Iraq vs Japan
Every indicator for Iraq and Japan side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iraq | Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 47,020,774 | 123,366,734 | −61.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 254 | 4,435 | −94.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 5,410 | 35,951 | −85.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 72.4 | 84.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 435,050 | 377,969 | +15.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 108 | 326 | −66.9% |
| Median age (years) | 21.5 | 49.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 81.5 | 85.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 15.5 | 2.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 3.2 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 69.9 | 92.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,179 | 55,274 | −88.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.36 | 1.37 | +72.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.87 | 3.25 | +49.8% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 131 | 448 | −70.7% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 459,000 | 261,000 | +75.9% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 9.8 | 2.1 | +361.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 4.40 | 0.38 | +1,057.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iraq relative to Japan; a positive value favors Iraq. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Iraq is higher on 6 of 12 indicators, Japan on 6. The widest separation is in gdp (nominal) (about 17×); they are closest on area.
Key differences
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 4,435 against Iraq's 254 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Armed forces as a share of the labor force shows the widest gap of all: Iraq stands at 4.40 against Japan's 0.38 — roughly 12 times as much.
- Japan's military expenditure (2024) (55,274) is about 8.9 times Iraq's (6,179).
- Japan's gdp per capita (35,951) is about 6.6 times Iraq's (5,410).
- Iraq's armed forces per 1,000 people (9.8) is about 4.6 times Japan's (2.1).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iraq and Japan differ most?
In gdp (nominal). Japan records 4,435 against Iraq's 254 — a ratio of roughly 17 to one.
Where are Iraq and Japan most alike?
In area, at 435,050 and 377,969 — a gap of only %15.
On how many indicators is Iraq ahead of Japan?
Iraq is higher on 6 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Japan on 6. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IraqJapan
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 Iraq or Japan.
Iraq profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI