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Japan vs Malaysia: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 174 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Japan
jpn
Leads on 101 of 174 metrics
Malaysia
mys
Leads on 68 of 174 metrics

Summary

Japan has 3.4 times as many people as Malaysia (122.45 million vs 36.4 million). Japan's economy is 7.2 times the size of Malaysia's ($3.37 trillion vs $466.53 billion GDP).

Comparing Japan and Malaysia: Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (304,600) against Japan (1.10); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Consumption (704,000) against Japan (3.89); Malaysia leads on Refined Petroleum Products Production (528,300) against Japan (3.47). Across 174 compared metrics, Japan wins on 101 and Malaysia wins on 68.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 10 metrics compared
  • Health: 22 metrics compared
  • Military and Security: 3 metrics compared
  • People and Society: 40 metrics compared
  • Transportation: 5 metrics compared
  • Travel and Tourism: 1 metric compared
  • Other: 1 metric compared

Communications

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration38.63 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…13.03 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Internet Penetration Rate (%)85.54 %98.02 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)86.98 %97.69 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 87% (2023 est.)percent of population: 98% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed38.63 Mbpsā˜…13.03 Mbps
Press Freedom Index Score63.14 pointsā˜…56.09 points
Radios120.5ā˜…10.9
Televisions86.5ā˜…10.8
Waterways1,7707,200ā˜…

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country34.16B $47.38B $ā˜…
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars3.37T $ā˜…466.53B $
AI Investment (% of GDP)26.18 %ā˜…21.95 %
Apple Import Volume8.06M tonnes101.62M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate98.52 %ā˜…88.69 %
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0.3 %3 %ā˜…
Coal Revenue00.02ā˜…
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)1.48 %4.61 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends29.74 %ā˜…24 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)11 % of GDPā˜…3.8 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index86.1ā˜…83.3
Electricity Consumption943.7ā˜…136.9
Electricity Exports03ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels7178ā˜…
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants818ā˜…
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels1ā˜…0
Electricity from Other Renewables20ā˜…4
Electricity Imports033ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity295.9ā˜…33
Electricity Production989.3ā˜…148.3
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)129.5 USD per capitaā˜…113.16 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate76.97 %ā˜…56.67 %
Gini Index Coefficient32.340.7ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment21.125.2ā˜…
Gross National Saving2828.5ā˜…
High-Tech Export Percentage78.43 %ā˜…63.18 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries48,283.37 USDā˜…35,461.45 USD
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)1.4 %4.9 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate3.17 %1.38 %ā˜…
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.7 %1.8 %ā˜…
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.4 % of GDPā˜…1 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption127.2ā˜…30.44
Natural Gas Exports169.9ā˜…38.23
Natural Gas Imports116.6ā˜…2.8
Natural Gas Production3.0669.49ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves20.9ā˜…1.18
Number of AI Patents Filed4,270 patentsā˜…5 patents
Oil Consumption4.45561,000ā˜…
Oil Exports366,800644,900ā˜…
Oil Imports4.39355,300ā˜…
Oil Production131,800664,800ā˜…
Oil Proved Reserves44.12ā˜…4
Population Below Poverty Line16.1 people5.6 peopleā˜…
Public Debt215.964.3ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)3.4 %ā˜…1.01 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.1 USD5.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends0.97 %ā˜…0.8 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption3.89704,000ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Exports370,900ā˜…208,400
Refined Petroleum Products Imports1.1304,600ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production3.47528,300ā˜…
Remittances0.10.4ā˜…
Researchers in R&D per Million5,629.8 researchersā˜…1,218.33 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.021.57ā˜…
Robotics Research Funding3.4 USDā˜…1.01 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)0.980.03ā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues35.2ā˜…11.65
Top Exporting Countries917.04B USDā˜…301.22B USD
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)0.45 %3.69 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires41ā˜…19
Tourism Contribution to GDP1.2 %2.67 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)1.2 %2.67 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate2.6 %ā˜…3.9 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate63.45 %ā˜…66.12 %
Youth Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…11.95 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-25.04Mā˜…13.93M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-2,200 %ā˜…-60,000 %
Average Annual Temperature12.86 Ā°C25.87 Ā°Cā˜…
Carbon Dioxide Emissions960.23260.01ā˜…
Global Precipitation Distribution1,641.6 mm3,150.09 mmā˜…
Population Distributionall primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)a highly uneven distribution, with over 80% of the population residing on the Malay Peninsula
Protected Land Area for Adaptation29.6 sq kmā˜…13.3 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage29.7 %ā˜…13.3 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country27 Cubic meters per year64 Cubic meters per yearā˜…
Total Renewable Water Resources430580ā˜…
Total Threatened Mammal Species29 speciesā˜…80 species

