 1968 Japan: 71.61 South Korea: 60.94 World: 57.34 1969 Japan: 71.86 South Korea: 61.48 World: 57.68 1970 Japan: 71.92 South Korea: 62.16 World: 57.94 1971 Japan: 72.81 South Korea: 62.61 World: 58.02 1972 Japan: 73.15 South Korea: 63.01 World: 58.84 1973 Japan: 73.3 South Korea: 63.41 World: 59.3 1974 Japan: 73.67 South Korea: 63.8 World: 59.7 1975 Japan: 74.25 South Korea: 64.15 World: 60.13 1976 Japan: 74.69 South Korea: 64.5 World: 60.45 1977 Japan: 75.26 South Korea: 64.9 World: 61.04 1978 Japan: 75.58 South Korea: 65.2 World: 61.39 1979 Japan: 76.11 South Korea: 65.55 World: 61.84 1980 Japan: 75.99 South Korea: 66.05 World: 62.15 1981 Japan: 76.39 South Korea: 66.55 World: 62.52 1982 Japan: 76.87 South Korea: 67.1 World: 62.87 1983 Japan: 76.92 South Korea: 67.55 World: 63.13 1984 Japan: 77.29 South Korea: 68.2 World: 63.44 1985 Japan: 77.56 South Korea: 68.8 World: 63.73 1986 Japan: 78.01 South Korea: 69.45 World: 64.12 1987 Japan: 78.43 South Korea: 70 World: 64.46 1988 Japan: 78.35 South Korea: 70.55 World: 64.67 1989 Japan: 78.77 South Korea: 71.05 World: 64.96 1990 Japan: 78.84 South Korea: 71.6 World: 65.11 1991 Japan: 79.04 South Korea: 72.05 World: 65.3 1992 Japan: 79.08 South Korea: 72.5 World: 65.55 1993 Japan: 79.3 South Korea: 73 World: 65.74 1994 Japan: 79.7 South Korea: 73.4 World: 65.96 1995 Japan: 79.54 South Korea: 73.7 World: 66.2 1996 Japan: 80.22 South Korea: 74.15 World: 66.52 1997 Japan: 80.42 South Korea: 74.6 World: 66.83 1998 Japan: 80.5 South Korea: 75 World: 67.07 1999 Japan: 80.46 South Korea: 75.41 World: 67.31 2000 Japan: 81.08 South Korea: 75.91 World: 67.65 2001 Japan: 81.42 South Korea: 76.41 World: 67.95 2002 Japan: 81.69 South Korea: 76.77 World: 68.23 2003 Japan: 81.76 South Korea: 77.21 World: 68.52 2004 Japan: 82.03 South Korea: 77.67 World: 68.77 2005 Japan: 81.96 South Korea: 78.17 World: 69.11 2006 Japan: 82.32 South Korea: 78.67 World: 69.47 2007 Japan: 82.51 South Korea: 79.12 World: 69.81 2008 Japan: 82.59 South Korea: 79.52 World: 70 2009 Japan: 82.93 South Korea: 79.97 World: 70.38 2010 Japan: 82.84 South Korea: 80.12 World: 70.68 2011 Japan: 82.59 South Korea: 80.57 World: 70.97 2012 Japan: 83.1 South Korea: 80.82 World: 71.26 2013 Japan: 83.33 South Korea: 81.27 World: 71.53 2014 Japan: 83.59 South Korea: 81.72 World: 71.78 2015 Japan: 83.79 South Korea: 82.02 World: 71.97 2016 Japan: 83.98 South Korea: 82.28 World: 72.19 2017 Japan: 84.1 South Korea: 82.63 World: 72.37 2018 Japan: 84.21 South Korea: 82.63 World: 72.64 2019 Japan: 84.36 South Korea: 83.23 World: 72.87 2020 Japan: 84.56 South Korea: 83.43 World: 72.18 2021 Japan: 84.45 South Korea: 83.53 World: 71.22 2022 Japan: 84 South Korea: 82.68 World: 72.97 2023 Japan: 84.04 South Korea: 83.43 World: 73.33 2024 Japan: 84.04 South Korea: 83.63 World: 73.48 1960 1980 1990 2000 2024

