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Japan vs Russia
Side-by-side comparison of Japan and Russia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Russia
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,144 years
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and Russia scores 63.8 (51st), a gap of 15.5 points. Their trees are 57 m and 54 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Russia has 16% more people than Japan. Russia is 45 times larger than Japan by land area. Japan and Russia have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Japan 123.4 million and Russia 143.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $55,422 in Japan and $49,568 in Russia (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 10.6 years longer (84.0 vs 73.4 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Japan ranks higher in the world on 30 and Russia on 5. Japan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, science & innovation and society & health. Russia is clearly stronger in military and natural resources.
As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with Russia (since 882). Over the last five years Russia improved faster (direction score 45 vs 40 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Japan and Russia.
Japan
204.8%
189th of 189
Russiabetter
16.6%
15th of 189
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Japanbetter
84.0
17th of 207
Russia
37.7
186th of 207
Regulatory qualityInstitutions & safety
Japanbetter
76.5
20th of 205
Russia
34.9
182nd of 205
Life expectancySociety & health
Japanbetter
84.0
10th of 217
Russia
73.4
122nd of 217
Safely managed sanitationInfrastructure & digital
Japanbetter
99.2%
9th of 144
Russia
58.2%
76th of 144
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Russia overtook Japan in GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of Russia in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Japan has been ahead of Russia in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Russia 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
JapanRussia 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 | Japan | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 | 17,125,1901st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 | 16,376,8701st/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 | 143.5 m9th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 | -0.11%178th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 340.136th/216 · 2024 | 8.8203rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 | 75.3%73rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 | 17.0%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 17.8%50th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 | $2.56 trn8th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $7.24 trn4th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $6.18 trn4th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 | $17,54784th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 | $49,56855th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 | $15,96076th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 | 1.0%175th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 | 8.7%155th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 | 2.1%18th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 17.9%4th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 | 16.6%15th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 | -3.9%129th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 | 3.1%127th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 | 29.7%55th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 | 13.7%54th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 | 58.9%94th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 | $466.24 bn22nd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 | $397.18 bn25th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 | 18.2%151st/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 | 15.5%176th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 | 33.7%173rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 | 43.1%25th/170 · 2021 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 | 22.1%102nd/171 · 2021 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 | 6.6%133rd/171 · 2021 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 | 7.4%50th/171 · 2021 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 | 9.7%67th/168 · 2021 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 | 1.5%63rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 | 0.4%161st/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 | 18.5%25th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 | 9.67%20th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 | 5.86%11th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 | 0.61%11th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 | 2.05%35th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 | 0.31%79th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 | 7.4%117th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 | 29,89520th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 | 6.4 m31st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 | $4.96 bn30th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 | 1.3%145th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 | 12.4 m16th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 84.010th/217 · 2024 | 73.4122nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.46th/196 · 2024 | 5.241st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 | 5.118th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 | 6.88th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 | 98.6%15th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 | 92.5%89th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 77.5%2017 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 27.3%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 | 7.0%85th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.9%3rd/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 | 60.4%59th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 | 0.83264th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 32.32020 | 33.042nd/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.2%2020 | 0.1%10th/108 · 2023 |
| 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 | 76.3%80th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 | 58.2%76th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 | 94.4%31st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17812th/210 · 2023 | 1869th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 38.630th/208 · 2023 | 27.170th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 20,0872011 | 85,5443rd/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 | 98.9 m8th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 | 13.98190th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 | 3.5%172nd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 11.557th/200 · 2023 | 11.659th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 | 50.8%56th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 | 5,72711th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 | 42.1143rd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 | 28.2167th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 | 37.7186th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 | 49.0179th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 | 34.9182nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 | 31.3178th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 | 6.8107th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 | $190.42 bn3rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 | 7.5%4th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 | 19.8%9th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 | 1.5 m4th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 | 1.98%29th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 | 129.0 m44th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn5th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 | 0.94%44th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 | 21,5027th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 | 85,5587th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Japan or Russia?
Russia has the larger population: 143.5 m (2025) compared with 123.4 m for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Japan or Russia?
Russia is larger: 17,125,190 km² (2024) compared with 377,975 km² for Japan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Japan or Russia?
Russia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $7.24 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, Japan or Russia?
Japan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $55,422 intl. (2025) compared with $49,568 intl. for Russia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Japan or Russia?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 73.4 years for Russia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Japan or Russia?
Russia spends more on the military: $190.42 bn (2025) compared with $62.16 bn for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Japan or Russia?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); Russia: 63.8 points (51st). 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). Japan vs Russia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/japan-vs-russia. Data as of 26 October 2026.