At a glance
Japan vs Italy: 28 indicators side by side
| Indicator |  Japan |  Italy | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👥 Population | |||
| Population people | 122,222,547 | 58,858,426 | Japan 2.1× |
| Population growth rate % per year | -0.6 | -0.4 | -0.2 pts |
| Population density people per km² | 323.42026 | 194.92026 | +128.5 |
| Surface area km² | 377,9692023 | 302,0702023 | Japan 1.3× |
| Birth rate births per 1,000 people | 5.72024 | 6.32024 | -0.6 |
| Death rate deaths per 1,000 people | 13.32024 | 112024 | +2.3 |
| Net migration rate per 1,000 people per year | +1.1 | +1 | +0.1 |
| Urban population % of population | 92.32025 | 69.72025 | +22.6 pts |
| Sex ratio males per 100 females | 95.1 | 95.9 | -0.8 |
| ❤️ Demographics & Health | |||
| Life expectancy years | 842024 | 842024 | +0.1 |
| Fertility rate births per woman | 1.152024 | 1.182024 | -0.03 |
| Median age years | 50.2 | 48.6 | +1.6 |
| Infant mortality deaths per 1,000 live births | 1.6 | 2.1 | -0.5 |
| Population under 15 % of population | 11.22025 | 11.72025 | -0.4 pts |
| Population aged 65+ % of population | 302025 | 25.12025 | +4.9 pts |
| 💰 Economy | |||
| GDP current US$ | $4.44T2025 | $2.55T2025 | Japan 1.7× |
| GDP per capita current US$ | $35,9512025 | $43,3092025 | Italy 1.2× |
| Unemployment rate % of labor force | 2.52025 | 6.42025 | -3.9 pts |
| Inflation rate % annual, consumer prices | 3.22025 | 1.52025 | +1.6 pts |
| 🌱 Environment & Energy | |||
| CO₂ emissions Mt CO₂ per year | 972.32024 | 299.22024 | Japan 3.2× |
| CO₂ emissions per capita tonnes per person | 7.842024 | 5.082024 | +2.77 |
| Energy use per capita kg of oil equivalent per person | 3,0062024 | 2,2312024 | Japan 1.3× |
| Renewable energy share % of final energy | 8.82021 | 17.52021 | -8.7 pts |
| Forest area % of land area | 68.42023 | 32.92023 | +35.5 pts |
| Freshwater resources per capita m³ per person per year | 3,4372022 | 3,0932022 | Japan 1.1× |
| Water stress % of resources withdrawn | 18.52022 | 18.52022 | +0 pts |
| 📶 Digital | |||
| Internet users % of population | 85.52024 | 89.22024 | -3.7 pts |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 178.42023 | 132.62024 | +45.9 |
▲ 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 Japan minus Italy for rates and shares. Years in grey are the latest available for that country.
Japan compared with Italy
Japan has a live population of about 122,222,547 (#12 in the world) and Italy about 58,858,426 (#25), so Japan has 2.1 times as many people as Italy. Japan is growing at -0.6% a year and Italy at -0.4%.
By area Japan is larger: 377,969 km² against 302,070 km², which gives population densities of 323.4 people per km² in Japan and 194.9 in Italy.
Japan's economy is worth $4.44T (2025) and Italy's $2.55T (2025); per person that is $35,951 in Japan versus $43,309 in Italy, so the average Italy resident produces 1.2 times as much.
Life expectancy is 84 years in Japan and 84 in Italy; women have 1.2 children on average in Japan compared with 1.2 in Italy; the median age is 50.2 versus 48.6 years.
92.3% of Japan's people live in cities against 69.7% in Italy; 85.5% use the internet in Japan and 89.2% in Italy; CO₂ emissions per person are 7.8 t in Japan and 5.1 t in Italy.
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, Japan or Italy?
By population Japan is bigger: 122,222,547 people versus 58,858,426 (live estimates, October 2026). By area Japan is larger (377,969 km² vs 302,070 km²).
Which has the larger economy, Japan or Italy?
Japan: GDP of $4,435,162,999,977 versus $2,551,556,954,100 in current US dollars (World Bank, 2025/2025).
Where do people live longer, Japan or Italy?
Life expectancy at birth is 84 years in Japan and 84 years in Italy, a difference of 0.1 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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Italy vs ColombiaSources & 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 2026-10-20. More about our data.