Fertility rate

1960-2024

Japan South Korea World

0 2 4 6 1960 Japan: 2 South Korea: 5.99 World: 4.69 1961 Japan: 1.96 South Korea: 5.8 World: 4.56 1962 Japan: 1.98 South Korea: 5.56 World: 5.02 1963 Japan: 2 South Korea: 5.33 World: 5.31 1964 Japan: 2.05 South Korea: 5.07 World: 5.13 1965 Japan: 2.14 South Korea: 4.89 World: 5.08 1966 Japan: 1.58 South Korea: 4.78 World: 4.97 1967 Japan: 2.23 South Korea: 4.62 World: 4.87 1968 Japan: 2.13 South Korea: 4.51 World: 4.98 1969 Japan: 2.13 South Korea: 4.45 World: 4.88 1970 Japan: 2.13 South Korea: 4.53 World: 4.84 1971 Japan: 2.16 South Korea: 4.54 World: 4.69 1972 Japan: 2.14 South Korea: 4.12 World: 4.55 1973 Japan: 2.14 South Korea: 4.07 World: 4.42 1974 Japan: 2.05 South Korea: 3.77 World: 4.26 1975 Japan: 1.91 South Korea: 3.43 World: 4.07 1976 Japan: 1.85 South Korea: 3 World: 3.97 1977 Japan: 1.8 South Korea: 2.99 World: 3.84 1978 Japan: 1.79 South Korea: 2.64 World: 3.77 1979 Japan: 1.77 South Korea: 2.9 World: 3.76 1980 Japan: 1.75 South Korea: 2.82 World: 3.73 1981 Japan: 1.74 South Korea: 2.57 World: 3.71 1982 Japan: 1.77 South Korea: 2.39 World: 3.72 1983 Japan: 1.8 South Korea: 2.06 World: 3.59 1984 Japan: 1.81 South Korea: 1.74 World: 3.57 1985 Japan: 1.76 South Korea: 1.66 World: 3.53 1986 Japan: 1.72 South Korea: 1.58 World: 3.51 1987 Japan: 1.69 South Korea: 1.53 World: 3.48 1988 Japan: 1.66 South Korea: 1.55 World: 3.39 1989 Japan: 1.57 South Korea: 1.56 World: 3.35 1990 Japan: 1.54 South Korea: 1.57 World: 3.31 1991 Japan: 1.53 South Korea: 1.71 World: 3.13 1992 Japan: 1.5 South Korea: 1.76 World: 3.04 1993 Japan: 1.46 South Korea: 1.65 World: 2.97 1994 Japan: 1.5 South Korea: 1.66 World: 2.92 1995 Japan: 1.42 South Korea: 1.63 World: 2.87 1996 Japan: 1.43 South Korea: 1.57 World: 2.82 1997 Japan: 1.39 South Korea: 1.54 World: 2.78 1998 Japan: 1.38 South Korea: 1.46 World: 2.75 1999 Japan: 1.34 South Korea: 1.43 World: 2.72 2000 Japan: 1.36 South Korea: 1.48 World: 2.73 2001 Japan: 1.33 South Korea: 1.31 World: 2.69 2002 Japan: 1.32 South Korea: 1.18 World: 2.66 2003 Japan: 1.29 South Korea: 1.19 World: 2.64 2004 Japan: 1.29 South Korea: 1.16 World: 2.63 2005 Japan: 1.26 South Korea: 1.09 World: 2.61 2006 Japan: 1.32 South Korea: 1.13 World: 2.61 2007 Japan: 1.34 South Korea: 1.26 World: 2.6 2008 Japan: 1.37 South Korea: 1.19 World: 2.6 2009 Japan: 1.37 South Korea: 1.15 World: 2.59 2010 Japan: 1.39 South Korea: 1.23 World: 2.57 2011 Japan: 1.39 South Korea: 1.24 World: 2.55 2012 Japan: 1.41 South Korea: 1.3 World: 2.56 2013 Japan: 1.43 South Korea: 1.19 World: 2.53 2014 Japan: 1.42 South Korea: 1.21 World: 2.52 2015 Japan: 1.45 South Korea: 1.24 World: 2.49 2016 Japan: 1.44 South Korea: 1.17 World: 2.49 2017 Japan: 1.43 South Korea: 1.05 World: 2.46 2018 Japan: 1.42 South Korea: 0.98 World: 2.39 2019 Japan: 1.36 South Korea: 0.92 World: 2.35 2020 Japan: 1.33 South Korea: 0.84 World: 2.28 2021 Japan: 1.3 South Korea: 0.81 World: 2.25 2022 Japan: 1.26 South Korea: 0.78 World: 2.22 2023 Japan: 1.2 South Korea: 0.72 World: 2.2 2024 Japan: 1.15 South Korea: 0.75 World: 2.19 1960 1980 1990 2000 2024

