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Geo Factbook

Japan vs United Kingdom: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 175 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more ā€” latest data through 2026.

Japan
jpn
Leads on 87 of 175 metrics
United Kingdom
gbr
Leads on 75 of 175 metrics

Summary

Japan has 75% more people than United Kingdom (122.45 million vs 69.96 million). United Kingdom's economy is 22% larger than Japan's ($4.1 trillion vs $3.37 trillion GDP).

Comparing Japan and United Kingdom: United Kingdom leads on Refined Petroleum Products Imports (907,500) against Japan (1.10); Japan leads on Oil Exports (366,800) against United Kingdom (1.31); Japan leads on Oil Production (131,800) against United Kingdom (1.39). Across 175 compared metrics, Japan wins on 87 and United Kingdom wins on 75.

  • Communications: 9 metrics compared
  • Economy: 65 metrics compared
  • Environment: 11 metrics compared
  • Geography: 7 metrics compared
  • Government: 9 metrics compared
  • Health: 24 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‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Fixed Broadband Penetration38.63 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants41.44 subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsā˜…
Internet Penetration Rate (%)85.54 %95.47 %ā˜…
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)86.98 %96.3 %ā˜…
Internet Userspercent of population: 87% (2023 est.)percent of population: 96% (2023 est.)
Mobile Internet Speed38.63 Mbps41.44 Mbpsā˜…
Press Freedom Index Score63.14 points78.89 pointsā˜…
Radios120.5ā˜…84.5
Televisions86.5ā˜…30.5
Waterways1,7703,200ā˜…

Economy

65 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country34.16B $ā˜…31.15B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars3.37T $4.10T $ā˜…
AI Investment (% of GDP)26.18 %ā˜…19.12 %
Apple Import Volume8.06M tonnes326.31M tonnesā˜…
Bank Account Ownership Rate98.52 %99.28 %ā˜…
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)0.3 %ā˜…0.25 %
Coal Revenue00
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)1.48 %4.38 %ā˜…
Corporate Tax Rate Trends29.74 %ā˜…19 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)11 % of GDPā˜…10 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index86.193.8ā˜…
Electricity Consumption943.7ā˜…309.2
Electricity Exports02.15ā˜…
Electricity from Fossil Fuels71ā˜…50
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants8ā˜…2
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels19ā˜…
Electricity from Other Renewables2039ā˜…
Electricity Imports019.7ā˜…
Electricity Installed Capacity295.9ā˜…97.06
Electricity Production989.3ā˜…318.2
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)129.5 USD per capitaā˜…94.28 USD per capita
Female Labor Force Participation Rate76.97 %ā˜…73.49 %
Gini Index Coefficient32.332.4ā˜…
Gross Fixed Investment21.1ā˜…13.9
Gross National Saving28ā˜…13.6
High-Tech Export Percentage78.43 %ā˜…63.43 %
Highest GDP per Capita Countries48,283.37 USD53,993.12 USDā˜…
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)1.4 %ā˜…-0.5 %
Inflation Rate3.17 %ā˜…3.88 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)2.7 %ā˜…3.3 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)1.4 % of GDP2.4 % of GDPā˜…
Natural Gas Consumption127.2ā˜…79.17
Natural Gas Exports169.9ā˜…11.27
Natural Gas Imports116.6ā˜…47
Natural Gas Production3.0642.11ā˜…
Natural Gas Proved Reserves20.9176ā˜…
Number of AI Patents Filed4,270 patentsā˜…478 patents
Oil Consumption4.45ā˜…1.62
Oil Exports366,800ā˜…1.31
Oil Imports4.39ā˜…1.45
Oil Production131,800ā˜…1.39
Oil Proved Reserves44.12ā˜…2.86
Population Below Poverty Line16.1 peopleā˜…18.6 people
Public Debt215.9138.6ā˜…
R&D Expenditure (% of GDP)3.44 %ā˜…2.68 %
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)0.1 USD1.1 USDā˜…
Real Interest Rate Trends-0.51 %ā˜…-1.08 %
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption3.89ā˜…1.58
Refined Petroleum Products Exports370,900613,800ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Imports1.1907,500ā˜…
Refined Petroleum Products Production3.47ā˜…1.29
Remittances0.10.1
Researchers in R&D per Million5,319.83 researchersā˜…4,472.69 researchers
Revenue from Forest Resources0.02ā˜…0.01
Robotics Research Funding3.44 USDā˜…2.68 USD
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)1.210.5ā˜…
Taxes and Other Revenues35.2ā˜…27.3
Top Exporting Countries917.04B USD1.14T USDā˜…
Top FDI Inflows (% of GDP)1.03 %1.91 %ā˜…
Total Number of Billionaires4156ā˜…
Tourism Contribution to GDP0.8 %1.77 %ā˜…
Tourism Revenue (% of GDP)0.8 %1.77 %ā˜…
Unemployment Rate2.6 %ā˜…4.2 %
Youth Labor Force Participation Rate63.45 %61.37 %ā˜…
Youth Unemployment Rate3.9 %ā˜…14.65 %

