United States vs Japan
Head-to-head on World Bank economic and development indicators.
Comparing United States and Japan: the larger economy is United States ($28.75T vs $4.03T GDP), while the higher GDP per capita belongs to United States ($84,534 vs $32,487). Life expectancy is higher in Japan (78.9 vs 84.0 years). The full side-by-side table is below. All figures are World Bank, latest available year.
Source: World Bank Open Data. Data as of June 2026.
United States vs Japan: side by side
| Indicator | United States | Japan | Leads |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP (current US$) | $28.75T | $4.03T | United States |
| GDP per capita (current US$) | $84,534 | $32,487 | United States |
| Population, total | 340,110,988 | 123,975,371 | United States |
| Population growth (annual %) | 1.0% | -0.4% | United States |
| GDP growth (annual %) | 2.8% | 0.1% | United States |
| Inflation, consumer prices (annual %) | 2.9% | 2.7% | Japan |
| Unemployment, total (% of labour force, modelled ILO) | 4.2% | 2.5% | Japan |
| Life expectancy at birth, total (years) | 78.9 | 84.0 | Japan |
| Individuals using the Internet (% of population) | 94.7% | 85.5% | United States |
| Urban population (% of total) | 80.1% | 92.2% | Japan |
| CO2 emissions per capita (tonnes) | 13.62 | 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): United States
- GDP per capita (income): United States
- Life expectancy: Japan
- Internet users: United States
- Lower inflation: Japan
- Lower unemployment: Japan
Frequently asked questions
Is United States or Japan richer?
United States is richer on GDP per capita — United States at $84,534 versus $32,487 for Japan (World Bank). By total GDP, the larger economy is United States ($28.75T vs $4.03T).
Which has a bigger economy, United States or Japan?
United States has the larger economy: United States's GDP is $28.75T and Japan's is $4.03T in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).
Which is bigger by population, United States or Japan?
United States is more populous: United States has about 340.1 million people and Japan about 124.0 million.
Where do people live longer, United States or Japan?
Life expectancy is higher in Japan: 78.9 years in United States versus 84.0 in Japan (World Bank).
Full profiles & more comparisons
Last updated: 2026-06-20