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China vs Japan
Side-by-side comparison of China and Japan from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
China
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 3,625 years
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and China scores 69.8 (36th), a gap of 9.5 points. Their trees are 132 m and 57 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
China has 11 times the population of Japan. China is 25 times larger than Japan by land area. China has an economy 6.0 times the size of Japan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: China 1.4 billion and Japan 123.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $55,422 in Japan and $29,333 in China (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 6.0 years longer (84.0 vs 78.0 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, China ranks higher in the world on 9 and Japan on 24. China is clearly stronger in tourism, natural resources and military. Japan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, society & health and environment & energy.
As a nation, China is the older of the two (statehood since 1600 BC, 3,625 years), compared with Japan (since 250). Over the last five years China improved faster (direction score 42 vs 40 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between China and Japan.
China
26.1
191st of 205
Japanbetter
78.0
31st of 205
Government budget balanceEconomy
China
-7.9%
179th of 192
Japanbetter
-0.7%
52nd of 192
GDP growthEconomy
Chinabetter
5.0%
53rd of 210
Japan
1.2%
167th of 210
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
China
51.6
127th of 207
Japanbetter
84.0
17th of 207
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
China
32.0
158th of 200
Japanbetter
11.5
57th of 200
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
China overtook Japan in GDP (PPP) in 1999 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of China in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Japan has been ahead of China in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
China has been ahead of Japan in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ChinaJapan All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | China | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 9,562,9104th/216 · 2024 | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 9,388,2102nd/216 · 2024 | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.4 bn2nd/217 · 2025 | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.17%188th/217 · 2025 | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 150.176th/216 · 2024 | 340.136th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 66.3%101st/217 · 2025 | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.4%174th/217 · 2025 | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 14.9%68th/217 · 2025 | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $19.50 trn2nd/210 · 2025 | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $41.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $35.26 trn1st/199 · 2025 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $13,86293rd/210 · 2025 | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $29,33381st/199 · 2025 | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $14,23078th/201 · 2025 | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.0%53rd/210 · 2025 | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.1%14th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.6%76th/187 · 2025 | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 98.6%166th/189 · 2025 | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.9%179th/192 · 2025 | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 6.7%95th/197 · 2025 | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 35.6%29th/200 · 2025 | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 24.7%9th/192 · 2025 | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 57.7%100th/200 · 2025 | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $4.11 trn1st/182 · 2025 | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $3.29 trn2nd/182 · 2025 | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 21.1%144th/183 · 2025 | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 16.9%173rd/183 · 2025 | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 38.0%165th/183 · 2025 | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.4%111th/170 · 2025 | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 90.5%4th/171 · 2025 | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 2.3%150th/171 · 2025 | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.6%115th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 26.3%20th/168 · 2024 | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 3.7%44th/191 · 2025 | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.4%163rd/196 · 2025 | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.7%103rd/209 · 2021 | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.31%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.21%52nd/197 · 2021 | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.61%12th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.51%55th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.07%122nd/209 · 2021 | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.6%88th/206 · 2024 | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,992106th/183 · 2022 | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 30.4 m11th/194 · 2020 | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $27.76 bn2004 | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.6%2004 | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 20.3 m12th/107 · 2020 | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 78.070th/217 · 2024 | 84.010th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 5.747th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.1156th/174 · 2022 | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 5.619th/145 · 2023 | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 72.4%80th/153 · 2020 | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 92.3%2012 | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 63.1%2013 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 21.4%69th/217 · 2025 | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 5.9%106th/193 · 2023 | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 96.7%27th/98 · 2020 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.9%36th/150 · 2024 | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.79778th/193 · 2023 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 36.065th/108 · 2022 | 32.32020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 | 1.2%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 98.7%34th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 68.9%66th/144 · 2024 | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 91.6%47th/186 · 2025 | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 13254th/210 · 2024 | 17812th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 47.29th/208 · 2024 | 38.630th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.0014th/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 109,7672nd/82 · 2021 | 20,0872011 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 619.2 m2nd/161 · 2023 | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 9.32182nd/203 · 2024 | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 15.2%122nd/212 · 2021 | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 32.0158th/200 · 2023 | 11.557th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.0%122nd/214 · 2024 | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,94737th/149 · 2024 | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 65.159th/205 · 2025 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 49.589th/207 · 2025 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 51.6127th/207 · 2025 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 66.0115th/207 · 2025 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.6104th/205 · 2025 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 26.1191st/205 · 2025 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.511th/145 · 2020 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $335.52 bn2nd/156 · 2025 | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.7%78th/156 · 2025 | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.1%79th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 2.5 m2nd/170 · 2020 | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.33%142nd/168 · 2020 | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 207.0 m37th/163 · 2025 | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 880.0 m8th/65 · 2025 | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 2.58%15th/110 · 2023 | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1.7 m1st/137 · 2024 | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 932,7121st/197 · 2023 | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, China or Japan?
China has the larger population: 1.4 bn (2025) compared with 123.4 m for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, China or Japan?
China is larger: 9,562,910 km² (2024) compared with 377,975 km² for Japan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, China or Japan?
China has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $41.26 trn intl. (2025) compared with $6.84 trn intl. for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, China or Japan?
Japan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $55,422 intl. (2025) compared with $29,333 intl. for China (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in China or Japan?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 78.0 years for China (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, China or Japan?
China spends more on the military: $335.52 bn (2025) compared with $62.16 bn for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, China or Japan?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); China: 69.8 points (36th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
South AfricaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). China vs Japan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/china-vs-japan. Data as of 26 October 2026.