India vs Japan
Every indicator for India and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | India | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 1,463,865,525 | 123,366,734 | +1,086.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 3,956 | 4,435 | −10.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 2,702 | 35,951 | −92.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.2 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 3,287,260 | 377,969 | +769.7% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 445 | 326 | +36.4% |
| Median age (years) | 28.4 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 70.0 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.4 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 35.7 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 86,126 | 55,274 | +55.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.27 | 1.37 | +65.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 7.63 | 3.25 | +134.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 59 | 448 | −86.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 3,068,000 | 261,000 | +1,075.5% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.1 | 2.1 | −0.9% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.58 | 0.38 | +52.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of India relative to Japan; a positive value favors India. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
India is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in gdp per capita, about 13 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- GDP per capita shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 35,951 against India's 2,702 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 1,463,865,525 against Japan's 123,366,734 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: India stands at 3,068,000 against Japan's 261,000 — roughly 12 times as much.
- India's area (3,287,260) is about 8.7 times Japan's (377,969).
- Japan's military expenditure per capita (448) is about 7.6 times India's (59).
Frequently asked questions
Where do India and Japan differ most?
In gdp per capita. Japan records 35,951 against India's 2,702 — a ratio of roughly 13 to one.
Where are India and Japan most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 2.1 and 2.1 — a gap of only %0.9.
On how many indicators is India ahead of Japan?
India is higher on 8 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 4. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IndiaJapan
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 India or Japan.
India profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI