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India vs Japan
Side-by-side comparison of India and Japan from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and India scores 56.6 (64th), a gap of 22.7 points. Their trees are 80 m and 57 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
India has 12 times the population of Japan. India is 8.7 times larger than Japan by land area. India has an economy 2.5 times the size of Japan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: India 1.5 billion and Japan 123.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $55,422 in Japan and $11,748 in India (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 11.8 years longer (84.0 vs 72.2 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, India ranks higher in the world on 6 and Japan on 30. India is clearly stronger in natural resources, military and tourism. Japan is clearly stronger in society & health, institutions & safety and infrastructure & digital.
As a nation, India is the older of the two (statehood since 322 BC, 2,347 years), compared with Japan (since 250). Over the last five years India improved faster (direction score 97 vs 40 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between India and Japan.
Indiabetter
7.6%
15th of 210
Japan
1.2%
167th of 210
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
India
55.0
162nd of 207
Japanbetter
87.7
19th of 207
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
India
54.1
190th of 200
Japanbetter
11.5
57th of 200
Hospital bedsSociety & health
India
1.6
98th of 145
Japanbetter
12.6
2nd of 145
Under-5 mortalitySociety & health
India
26.6
134th of 196
Japanbetter
2.4
6th of 196
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
India overtook Japan in GDP (PPP) in 2009 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of India in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Japan has been ahead of India in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
India 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
IndiaJapan 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 | India | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 3,287,2637th/216 · 2024 | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 2,973,1907th/216 · 2024 | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.5 bn1st/217 · 2025 | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.89%109th/217 · 2025 | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 488.025th/216 · 2024 | 340.136th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 35.7%182nd/217 · 2025 | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 24.2%101st/217 · 2025 | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 7.4%121st/217 · 2025 | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.96 trn6th/210 · 2025 | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $17.20 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $14.70 trn3rd/199 · 2025 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $2,702166th/210 · 2025 | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $11,748136th/199 · 2025 | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,760156th/201 · 2025 | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 7.6%15th/210 · 2025 | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.4%75th/180 · 2025 | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.2%71st/187 · 2025 | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 46.5%2018 | — |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 84.3%153rd/189 · 2025 | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -7.4%175th/192 · 2025 | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.2%49th/197 · 2025 | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%83rd/200 · 2025 | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 13.5%57th/192 · 2025 | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 49.3%148th/200 · 2025 | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $880.74 bn10th/182 · 2025 | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $949.66 bn7th/182 · 2025 | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.3%133rd/183 · 2025 | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 24.0%155th/183 · 2025 | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 46.3%151st/183 · 2025 | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 13.1%42nd/170 · 2025 | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 70.1%41st/171 · 2025 | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 11.9%106th/171 · 2025 | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.8%75th/171 · 2025 | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.6%35th/168 · 2024 | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -0.7%87th/191 · 2025 | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%142nd/196 · 2025 | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 3.2%85th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.33%60th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.08%62nd/197 · 2021 | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 1.28%5th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 1.32%41st/209 · 2021 | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.16%102nd/209 · 2021 | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 51.7%6th/206 · 2024 | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,014127th/183 · 2022 | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 17.9 m14th/194 · 2019 | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $13.41 bn13th/175 · 2020 | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.8%112th/168 · 2020 | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 26.9 m7th/107 · 2019 | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 72.2137th/217 · 2024 | 84.010th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 26.6134th/196 · 2024 | 2.46th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.72115th/174 · 2020 | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.698th/145 · 2021 | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 94%66th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 52.7%111th/153 · 2023 | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.6%128th/173 · 2025 | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 77.2%2011 | — |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.8%125th/217 · 2025 | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.3%171st/193 · 2023 | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 78.2%69th/98 · 2024 | — |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 34.4%103rd/150 · 2025 | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.685130th/193 · 2023 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 23.01st/108 · 2023 | 32.32020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.6%68th/108 · 2023 | 1.2%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.9%123rd/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 76.4%79th/150 · 2024 | 98.7%34th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 62.8%69th/144 · 2024 | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 70.0%124th/186 · 2025 | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 79167th/210 · 2024 | 17812th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 3.2147th/208 · 2024 | 38.630th/208 · 2023 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.2046th/164 · 2022 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 68,1034th/82 · 2021 | 20,0872011 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 180.4 m4th/161 · 2023 | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.1793rd/203 · 2024 | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 34.9%69th/212 · 2021 | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 54.1190th/200 · 2023 | 11.557th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 24.4%121st/214 · 2024 | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 777107th/149 · 2024 | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 62.664th/205 · 2025 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 42.4112th/207 · 2025 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 56.5106th/207 · 2025 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 55.0162nd/207 · 2025 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.6109th/205 · 2025 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 54.9110th/205 · 2025 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.883rd/145 · 2022 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $92.06 bn5th/156 · 2025 | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%47th/156 · 2025 | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 8.2%38th/154 · 2025 | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 3.1 m1st/170 · 2020 | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.58%103rd/168 · 2020 | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.9 bn2nd/163 · 2025 | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 81.0 m28th/65 · 2025 | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.65%56th/110 · 2020 | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 63,2175th/137 · 2024 | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 228,1743rd/197 · 2023 | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, India or Japan?
India has the larger population: 1.5 bn (2025) compared with 123.4 m for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, India or Japan?
India is larger: 3,287,263 km² (2024) compared with 377,975 km² for Japan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, India or Japan?
India has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $17.20 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, India or Japan?
Japan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $55,422 intl. (2025) compared with $11,748 intl. for India (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in India or Japan?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 72.2 years for India (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, India or Japan?
India spends more on the military: $92.06 bn (2025) compared with $62.16 bn for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, India or Japan?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); India: 56.6 points (64th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
Nepal
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). India vs Japan — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/india-vs-japan. Data as of 26 October 2026.