Environment

11 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Annual COā‚‚ Emissions Growth (abs)-25.04Mā˜…5.08M
Annual Forest Area Change Rate-2,200 %12,600 %ā˜…
Average Annual Temperature12.86 Ā°Cā˜…10.37 Ā°C
Carbon Dioxide Emissions960.23340.94ā˜…
Global Precipitation Distribution1,641.6 mmā˜…962.53 mm
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)the core of the population lies in and around London, with significant clusters found in central Britain around Manchester and Liverpool, in the Scottish lowlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow, in southern Wales in and around Cardiff, and in far-eastern N
Protected Land Area for Adaptation29.6 sq kmā˜…28.58 sq km
Protected Land Area Percentage29.7 %ā˜…28.4 %
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country27 Cubic meters per yearā˜…9.8 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources430ā˜…147
Total Threatened Mammal Species29 species4 speciesā˜…

Geography

7 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization12.59 %ā˜…9.75 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)113115ā˜…
Agricultural land45,206 sq. km172,448.2 sq. kmā˜…
Airports per 1,000 Sq Km364,569.28ā˜…241,930
Coastline Length (km)29,751 kmā˜…12,429 km
Dam capacity per capita255.33 cubic meters per inhabitantā˜…75.83 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land15,730ā˜…718

Government

9 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Rule of Law Index by Country95.09 %ā˜…86.77 %
Administrative Divisions47England: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*) two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Ess
Corruption Perception Index71 index71 index
Corruption Perceptions Index Score71 index71 index
Independence3no official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union unite England, Scotland, and
LGBT Rights Index Score3.9410.98ā˜…
Prison Population Rate33 per 100,000ā˜…131.63 per 100,000
Public Sector Corruption Perception7171
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

24 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Access to Safe Drinking Water98.73 %99.82 %ā˜…
Average BMI for Adults23.6 kg/mĀ²27.3 kg/mĀ²ā˜…
Change in Measles Immunization Rate95 %ā˜…89 %
Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std)5.16ā˜…8.38
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)8.1ā˜…7.4
Female Life Expectancy Leaders84.04 yearsā˜…81.39 years
Global Stillbirth Rate Trends0.17 per 1,000 birthsā˜…0.25 per 1,000 births
Health Care Spending per Capita6,401.77 USD7,011.86 USDā˜…
Health Coverage Index Score86 score88 scoreā˜…
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)10.8 % of GDP11.3 % of GDPā˜…
Highest Male Life Expectancy84.04 yearsā˜…81.39 years
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence RateNANA
Hospital Bed Density12.7 people/sq kmā˜…2.4 people/sq km
Hospital Beds per Capita12.59 beds per 1,000ā˜…2.42 beds per 1,000
Low Birth Weight Prevalence11.3 %6.83 %ā˜…
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)3 %ā˜…8 %
Mean Age at First Birth30.7ā˜…29
Nurses and Midwives Density12.98 per 1,000 peopleā˜…9.06 per 1,000 people
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)4.3 %ā˜…27.8 %
Out-of-Pocket Health Spending12.24 %ā˜…14.63 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS30,000NA
Public Health Spending (% of GDP)8.84 %8.98 %ā˜…
Total Number of Doctors2.653.14ā˜…
Underweight Children Under 5NANA