Unemployment rate (modelled ILO estimate)

% · 1991-2025

Japan South Korea World

2 4 6 8 1991 Japan: 2.06 South Korea: 2.41 World: 5.12 1992 Japan: 2.16 South Korea: 2.51 World: 5.28 1993 Japan: 2.54 South Korea: 2.88 World: 5.54 1994 Japan: 2.89 South Korea: 2.48 World: 5.79 1995 Japan: 3.15 South Korea: 2.06 World: 5.92 1996 Japan: 3.38 South Korea: 2.05 World: 5.98 1997 Japan: 3.37 South Korea: 2.61 World: 6.01 1998 Japan: 4.08 South Korea: 6.96 World: 6.16 1999 Japan: 4.68 South Korea: 6.34 World: 6.28 2000 Japan: 4.75 South Korea: 4.06 World: 6.11 2001 Japan: 5.02 South Korea: 3.7 World: 6.19 2002 Japan: 5.39 South Korea: 3.05 World: 6.41 2003 Japan: 5.25 South Korea: 3.35 World: 6.48 2004 Japan: 4.73 South Korea: 3.42 World: 6.33 2005 Japan: 4.45 South Korea: 3.48 World: 6.22 2006 Japan: 4.19 South Korea: 3.25 World: 5.97 2007 Japan: 3.89 South Korea: 3.01 World: 5.77 2008 Japan: 4 South Korea: 2.96 World: 5.82 2009 Japan: 5.07 South Korea: 3.36 World: 6.41 2010 Japan: 5.1 South Korea: 3.32 World: 6.28 2011 Japan: 4.55 South Korea: 2.99 World: 6.15 2012 Japan: 4.36 South Korea: 2.81 World: 6.15 2013 Japan: 4.04 South Korea: 3.07 World: 6.1 2014 Japan: 3.59 South Korea: 3.08 World: 5.96 2015 Japan: 3.39 South Korea: 3.55 World: 6 2016 Japan: 3.13 South Korea: 3.65 World: 5.97 2017 Japan: 2.82 South Korea: 3.65 World: 5.9 2018 Japan: 2.47 South Korea: 3.82 World: 5.76 2019 Japan: 2.35 South Korea: 3.75 World: 5.59 2020 Japan: 2.81 South Korea: 3.93 World: 6.59 2021 Japan: 2.81 South Korea: 3.64 World: 6.05 2022 Japan: 2.61 South Korea: 2.86 World: 5.23 2023 Japan: 2.6 South Korea: 2.68 World: 4.85 2024 Japan: 2.5 South Korea: 2.78 World: 4.81 2025 Japan: 2.45 South Korea: 2.68 World: 4.79 1991 2001 2006 2011 2016 2025