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization12.59 %ā˜…4.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)113209.87ā˜…
Agricultural land45,206 sq. km85,710 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km364,569.28ā˜…328,550
Coastline Length (km)29,751 kmā˜…4,675 km
Dam capacity per capita255.33 cubic meters per inhabitant611.58 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…
Irrigated Land15,730ā˜…4,420

Government

10 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Rule of Law Index by Country95.09 %ā˜…67.87 %
Administrative Divisions47ā˜…13
Corruption Perception Index71 index50 indexā˜…
Corruption Perceptions Index Score71 indexā˜…50 index
Independence331ā˜…
LGBT Rights Index Score3.94ā˜…-2.46
Political Stability Index82 indexā˜…51 index
Prison Population Rate37 per 100,000ā˜…206 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception7150ā˜…
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

22 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water98.73 %ā˜…94.7 %
Average BMI for Adults23.6 kg/mĀ²25.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate95 %96 %ā˜…
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)5.09ā˜…13.01
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)8.121.1ā˜…
Female Life Expectancy Leaders84.04 yearsā˜…76.82 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.17 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.48 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita6,401.77 USDā˜…1,703.34 USD
Health Coverage Index Score86 scoreā˜…80 score
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10.8 % of GDPā˜…4.4 % of GDP
Highest Male Life Expectancy84.04 yearsā˜…76.82 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNA0.3 %
Hospital Bed Density12.7 people/sq kmā˜…2 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita12.59 beds per 1,000ā˜…1.94 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence11.3 %ā˜…13.81 %
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)3 %ā˜…26 %
Nurses and Midwives Density12.98 per 1,000 peopleā˜…4.03 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)4.3 %ā˜…15.6 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12.24 %ā˜…37.09 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS30,000ā˜…92,000
Total Number of Doctors2.65ā˜…2.29
Underweight Children Under 5NA14.1

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Active Military Personnel247,000 personnelā˜…113,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.41 %1.04 %ā˜…
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)261,000ā˜…136,000

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Currently married (Percent)45.75 %58.88 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.82ā˜…0.65
Life expectancy at birth88.16 yearsā˜…80.87 years
Median age of population50.21 yearsā˜…31.44 years
Population Change-619,033.8 persons428,622.9 personsā˜…
Population density324.98 per sq. km110.8 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population122.45M personsā˜…36.40M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.76ā˜…0.29
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-Bā˜…AA
Beer Consumption per Capita1.21 litersā˜…0.51 liters
Birth Rate (%)6.84 %14.05 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate39.8 %52.2 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate5.7 per 1,000 people12.36 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)12.04 %5.8 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.3 % of GDP3.5 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age22.27M personsā˜…9.69M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)63.63 %ā˜…44.3 %
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate38.63 %ā˜…13.03 %
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.06 male/female106.37 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.86ā˜…0.48
Labor Force Participation Rate69.38ā˜…18.26
Learning-adjusted years of school12.03 yearsā˜…9.72 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother309 daysā˜…0 days
Major Urban Areas Population37.19 peopleā˜…8.62 people
Mean Male Height (cm)170.82ā˜…167.88
Mean Years of Schooling12.83 yearsā˜…11.96 years
Military Manpower at Military Age1821ā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…17
Old-Age Dependency Ratio50.12 %10.6 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization91.43 %ā˜…83.21 %
Physician Density2.65 people/sq kmā˜…2.34 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate-0.45 %0.97 %ā˜…
Population living in slums2 %ā˜…0.2 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio15.6611.66ā˜…
Total deaths1.56M persons179,998.3 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)59.68 %ā˜…42.17 %
Total fertility rate1.19 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration220,640.4 personsā˜…162,673.4 persons
Under-five mortality rate2.28 per live birthsā˜…5.53 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.37 %1.79 %ā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.251.58ā˜…
Airports280ā˜…100
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)1ā˜…0
Civil Air Travel360ā˜…53
Heliports3,036ā˜…24

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita58.63B USDā˜…24.59B USD

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡²šŸ‡¾ MalaysiaShare
Current Bank Rate0.75 %2.75 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Japan vs Malaysia

Which has a larger population, Japan or Malaysia?ā–¾

Japan. Japan has 3.4 times as many people as Malaysia (122.45 million vs 36.4 million). Data for 2026.

Which has a bigger economy, Japan or Malaysia?ā–¾

Japan. Japan's economy is 7.2 times the size of Malaysia's ($3.37 trillion vs $466.53 billion GDP). Data for 2026.

Which is richer per person, Japan or Malaysia?ā–¾

Japan is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $27,502 in Japan vs $12,818 in Malaysia (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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Japan vs Malaysia: Population & GDP Compared | Geo Factbook