Military and Security

3 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Active Military Personnel247,000 personnelā˜…150,000 personnel
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)1.41 %ā˜…2.35 %
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)261,000ā˜…153,000

People and Society

40 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Currently married (Percent)45.75 %46.59 %ā˜…
Human Capital Index0.82ā˜…0.79
Life expectancy at birth88.16 yearsā˜…83.69 years
Median age of population50.21 yearsā˜…40.33 years
Population Change-619,033.8 persons377,688.2 personsā˜…
Population density324.98 per sq. km288.63 per sq. kmā˜…
Total population122.45M personsā˜…69.96M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.76ā˜…0.67
Average Female Breast Size by Country: Worldwide Data & RankingsA-BCā˜…
Beer Consumption per Capita1.21 liters3.54 litersā˜…
Birth Rate (%)6.84 %10.76 %ā˜…
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate39.8 %76.1 %ā˜…
Crude Birth Rate5.7 per 1,000 people9.89 per 1,000 peopleā˜…
Death Rate (%)12.04 %9.25 %ā˜…
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)3.3 % of GDP5.9 % of GDPā˜…
Female population of reproductive age22.27M personsā˜…15.28M persons
Female Tertiary Enrollment Rate (%)63.63 %93.5 %ā˜…
Fixed Broadband Penetration Rate38.63 %41.44 %ā˜…
Global Average Sex Ratio at Birth105.06 male/female105.42 male/femaleā˜…
Human Development Index0.86ā˜…0.78
Labor Force Participation Rate69.38ā˜…35.36
Learning-adjusted years of school12.03 yearsā˜…11.65 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother309 daysā˜…0 days
Major Urban Areas Population37.19 peopleā˜…9.65 people
Mean Male Height (cm)170.82177.49ā˜…
Mean Years of Schooling12.83 years12.9 yearsā˜…
Military Service Age and Obligation18ā˜…16
Old-Age Dependency Ratio50.12 %30.33 %ā˜…
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization91.43 %ā˜…86.48 %
Physician Density2.65 people/sq km3.3 people/sq kmā˜…
Population Growth Rate-0.45 %0.4 %ā˜…
Population living in slums2 %ā˜…0.16 %
Primary School Pupil-Teacher Ratio15.6615.13ā˜…
Total deaths1.56M persons675,626.2 personsā˜…
Total demand for family planning (Percent)59.68 %75.07 %ā˜…
Total fertility rate1.19 per woman1.53 per womanā˜…
Total net-migration220,640.4 persons375,700.7 personsā˜…
Under-five mortality rate2.28 per live birthsā˜…4.03 per live births
Urban Population Annual Growth Rate-0.37 %0.39 %ā˜…
Voting Age Population51.35 millions52.79 millionsā˜…

Transportation

5 metrics
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)1.252.25ā˜…
Airports2801,057ā˜…
Annual Human Space Visits (Total)1ā˜…0
Civil Air Travel360618ā˜…
Heliports3,036ā˜…139

Travel and Tourism

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Tourism Receipts per Capita58.63B USD84.55B USDā˜…

Other

1 metric
MetricšŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µ JapanšŸ‡¬šŸ‡§ United KingdomShare
Current Bank Rate0.75 %3.75 %ā˜…

Frequently Asked Questions About Japan vs United Kingdom

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

Japan. Japan has 75% more people than United Kingdom (122.45 million vs 69.96 million). Data for 2026.

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

United Kingdom. United Kingdom's economy is 22% larger than Japan's ($4.1 trillion vs $3.37 trillion GDP). Data for 2026.

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

United Kingdom is richer per person: GDP per capita is about $58,622 in United Kingdom vs $27,502 in Japan (2026 GDP in current US dollars divided by population).

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