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Japan vs United Kingdom
Side-by-side comparison of Japan and United Kingdom from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
United Kingdom
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,099 years
In short
Japan scores 79.3 in the NationsTree Index (6th in the world) and United Kingdom scores 74.6 (22nd), a gap of 4.8 points. Their trees are 57 m and 44 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Japan has 78% more people than United Kingdom. Japan has 55% more land area than United Kingdom. The economy of Japan is 52% larger than that of United Kingdom (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Japan 123.4 million and United Kingdom 69.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $64,606 in United Kingdom and $55,422 in Japan (2025, international dollars). People in Japan live on average 2.6 years longer (84.0 vs 81.4 years).
Of 35 indicators reported by both countries, Japan ranks higher in the world on 15 and United Kingdom on 20. Japan is clearly stronger in main industries, economy and institutions & safety. United Kingdom is clearly stronger in tourism and military.
As a nation, Japan is the older of the two (statehood since 250, 1,776 years), compared with United Kingdom (since 927). Over the last five years Japan improved faster (direction score 40 vs 15 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Japan and United Kingdom.
Japanbetter
-0.7%
52nd of 192
United Kingdom
-5.3%
154th of 192
Hospital bedsSociety & health
Japanbetter
12.6
2nd of 145
United Kingdom
2.4
75th of 145
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Japanbetter
99%
1st of 193
United Kingdom
92%
86th of 193
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Japanbetter
87.7
19th of 207
United Kingdom
70.7
92nd of 207
UnemploymentEconomy
Japanbetter
2.5%
24th of 187
United Kingdom
4.7%
80th of 187
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Japan overtook United Kingdom in the NationsTree Index in 2021 and has stayed ahead since.
United Kingdom overtook Japan in GDP per person (PPP) in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Japan has been ahead of United Kingdom 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
JapanUnited Kingdom 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 | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 377,97563rd/216 · 2024 | 243,61079th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 364,50062nd/216 · 2024 | 241,93079th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 123.4 m12th/217 · 2025 | 69.5 m22nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.49%197th/217 · 2025 | 0.30%154th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 340.136th/216 · 2024 | 286.444th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 92.3%26th/217 · 2025 | 83.3%50th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 11.2%215th/217 · 2025 | 17.0%155th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 30.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 19.7%39th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $4.44 trn4th/210 · 2025 | $4.00 trn5th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.84 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $4.49 trn9th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.96 trn5th/199 · 2025 | $3.75 trn10th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $35,95148th/210 · 2025 | $57,60227th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $55,42245th/199 · 2025 | $64,60632nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $38,34035th/201 · 2025 | $54,55025th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.2%167th/210 · 2025 | 1.4%162nd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.2%90th/180 · 2025 | 3.9%118th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.5%24th/187 · 2025 | 4.7%80th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 130.7%54th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 204.8%189th/189 · 2025 | 102.1%171st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.7%52nd/192 · 2025 | -5.3%154th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.0%171st/197 · 2024 | 0.6%179th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 26.8%71st/200 · 2024 | 16.5%152nd/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.8%27th/192 · 2024 | 7.7%128th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 71.4%30th/200 · 2024 | 73.1%21st/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $920.96 bn9th/182 · 2024 | $1.22 trn4th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $958.38 bn6th/182 · 2024 | $1.28 trn4th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 22.0%138th/183 · 2024 | 30.6%111th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.9%157th/183 · 2024 | 31.9%126th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 44.9%154th/183 · 2024 | 62.5%124th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.2%115th/170 · 2025 | 7.2%63rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 80.6%18th/171 · 2025 | 59.7%55th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 1.3%161st/171 · 2025 | 6.7%131st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 3.6%79th/171 · 2025 | 5.7%59th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 17.6%42nd/168 · 2024 | 29.2%17th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.9%37th/191 · 2025 | -3.0%116th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.0%141st/196 · 2025 | 0.9%147th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%163rd/209 · 2021 | 0.6%127th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%110th/197 · 2021 | 0.42%56th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.01%83rd/197 · 2021 | 0.17%55th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%63rd/195 · 2021 | 0.00%60th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.01%85th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%90th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%138th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.0%96th/206 · 2024 | 25.3%39th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 3,43777th/183 · 2022 | 2,144103rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 4.1 m43rd/194 · 2020 | 11.1 m22nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $11.40 bn16th/175 · 2020 | $31.66 bn1998 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.4%142nd/168 · 2020 | 8.2%1998 |
| Outbound trips departures | 3.2 m37th/107 · 2020 | 23.8 m8th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 84.010th/217 · 2024 | 81.442nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.46th/196 · 2024 | 4.736th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 2.6569th/174 · 2022 | 3.3053rd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 12.62nd/145 · 2022 | 2.475th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 99%1st/193 · 2024 | 92%86th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 98.6%14th/153 · 2020 | 99.8%3rd/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 101.5%55th/173 · 2023 | 112.1%23rd/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 51.0%2nd/217 · 2025 | 31.1%38th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.7%20th/193 · 2023 | 11.1%16th/193 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 64.5%56th/150 · 2023 | 80.4%26th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.92523rd/193 · 2023 | 0.94613th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 32.32020 | 32.437th/108 · 2021 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 1.2%2020 | 0.4%27th/108 · 2021 |
| 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 | 99.8%17th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 99.2%9th/144 · 2024 | 97.8%13th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 85.5%80th/186 · 2024 | 95.5%26th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 17812th/210 · 2023 | 12284th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 38.630th/208 · 2023 | 42.222nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.205th/164 · 2022 | 3.7024th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 20,0872011 | 16,17913th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 120.3 m6th/161 · 2023 | 118.9 m7th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.84176th/203 · 2024 | 4.22139th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 8.8%153rd/212 · 2021 | 12.2%131st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 11.557th/200 · 2023 | 9.543rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 68.3%20th/214 · 2024 | 13.5%149th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3,00434th/149 · 2024 | 2,09555th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 94.12nd/205 · 2025 | 77.628th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.422nd/207 · 2025 | 78.918th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 84.017th/207 · 2025 | 79.526th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 87.719th/207 · 2025 | 70.792nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.520th/205 · 2025 | 80.614th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 78.031st/205 · 2025 | 81.319th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.25th/145 · 2023 | 1.147th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $62.16 bn10th/156 · 2025 | $88.98 bn6th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%92nd/156 · 2025 | 2.4%45th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 3.8%113th/154 · 2025 | 5.4%73rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 261,00027th/170 · 2020 | 153,00041st/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.38%132nd/168 · 2020 | 0.45%121st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn5th/163 · 2025 | 609.0 m16th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 28.0 m40th/65 · 2025 | 702.0 m9th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.44%6th/110 · 2023 | 2.68%13th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 237,1693rd/137 · 2024 | 11,1059th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 96,5436th/197 · 2023 | 97,5365th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Japan or United Kingdom?
Japan has the larger population: 123.4 m (2025) compared with 69.5 m for United Kingdom (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Japan or United Kingdom?
Japan is larger: 377,975 km² (2024) compared with 243,610 km² for United Kingdom (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Japan or United Kingdom?
Japan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.84 trn intl. (2025) compared with $4.49 trn intl. for United Kingdom (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Japan or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $64,606 intl. (2025) compared with $55,422 intl. for Japan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Japan or United Kingdom?
Japan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 81.4 years for United Kingdom (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Japan or United Kingdom?
United Kingdom spends more on the military: $88.98 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 United Kingdom?
Japan: 79.3 points (6th in the world); United Kingdom: 74.6 points (22nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
Italy
Mexico
South Africa
IrelandSources
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 United Kingdom — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/japan-vs-united-kingdom. Data as of 26 October 2026.