United States vs Japan
Every indicator for United States and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 123,366,734 | +177.0% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 4,435 | +593.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 35,951 | +150.4% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 377,969 | +2,501.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 326 | −89.3% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 997,309 | 55,274 | +1,704.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 1.37 | +149.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 3.25 | +180.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 448 | +551.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 261,000 | +434.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 2.1 | +92.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 0.38 | +121.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to Japan; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 11 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 1. The widest separation is in area, about 26 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Area shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 9,831,510 against Japan's 377,969 — roughly 26 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against Japan's 55,274 — roughly 18 times as much.
- Japan's population density (326) is about 9.4 times United States's (35).
- United States's gdp (nominal) (30,770) is about 6.9 times Japan's (4,435).
- United States's military expenditure per capita (2,918) is about 6.5 times Japan's (448).
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and Japan differ most?
Where are United States and Japan most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of Japan?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or Japan.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.