Japan vs New Zealand
Every indicator for Japan and New Zealand side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Japan | New Zealand | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 123,366,734 | 5,324,700 | +2,216.9% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 4,435 | 264 | +1,579.9% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 35,951 | 49,591 | −27.5% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 84.0 | 82.0 | — |
| Area (km²) | 377,969 | 267,710 | +41.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 326 | 20 | +1,541.0% |
| Median age (years) | 49.4 | — | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.5 | 93.5 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 2.5 | 5.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.2 | 2.8 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 92.3 | 84.0 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 55,274 | 2,999 | +1,743.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 1.37 | 1.19 | +15.1% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 3.25 | 2.82 | +15.2% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 448 | 563 | −20.4% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 261,000 | 10,000 | +2,510.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.1 | 1.9 | +12.7% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.38 | 0.35 | +8.6% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Japan relative to New Zealand; a positive value favors Japan. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Japan is higher on 10 of the 12 indicators, while New Zealand leads on the remaining 2. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 26 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 261,000 against New Zealand's 10,000 — roughly 26 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 123,366,734 against New Zealand's 5,324,700 — roughly 23 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 55,274 against New Zealand's 2,999 — roughly 18 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 4,435 against New Zealand's 264 — roughly 17 times as much.
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Japan stands at 326 against New Zealand's 20 — roughly 16 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Japan and New Zealand differ most?
Where are Japan and New Zealand most alike?
On how many indicators is Japan ahead of New Zealand?
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 New Zealand.
Japan profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
New Zealand profile →
All statistics, series, and details.