CO₂ emissions per capita (excluding land use)

t · 1970-2024

Japan South Korea World

0 5 10 15 1970 Japan: 8.21 South Korea: 1.93 World: 4.14 1971 Japan: 8.01 South Korea: 1.92 World: 4.04 1972 Japan: 8.33 South Korea: 1.94 World: 4.16 1973 Japan: 9.26 South Korea: 2.34 World: 4.32 1974 Japan: 9.11 South Korea: 2.42 World: 4.23 1975 Japan: 8.5 South Korea: 2.58 World: 4.14 1976 Japan: 8.7 South Korea: 2.84 World: 4.31 1977 Japan: 8.83 South Korea: 3.18 World: 4.36 1978 Japan: 8.76 South Korea: 3.31 World: 4.42 1979 Japan: 8.89 South Korea: 3.7 World: 4.46 1980 Japan: 8.59 South Korea: 3.71 World: 4.33 1981 Japan: 8.34 South Korea: 3.81 World: 4.18 1982 Japan: 7.93 South Korea: 3.74 World: 4.05 1983 Japan: 7.91 South Korea: 4.02 World: 4.01 1984 Japan: 8.42 South Korea: 4.47 World: 4.07 1985 Japan: 8.14 South Korea: 4.63 World: 4.05 1986 Japan: 8.07 South Korea: 4.77 World: 4.04 1987 Japan: 8.09 South Korea: 4.87 World: 4.1 1988 Japan: 8.65 South Korea: 5.44 World: 4.16 1989 Japan: 8.86 South Korea: 5.67 World: 4.16 1990 Japan: 9.41 South Korea: 6.07 World: 4.15 1991 Japan: 9.45 South Korea: 6.75 World: 4.1 1992 Japan: 9.46 South Korea: 7.34 World: 4.01 1993 Japan: 9.37 South Korea: 7.91 World: 3.97 1994 Japan: 9.77 South Korea: 8.46 World: 3.94 1995 Japan: 9.83 South Korea: 9.03 World: 3.99 1996 Japan: 9.91 South Korea: 9.59 World: 4.01 1997 Japan: 9.77 South Korea: 9.99 World: 4.02 1998 Japan: 9.37 South Korea: 8.5 World: 3.98 1999 Japan: 9.68 South Korea: 9.24 World: 3.95 2000 Japan: 9.8 South Korea: 9.92 World: 4.01 2001 Japan: 9.67 South Korea: 10.07 World: 4.01 2002 Japan: 9.92 South Korea: 10.38 World: 4.02 2003 Japan: 9.96 South Korea: 10.5 World: 4.15 2004 Japan: 9.92 South Korea: 10.8 World: 4.28 2005 Japan: 10.01 South Korea: 10.71 World: 4.39 2006 Japan: 9.82 South Korea: 10.81 World: 4.48 2007 Japan: 10.09 South Korea: 11.11 World: 4.59 2008 Japan: 9.53 South Korea: 11.26 World: 4.56 2009 Japan: 9.04 South Korea: 11.28 World: 4.45 2010 Japan: 9.5 South Korea: 12.37 World: 4.67 2011 Japan: 9.93 South Korea: 12.97 World: 4.76 2012 Japan: 10.25 South Korea: 12.85 World: 4.77 2013 Japan: 10.38 South Korea: 12.73 World: 4.81 2014 Japan: 10.01 South Korea: 12.43 World: 4.78 2015 Japan: 9.69 South Korea: 12.62 World: 4.7 2016 Japan: 9.67 South Korea: 12.67 World: 4.65 2017 Japan: 9.55 South Korea: 12.95 World: 4.67 2018 Japan: 9.17 South Korea: 13.19 World: 4.73 2019 Japan: 8.87 South Korea: 12.65 World: 4.7 2020 Japan: 8.4 South Korea: 11.91 World: 4.47 2021 Japan: 8.59 South Korea: 12.34 World: 4.68 2022 Japan: 8.4 South Korea: 11.87 World: 4.67 2023 Japan: 8.05 South Korea: 11.42 World: 4.68 2024 Japan: 7.84 South Korea: 11.36 World: 4.69 1970 1986 1994 2002 2010 2024

Individuals using the internet

% · 2005-2024

Japan South Korea World

0 20 40 60 80 100 2005 Japan: 66.92 South Korea: 73.5 World: 15.6 2006 Japan: 68.69 South Korea: 78.1 World: 17.2 2007 Japan: 74.3 South Korea: 78.8 World: 20.2 2008 Japan: 75.4 South Korea: 81 World: 22.8 2009 Japan: 78 South Korea: 81.6 World: 25.3 2010 Japan: 78.21 South Korea: 83.7 World: 28.4 2011 Japan: 79.05 South Korea: 83.76 World: 30.9 2012 Japan: 79.5 South Korea: 84.07 World: 33.3 2013 Japan: 88.22 South Korea: 84.77 World: 35.3 2014 Japan: 89.11 South Korea: 87.56 World: 37.4 2015 Japan: 91.06 South Korea: 89.9 World: 39.9 2016 Japan: 93.18 South Korea: 92.84 World: 43.6 2017 Japan: 91.73 South Korea: 95.07 World: 46.3 2018 Japan: 88.75 South Korea: 96.02 World: 49.4 2019 Japan: 92.73 South Korea: 96.16 World: 53.9 2020 Japan: 90.22 South Korea: 96.51 World: 60.1 2021 Japan: 82.91 South Korea: 97.57 World: 63.8 2022 Japan: 84.92 South Korea: 97.17 World: 67 2023 Japan: 85.01 South Korea: 97.42 World: 69.2 2024 Japan: 85.54 South Korea: 97.9 World: 71.2 2005 2011 2014 2017 2024

Population

Indicator Japan South Korea
Population 123.4 mn 2025
12th of 215		 51.7 mn 2025
29th of 215
Population density 341.5 /km² 2023
33rd of 214		 529.8 /km² 2023
22nd of 214
Population growth -0.49 % 2025
195th of 215		 -0.13 % 2025
180th of 215
Life expectancy 84.0 years 2024
10th of 215		 83.6 years 2024
13th of 215
Fertility rate 1.15 2024
201st of 215		 0.75 2024
214th of 215
Birth rate 5.7 ‰ 2024
209th of 215		 4.7 ‰ 2024
214th of 215
Infant mortality 1.8 ‰ 2024
4th of 196		 2.3 ‰ 2024
17th of 196
Urban population 92.3 % 2025
25th of 215		 81.2 % 2025
53rd of 215
Aged 65+ 30.0 % 2025
2nd of 215		 20.3 % 2025
35th of 215
Living in cities 68.5 % 2025
17th of 215		 76.0 % 2025
11th of 215
Living in towns 22.9 % 2025
166th of 215		 14.4 % 2025
200th of 215
Living in rural areas 8.6 % 2025
194th of 215		 9.6 % 2025
191st of 215

Human development

Indicator Japan South Korea
Human Development Index 0.925 2023
23rd of 193		 0.937 2023
20th of 193
Inequality-adjusted HDI 0.845 2023
20th of 169		 0.857 2023
18th of 169
Planetary-adjusted HDI 0.785 2023
15th of 156		 0.745 2023
34th of 156
Gender Inequality Index 0.059 2023
22nd of 172		 0.038 2023
12th of 172

Economy

Indicator Japan South Korea
GDP 4.4 tn US$ 2025
4th of 186		 1.9 tn US$ 2025
13th of 186
GDP per capita 35,951 US$ 2025
33rd of 186		 36,227 US$ 2025
32nd of 186
GDP per capita (PPP) 55,422 int. $ 2025
39th of 185		 63,125 int. $ 2025
29th of 185
GNI per capita 38,340 US$ 2025
26th of 182		 37,880 US$ 2025
27th of 182
GDP growth 1.2 % 2025
153rd of 186		 1.0 % 2025
159th of 186
Inflation 3.2 % 2025
81st of 165		 2.1 % 2025
107th of 165
Trade 44.9 % 2024 86.4 % 2025
63rd of 138
Exports 22.0 % 2024 45.8 % 2025
46th of 138
FDI inflows 1.0 % 2025
159th of 192		 0.8 % 2025
151st of 192
Manufacturing 18.8 % 2024 27.4 % 2025
5th of 132
Agriculture 1.0 % 2024 1.5 % 2025
139th of 158
Military spending 1.4 % 2024
86th of 147		 2.6 % 2024
34th of 147
Tax revenue - 13.3 % 2024
67th of 89
Government debt - 47.8 % 2024
16th of 56

Labour

Indicator Japan South Korea
Unemployment 2.5 % 2025
24th of 181		 2.7 % 2025
29th of 181
Youth unemployment 3.9 % 2025
19th of 181		 6.7 % 2025
39th of 181
Women in the labour force 55.9 % 2025
75th of 181		 56.8 % 2025
65th of 181
Jobs in agriculture 2.8 % 2025
144th of 181		 5.1 % 2025
128th of 181
Weekly hours worked 31.1 h 2025
162nd of 181		 37.3 h 2025
113th of 181
Youth NEET rate 3.1 % 2025
1st of 181		 11.0 % 2025
43rd of 181
Labour income share 54.4 % 2023 58.7 % 2025
10th of 114
Output per hour 52.7 $ 2025
39th of 181		 47.9 $ 2025
46th of 181

Health

Indicator Japan South Korea
Health spending 10.7 % 2023
20th of 192		 8.7 % 2024
50th of 192
Health spending per person 3,638 US$ 2023
24th of 191		 3,137 US$ 2024
29th of 191
Physicians 2.65 /1,000 2022
58th of 125		 2.61 /1,000 2022
59th of 125
Under-5 mortality 2.4 ‰ 2024
7th of 196		 2.8 ‰ 2024
18th of 196
Maternal mortality 3 /100k 2023
11th of 194		 4 /100k 2023
18th of 194
Tobacco use 17.5 % 2024
75th of 166		 18.6 % 2024
82nd of 166
Safe drinking water 98.7 % 2024
33rd of 147		 99.3 % 2024
27th of 147

Food

Indicator Japan South Korea
Food insecurity 6.1 % 2024
17th of 134		 5.8 % 2024
16th of 134
Severe food insecurity 1.4 % 2024
17th of 124		 1.3 % 2024
15th of 124
Calories per person - 3,430 kcal 2023
29th of 155
Protein supply - 109.4 g 2022
41st of 174
Animal protein supply - 62.1 g 2022
46th of 174
Fat supply - 126.3 g 2022
44th of 174
Cereal import dependency - 78.5 % 2022
46th of 160

Education

Indicator Japan South Korea
Secondary enrolment 101.5 % 2023 96.3 % 2024
47th of 108
Tertiary enrolment 64.5 % 2023
49th of 128		 111.9 % 2024
6th of 128
Education spending 3.3 % 2021 5.4 % 2022
Expected schooling 15.5 yrs 2023
55th of 195		 16.6 yrs 2023
34th of 195
Mean schooling 12.7 yrs 2023
28th of 193		 12.7 yrs 2023
25th of 193

Society

Indicator Japan South Korea
Income inequality 32.3 2020
33rd of 93		 32.9 2021
38th of 93
Extreme poverty 1.2 % 2020
46th of 93		 0.1 % 2021
20th of 93
Internet use 85.5 % 2024
77th of 182		 97.9 % 2024
13th of 182
Mobile subscriptions 178.4 /100 2023 172.5 /100 2024
14th of 151
Electricity access 100.0 % 2024
54th of 213		 100.0 % 2024
58th of 213
Women in parliament 15.7 % 2025
141st of 184		 20.3 % 2025
119th of 184

Refugees

Indicator Japan South Korea
Refugees hosted 42,450 2025
66th of 177		 4,407 2025
107th of 177
Refugees hosted per 1,000 0.3 ‰ 2025
111th of 177		 0.1 ‰ 2025
133rd of 177
Asylum-seekers hosted 22,647 2025
39th of 177		 39,106 2025
27th of 177
Refugees from the country 56 2025
163rd of 199		 117 2025
148th of 199
Refugees from per 1,000 0.0 ‰ 2025
191st of 199		 0.0 ‰ 2025
187th of 199

Governance

Indicator Japan South Korea
Control of corruption 75.3 /100 2024
24th of 207		 65.1 /100 2024
44th of 207
Government effectiveness 91.9 /100 2024
2nd of 205		 80.2 /100 2024
20th of 205
Rule of law 83.0 /100 2024
15th of 207		 76.2 /100 2024
30th of 207
Regulatory quality 75.8 /100 2024
23rd of 205		 70.8 /100 2024
35th of 205
Voice and accountability 76.4 /100 2024
30th of 205		 71.0 /100 2024
51st of 205
Political stability 85.3 /100 2024
26th of 207		 76.8 /100 2024
61st of 207

Environment

Indicator Japan South Korea
CO₂ per capita 7.84 t 2024
176th of 202		 11.36 t 2024
187th of 202
Fossil CO₂ emissions 961.9 Mt 2024
5th of 204		 583.7 Mt 2024
9th of 204
Share of global CO₂ 2.49 % 2024
5th of 204		 1.51 % 2024
9th of 204
Cumulative CO₂ 69.6 Gt 2024
6th of 204		 20.7 Gt 2024
16th of 204
GHG per capita 8.58 t 2024
161st of 202		 12.91 t 2024
182nd of 202
Renewable energy 8.8 % 2021
153rd of 211		 3.6 % 2021
171st of 211
Forest area 68.4 % 2023
19th of 212		 64.1 % 2023
21st of 212
PM2.5 exposure 11.5 µg/m³ 2023
57th of 200		 21.9 µg/m³ 2023
128th of 200
Water stress 36.6 % 2022
132nd of 176		 85.2 % 2022
157th of 176
Land area 364,569 km² 2023
62nd of 214		 97,600 km² 2023
106th of 214

Energy

Indicator Japan South Korea
Renewable electricity 23.6 % 2025
113th of 190		 10.4 % 2025
147th of 190
Wind and solar 11.1 % 2025
70th of 190		 6.6 % 2025
95th of 190
Nuclear power 9.1 % 2025
22nd of 180		 29.6 % 2025
11th of 180
Low-carbon electricity 32.7 % 2025
105th of 190		 40.0 % 2025
88th of 190
Fossil electricity 67.3 % 2025
105th of 190		 60.0 % 2025
88th of 190
Coal power 32.1 % 2025
161st of 188		 31.1 % 2025
160th of 188
Carbon intensity of power 477 g/kWh 2025
100th of 190		 417 g/kWh 2025
86th of 190
Electricity per capita 8.37 MWh 2025
27th of 191		 12.09 MWh 2025
13th of 191

Sources: World Bank (World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators), ILO modelled estimates, FAO (FAOSTAT), UNDP (Human Development Report), UNHCR Refugee Population Statistics Database, Ember (electricity), the Global Carbon Project (CO₂) and the UN World Population Prospects and World Urbanization Prospects, under CC BY 4.0 and CC BY 3.0 IGO. Ranks are computed by StatsNode in the latest year for which at least half of the countries have a value. Sources and licences.