Japan vs Saudi Arabia
Every indicator for Japan and Saudi Arabia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Japan | Saudi Arabia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 123,366,734 | 36,973,555 | +233.7% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,435 | 1,277 | +247.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 35,951 | 34,537 | +4.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.0 | 79.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 377,969 | 2,149,690 | −82.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 326 | 17 | +1,797.7% |
| Median age (years) | 49.4 | 30.8 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.5 | 100.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.5 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 2.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 92.3 | 84.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 55,274 | 80,331 | −31.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.37 | 7.30 | −81.2% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.25 | 22.31 | −85.4% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 448 | 2,173 | −79.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 261,000 | 282,000 | −7.4% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.1 | 7.6 | −72.3% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.38 | 1.92 | −80.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Japan relative to Saudi Arabia; a positive value favors Japan. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Saudi Arabia is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Japan leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 19 times; they are closest on gdp per capita.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 326 against Saudi Arabia's 17 — roughly 19 times as much.
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure as a share of government spending (22.31) is about 6.9 times Japan's (3.25).
- Saudi Arabia's area (2,149,690) is about 5.7 times Japan's (377,969).
- Saudi Arabia's military expenditure as a share of gdp (7.30) is about 5.3 times Japan's (1.37).
- Saudi Arabia's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.92) is about 5.1 times Japan's (0.38).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Japan and Saudi Arabia differ most?
In population density. Japan records 326 against Saudi Arabia's 17 — a ratio of roughly 19 to one.
Where are Japan and Saudi Arabia most alike?
In gdp per capita, at 35,951 and 34,537 — a gap of only %4.1.
On how many indicators is Japan ahead of Saudi Arabia?
Japan is higher on 4 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Saudi Arabia on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
JapanSaudi Arabia
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 Saudi Arabia.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Saudi Arabia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI