China vs Japan
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing China and Japan: the larger economy is China ($18.74T vs $4.03T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Japan ($13,303 vs $32,487). Life expectancy is higher in Japan (78.0 vs 84.0 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
China vs Japan: side by side
| Indicator | China | Japan | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $18.74T | $4.03T | China |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $13,303 | $32,487 | Japan |
| Population, total | 1,408,975,000 | 123,975,371 | China |
| Population growth (annual %) | -0.1% | -0.4% | China |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 5.0% | 0.1% | China |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 0.2% | 2.7% | China |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 4.6% | 2.5% | Japan |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 78.0 | 84.0 | Japan |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 91.6% | 85.5% | China |
| Urban population (% of total) | 65.9% | 92.2% | Japan |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 9.32 | 7.84 | Japan |
Source: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0), retrieved June 2026. Values are each indicator's latest available year, which can differ between the two countries.
Who leads on what
- GDP (size of economy): China
- GDP per capita (income): Japan
- Life expectancy: Japan
- Internet users: China
- Lower inflation: China
- Lower unemployment: Japan
Frequently asked questions
Is China or Japan richer?
Japan is richer on GDP per capita — China at $13,303 versus $32,487 for Japan (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is China ($18.74T vs $4.03T).
Which has a bigger economy, China or Japan?
China has the larger economy: China's GDP is $18.74T and Japan's is $4.03T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, China or Japan?
China is more populous: China has about 1.41 billion people and Japan about 124.0 million.
Where do people live longer, China or Japan?
Life expectancy is higher in Japan: 78.0 years in China versus 84.0 in Japan (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20