Japan vs Norway
Every indicator for Japan and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Japan | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 123,366,734 | 5,610,870 | +2,098.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,435 | 531 | +735.2% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 35,951 | 94,594 | −62.0% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.0 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 377,969 | 624,500 | −39.5% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 326 | 9 | +3,532.8% |
| Median age (years) | 49.4 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.5 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.5 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 92.3 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 55,274 | 10,435 | +429.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.37 | 2.09 | −34.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.25 | 4.53 | −28.3% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 448 | 1,860 | −75.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 261,000 | 25,000 | +944.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.1 | 4.5 | −52.5% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.38 | 0.85 | −55.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Japan relative to Norway; a positive value favors Japan. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Norway is higher on 7 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 5. The widest separation is in population density, about 36 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of government spending.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 326 against Norway's 9 — roughly 36 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 123,366,734 against Norway's 5,610,870 — roughly 22 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 261,000 against Norway's 25,000 — roughly 10 times as much.
- Japan's gdp (nominal) (4,435) is about 8.4 times Norway's (531).
- Japan's military expenditure (2024) (55,274) is about 5.3 times Norway's (10,435).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Japan and Norway differ most?
Where are Japan and Norway most alike?
On how many indicators is Japan ahead of Norway?
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 Japan or Norway.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.