At a glance
China vs Japan: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  China |  Japan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 1,411,974,134 | 122,223,776 | China 12× |
| Population growth rate % per year | -0.2 | -0.6 | +0.3 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 147.72026 | 323.42026 | -175.7 |
| Surface area km² | 9,562,9102023 | 377,9692023 | China 25× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 6.82024 | 5.72024 | +1.1 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 7.82024 | 13.32024 | -5.5 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | -0.2 | +1.1 | -1.3 |
| Urban population % of population | 66.32025 | 92.32025 | -26 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 103.6 | 95.1 | +8.5 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 782024 | 842024 | -6 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.012024 | 1.152024 | -0.14 |
| Median age years | 40.6 | 50.2 | -9.6 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 5.4 | 1.6 | +3.8 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 15.42025 | 11.22025 | +4.2 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 14.92025 | 302025 | -15.1 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $19.50T2025 | $4.44T2025 | China 4.4× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $13,8622025 | $35,9512025 | Japan 2.6× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 4.62025 | 2.52025 | +2.2 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 0.12025 | 3.22025 | -3.1 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 13,1252024 | 972.32024 | China 13× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 9.322024 | 7.842024 | +1.47 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 2,8512023 | 3,0062024 | Japan 1.1× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 15.22021 | 8.82021 | +6.4 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 242023 | 68.42023 | -44.4 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 1,9922022 | 3,4372022 | Japan 1.7× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 20.22022 | 18.52022 | +1.7 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 91.62025 | 85.52024 | +6.1 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 131.82024 | 178.42023 | -46.7 |
▲ marks the higher value (for death rate, infant mortality, unemployment, inflation, CO₂ and water stress: the lower value). "Difference" is the ratio for absolute measures and China minus Japan for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
China compared with Japan
China has a live population of about 1,411,974,134 (#2 in the world) and Japan about 122,223,776 (#12), so China has 11.6 times as many people as Japan. China is growing at -0.2% a year and Japan at -0.6%.
By area China is larger: 9,562,910 km² against 377,969 km², which gives population densities of 147.7 people per km² in China and 323.4 in Japan.
China's economy is worth $19.50T (2025) and Japan's $4.44T (2025); per person that is $13,862 in China versus $35,951 in Japan, so the average Japan resident produces 2.6 times as much.
Life expectancy is 78 years in China and 84 in Japan; women have 1 children on average in China compared with 1.2 in Japan; the median age is 40.6 versus 50.2 years.
66.3% of China's people live in cities against 92.3% in Japan; 91.6% use the internet in China and 85.5% in Japan; CO₂ emissions per person are 9.3 t in China and 7.8 t in Japan.
Population over time
Life expectancy & fertility
Birth & death rates
Age structure
CO₂ emissions
Energy use & renewables
Forest area
Urban population
Water resources & stress
Economy
Unemployment & inflation
Internet & mobile
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, China or Japan?
By population China is bigger: 1,411,974,134 people versus 122,223,776 (live estimates, October 2026). By area China is larger (9,562,910 km² vs 377,969 km²).
Which has the larger economy, China or Japan?
China: GDP of $19,498,039,388,043 versus $4,435,162,999,977 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, China or Japan?
Life expectancy at birth is 78 years in China and 84 years in Japan, a difference of 6 years in favour of Japan.
How are these comparisons calculated?
Live populations extrapolate the UN World Population Prospects baseline with each country's growth rate; every other figure is the latest value published by World Bank Open Data (or the UN for median age, infant mortality and migration). Each row shows the year of the figure, and the charts below overlay the full historical series of both countries.
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Japan vs DR CongoSources & method: live populations are linear extrapolations of the UN World Population Prospects estimates; all other indicators are the latest values from World Bank Open Data (UN WPP for median age, infant mortality, sex ratio and net migration). Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.