Germany vs Japan
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
Germany and Japan are the world's third and fourth largest economies — two manufacturing superpowers with remarkably parallel economic histories. Both rebuilt from devastation after World War II into export champions, both face severe demographic decline, and both have struggled with economic stagnation in the 2020s. Germany's automotive industry competes directly with Japan's globally, and both countries are navigating the costly transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles. Japan's government debt is higher (250% vs 65% of GDP), but Germany's economy has been more affected by the energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has a GDP of $5.33T compared to Japan's $4.46T, making it 1.2x larger. Germany's population is 83.5M vs Japan's 124.0M. Across 12 key indicators, Germany leads in 8 categories. All data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
| Indicator |  Germany |  Japan |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $5.33T✓ | $4.46T |
| GDP per Capita | $63,600✓ | $36,391 |
| GDP Growth (%) | 0.9%✓ | 0.6% |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $75,480✓ | $56,444 |
| Population | 83.5M | 124.0M✓ |
| Life Expectancy | 80.5 years | 84.0 years✓ |
| Inflation (%) | 1.8%✓ | 2.1% |
| Unemployment (%) | 3.4% | 2.6%✓ |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 66.0%✓ | 226.8% |
| Fertility Rate | 1.4✓ | 1.2 |
| Gini Index | 32.4 | 32.3✓ |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 6.9✓ | 7.8 |
Summary
Germany has a GDP of $5.33T compared to Japan's $4.46T, making the former economy 1.2x larger. In terms of population, Germany has 83.5M people while Japan has 124.0M. Across the 12 indicators compared, Germany leads in 8 and Japan leads in 4.