Korea, Rep. vs Japan
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing Korea, Rep. and Japan: the larger economy is Japan ($1.88T vs $4.03T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to Korea, Rep. ($36,239 vs $32,487). Life expectancy is higher in Japan (83.6 vs 84.0 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
Korea, Rep. vs Japan: side by side
| Indicator | Korea, Rep. | Japan | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $1.88T | $4.03T | Japan |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $36,239 | $32,487 | Korea, Rep. |
| Population, total | 51,751,065 | 123,975,371 | Japan |
| Population growth (annual %) | 0.1% | -0.4% | Korea, Rep. |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.0% | 0.1% | Korea, Rep. |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.3% | 2.7% | Korea, Rep. |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 2.7% | 2.5% | Japan |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 83.6 | 84.0 | Japan |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 97.9% | 85.5% | Korea, Rep. |
| Urban population (% of total) | 81.2% | 92.2% | Japan |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 11.36 | 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): Japan
- GDP per capita (income): Korea, Rep.
- Life expectancy: Japan
- Internet users: Korea, Rep.
- Lower inflation: Korea, Rep.
- Lower unemployment: Japan
Frequently asked questions
Is Korea, Rep. or Japan richer?
Korea, Rep. is richer on GDP per capita — Korea, Rep. at $36,239 versus $32,487 for Japan (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is Japan ($1.88T vs $4.03T).
Which has a bigger economy, Korea, Rep. or Japan?
Japan has the larger economy: Korea, Rep.'s GDP is $1.88T and Japan's is $4.03T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, Korea, Rep. or Japan?
Japan is more populous: Korea, Rep. has about 51.8 million people and Japan about 124.0 million.
Where do people live longer, Korea, Rep. or Japan?
Life expectancy is higher in Japan: 83.6 years in Korea, Rep. versus 84.0 in Japan (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20