Japan vs South Korea: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 112 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
Comparing Japan and South Korea: South Korea leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (908,800) against Japan (1.10); Japan leads on Refined Petroleum Products Exports (370,900) against South Korea (1.40); South Korea leads on Natural Gas Production (339.80) against Japan (3.06). Across 112 compared metrics, Japan wins on 62 and South Korea wins on 39.
- Communications: 6 metrics compared
- Economy: 45 metrics compared
- Environment: 5 metrics compared
- Geography: 6 metrics compared
- Government: 4 metrics compared
- Health: 10 metrics compared
- Military and Security: 1 metric compared
- People and Society: 30 metrics compared
- Transportation: 5 metrics compared
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 86.98 % | 97.42 %★ | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 87% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 97% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 63.14 points | 64.06 points★ | |
| Radios | 120.5★ | 47.5 | |
| Televisions | 86.5★ | 15.9 | |
| Waterways | 1,770★ | 1,600 |
Economy
45 metricsEnvironment
5 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -25.04M★ | -5.50M | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 960.23 | 644.23★ | |
| Population Distribution | all 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) | the population is primarily concentrated in the lowland areas, where density is high; Gyeonggi Province in the northwest, which surrounds the capital of Seoul and contains the port of Incheon, is the most densely populated province; Gangwon in the northea | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 27 Cubic meters per year★ | 13.3 Cubic meters per year | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 430★ | 69.7 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 12.59 %★ | 11.86 % | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 113 | 131.69★ | |
| Agricultural land | 45,206 sq. km★ | 15,174 sq. km | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 29,751 km★ | 2,413 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 255.33 cubic meters per inhabitant | 362.21 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | |
| Irrigated Land | 15,730★ | 7,780 |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 95.09 %★ | 85.98 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 47★ | 9 | |
| Independence | 3 | 15★ | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 5.6★ | 11.56 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 8.1 | 9.6★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 10.8 % of GDP★ | 9.7 % of GDP | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | NA | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 12.7 people/sq km | 12.8 people/sq km★ | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 3 %★ | 4 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 30.7 | 32.2★ | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 4.3 %★ | 4.7 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 30,000 | NA | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 0.9 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 261,000 | 569,000★ |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
5 metrics| Metric | 🇯🇵 Japan | 🇰🇷 South Korea | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 1.25 | 1.32★ | |
| Airports | 280★ | 92 | |
| Annual Human Space Visits (Total) | 1★ | 0 | |
| Civil Air Travel | 360★ | 93 | |
| Heliports | 3,036★ | 1,280 |