Germany vs Japan
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Germany and Japan: the larger economy is Germany ($4.69T vs $4.03T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Germany ($56,104 vs $32,487). Life expectancy is higher in Japan (80.8 vs 84.0 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Germany vs Japan: side by side
| Indicator | Germany | Japan | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $4.69T | $4.03T | Germany |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $56,104 | $32,487 | Germany |
| Population, total | 83,516,593 | 123,975,371 | Japan |
| Population growth (annual %) | 0.3% | -0.4% | Germany |
| GDP growth (annual %) | -0.5% | 0.1% | Japan |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.3% | 2.7% | Germany |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 3.7% | 2.5% | Japan |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 80.8 | 84.0 | Japan |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 93.5% | 85.5% | Germany |
| Urban population (% of total) | 82.0% | 92.2% | Japan |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 6.94 | 7.84 | Germany |
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): Germany
- GDP per capita (income): Germany
- Life expectancy: Japan
- Internet users: Germany
- Lower inflation: Germany
- Lower unemployment: Japan
Frequently asked questions
Is Germany or Japan richer?
Germany is richer on GDP per capita — Germany at $56,104 versus $32,487 for Japan (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Germany ($4.69T vs $4.03T).
Which has a bigger economy, Germany or Japan?
Germany has the larger economy: Germany's GDP is $4.69T and Japan's is $4.03T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Germany or Japan?
Japan is more populous: Germany has about 83.5 million people and Japan about 124.0 million.
Where do people live longer, Germany or Japan?
Life expectancy is higher in Japan: 80.8 years in Germany versus 84.0 in Japan (World Bank).
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Last updated: 2026-06-20