India vs Japan
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
India and Japan represent contrasting economic narratives: India's rapid growth and demographic dividend versus Japan's technological maturity and demographic decline. India's economy has surpassed Japan's in PPP terms and is closing the gap in nominal terms. Japan is one of India's largest foreign investors, with Japanese companies heavily invested in India's automotive (Suzuki, Honda), electronics, and infrastructure sectors. The two countries have deepened strategic and economic ties, with Japan providing critical development financing for India's bullet train and metro projects.
India has a GDP of $4.51T compared to Japan's $4.46T, making it 1.0x larger. India's population is 1.45B vs Japan's 124.0M. Across 12 key indicators, India leads in 7 categories. All data sourced from the IMF World Economic Outlook and World Bank World Development Indicators.
| Indicator |  India |  Japan |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $4.51T✓ | $4.46T |
| GDP per Capita | $3,051 | $36,391✓ |
| GDP Growth (%) | 6.2%✓ | 0.6% |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $12,964 | $56,444✓ |
| Population | 1.45B✓ | 124.0M |
| Life Expectancy | 72.0 years | 84.0 years✓ |
| Inflation (%) | 4.0% | 2.1%✓ |
| Unemployment (%) | 4.9% | 2.6%✓ |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 80.8%✓ | 226.8% |
| Fertility Rate | 2✓ | 1.2 |
| Gini Index | 25.5✓ | 32.3 |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 2.2✓ | 7.8 |
Summary
India has a GDP of $4.51T compared to Japan's $4.46T, making the former economy 1.0x larger. In terms of population, India has 1.45B people while Japan has 124.0M. Across the 12 indicators compared, India leads in 7 and Japan leads in 5.