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Austria vs Czechia
Germany vs Japan
Side-by-side comparison of Germany and Japan from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Germany
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,183 years
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and Germany scores 76.6 (14th), a gap of 2.7 points. Their trees are 53 m and 57 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Japan has 48% more people than Germany. Germany and Japan have a similar land area. Germany and Japan have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Germany 83.5 million and Japan 123.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $75,407 in Germany and $55,422 in Japan (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 3.2 years longer (84.0 vs 80.8 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Germany ranks higher in the world on 19 and Japan on 16. Germany is clearly stronger in tourism, military and trade. Japan is clearly stronger in society & health.
As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with Germany (since 843). Over the last five years Japan improved faster (direction score 40 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Germany and Japan.
Germany
89%
110th of 193
Japanbetter
99%
1st of 193
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Germany
69.3
97th of 207
Japanbetter
87.7
19th of 207
General government gross debtEconomy
Germanybetter
62.7%
120th of 189
Japan
204.8%
189th of 189
PhysiciansSociety & health
Germanybetter
4.53
15th of 174
Japan
2.65
69th of 174
Government budget balanceEconomy
Germany
-2.9%
102nd of 192
Japanbetter
-0.7%
52nd of 192
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Japan overtook Germany in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Germany overtook Japan in GDP per person (PPP) in 2006 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of Germany in GDP (PPP), life expectancy and 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
GermanyJapan 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 | Germany | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 357,68064th/216 · 2024 | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 349,43064th/216 · 2024 | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 83.5 m19th/217 · 2025 | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.03%170th/217 · 2025 | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 239.058th/216 · 2024 | 340.136th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.1%52nd/217 · 2025 | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 13.9%199th/217 · 2025 | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 23.7%8th/217 · 2025 | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $5.05 trn3rd/210 · 2025 | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.30 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.25 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $60,49623rd/210 · 2025 | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $75,40723rd/199 · 2025 | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $60,20020th/201 · 2025 | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.2%192nd/210 · 2025 | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.2%64th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.7%63rd/187 · 2025 | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 20.9%1990 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 62.7%120th/189 · 2025 | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.9%102nd/192 · 2025 | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 0.9%173rd/197 · 2025 | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%84th/200 · 2025 | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 17.6%31st/192 · 2025 | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.5%58th/200 · 2025 | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.04 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.92 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 40.4%80th/183 · 2025 | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 38.1%108th/183 · 2025 | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 78.5%100th/183 · 2025 | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%101st/170 · 2025 | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 83.3%14th/171 · 2025 | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.6%132nd/171 · 2025 | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.9%88th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.0%38th/168 · 2024 | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.5%42nd/191 · 2025 | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.9%106th/196 · 2025 | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%161st/209 · 2021 | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%101st/197 · 2021 | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.02%76th/197 · 2021 | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%48th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%136th/209 · 2021 | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 33.4%22nd/206 · 2024 | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,286118th/183 · 2022 | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 12.4 m20th/194 · 2020 | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $58.37 bn2nd/175 · 2019 | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.5%98th/168 · 2019 | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 99.5 m1st/107 · 2019 | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 80.848th/217 · 2024 | 84.010th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.726th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.5315th/174 · 2022 | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 7.66th/145 · 2023 | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 89%110th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 94.8%29th/153 · 2023 | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 100.2%62nd/173 · 2024 | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 38.0%9th/217 · 2025 | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 12.3%9th/193 · 2024 | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.7%37th/150 · 2024 | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.750th/108 · 2022 | 32.32020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.7%40th/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 | 99.9%14th/150 · 2024 | 98.7%34th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 96.8%18th/144 · 2024 | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 93.5%38th/186 · 2024 | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12961st/210 · 2024 | 17812th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 45.612th/208 · 2024 | 38.630th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 33,4016th/82 · 2021 | 20,0872011 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 80.2 m14th/161 · 2023 | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.94169th/203 · 2024 | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 17.6%115th/212 · 2021 | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.838th/200 · 2023 | 11.557th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 32.8%107th/214 · 2024 | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,87439th/149 · 2024 | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 82.821st/205 · 2025 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 81.913th/207 · 2025 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 85.113th/207 · 2025 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 69.397th/207 · 2025 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.421st/205 · 2025 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 86.09th/205 · 2025 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.938th/145 · 2023 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $113.59 bn4th/156 · 2025 | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%50th/156 · 2025 | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.5%91st/154 · 2025 | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 183,00035th/170 · 2020 | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.42%123rd/168 · 2020 | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.6 bn6th/163 · 2025 | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn7th/65 · 2025 | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.15%10th/110 · 2023 | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 40,0856th/137 · 2024 | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 108,7824th/197 · 2023 | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Germany or Japan?
Japan has the larger population: 123.4 m (2025) compared with 83.5 m for Germany (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Germany or Japan?
Japan is larger: 377,975 km² (2024) compared with 357,680 km² for Germany (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Germany or Japan?
Japan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.84 trn intl. (2025) compared with $6.30 trn intl. for Germany (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Germany or Japan?
Germany has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $75,407 intl. (2025) compared with $55,422 intl. for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Germany or Japan?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 80.8 years for Germany (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Germany or Japan?
Germany spends more on the military: $113.59 bn (2025) compared with $62.16 bn for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Germany or Japan?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); Germany: 76.6 points (14th). 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). Germany vs Japan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/germany-vs-japan. Data as of 26 October 2026.