Japan vs Germany
Side-by-side economic and demographic comparison · 2026 data · Source: IMF & World Bank
Japan and Germany are the world's fourth and third largest economies — remarkably similar in GDP, both export-driven manufacturing powerhouses, and both facing severe demographic challenges. Japan's population peaked in 2008 and Germany's working-age population is declining despite immigration. Both countries have world-class automotive industries (Toyota, Honda, Nissan vs. Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes), strong mittelstand/SME manufacturing sectors, and cultures that prize engineering excellence. Germany's recent energy crisis (losing cheap Russian gas) mirrors Japan's post-Fukushima energy challenges — both had to rapidly restructure their energy systems.
Japan has a GDP of $4.46T compared to Germany's $5.33T, making it 1.2x smaller. Japan's population is 124.0M vs Germany's 83.5M. 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 |  Japan |  Germany |
|---|---|---|
| GDP (USD) | $4.46T | $5.33T✓ |
| GDP per Capita | $36,391 | $63,600✓ |
| GDP Growth (%) | 0.6% | 0.9%✓ |
| GDP per Capita (PPP) | $56,444 | $75,480✓ |
| Population | 124.0M✓ | 83.5M |
| Life Expectancy | 84.0 years✓ | 80.5 years |
| Inflation (%) | 2.1% | 1.8%✓ |
| Unemployment (%) | 2.6%✓ | 3.4% |
| Govt Debt (% GDP) | 226.8% | 66.0%✓ |
| Fertility Rate | 1.2 | 1.4✓ |
| Gini Index | 32.3✓ | 32.4 |
| CO₂ per Capita (t) | 7.8 | 6.9✓ |
Summary
Japan has a GDP of $4.46T compared to Germany's $5.33T, making the latter economy 1.2x larger. In terms of population, Japan has 124.0M people while Germany has 83.5M. Across the 12 indicators compared, Japan leads in 4 and Germany leads in 8.