The following is a comparison between the United States of America (USA), a large country in North America, and Japan, an island country in East Asia. Let’s read.
USA and Japan – country comparison
Which country is bigger, USA or Japan?
The USA is much larger in area compared to Japan. It is approximately 26 times the size of Japan.
- Area of USA – approximately 9.8 million sq km
- Area of Japan – approximately 378,000 sq km
Which country has a larger population, USA or Japan?
The United States has a larger population compared to Japan. However, Japan has a higher population density.
- Population of USA – 347.3 million (2025 estimate)
- Population of Japan – 123.1 million (2025 estimate)
GDP comparison
| 2024 (IMF) | USA | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | United States Dollar | Japanese Yen |
| GDP (nominal) | $29.18 trillion | $4.03 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $85.81 thousand | $32.5 thousand |
| GDP (PPP) | $29.18 trillion | $6.53 trillion |
ADVERTISEMENT
Life
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (2023/UN) | 79.3 | 84.71 |
| Human Development Index rank (2023) | 17th | 23rd |
| Human Development Index value | 0.938 | 0.925 |
Overview
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | approximately 9.8 million square km | approximately 378,000 square km |
| Population | 347.3 million (2025 estimate) | 123.1 million (2025 estimate) |
| Capital city | Washington, D.C. | Tokyo |
| Largest city | New York City | Tokyo |
| Most spoken language | English | Japanese |
| Largest metropolitan area | New York metropolitan area (Tri-State area) | Greater Tokyo Area |
| Most popular sport | American football | Baseball |
ADVERTISEMENT
Geography
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | North America | East Asia |
| Highest mountain peak | Denali/Mount McKinley (20,310 ft/6,190 m) | Mount Fuji (12,389 ft/3,776 m) |
| Major mountain ranges | Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Appalachian Mountains, Alaska Range, Cascade Range, etc. | Hida Mountains, Kiso Mountains, Akaishi Mountains, Kyushu Mountains, etc. |
| Largest island | Hawaii Island (10,430 sq km) | Honshu Island (228,000 sq km) |
| Largest lake | Lake Superior | Lake Biwa |
| Forest cover (2022) | 33.9% | 68.4% |
| Major rivers | Missouri, Mississippi, Yukon, Rio Grande, Arkansas, Colorado, etc. | Shinano, Ishikari, Tone, Teshio, Kushiro, Kitakami, Abukuma, etc. |
| Longest river | Missouri River | Shinano River |
(Also read: USA vs Canada | USA and Canada – country comparison)
Tourism
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Places to visit | New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Yellowstone National Park, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon, etc. | Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Yokohama, etc. |
| International tourist arrivals (2024) | 72.4 million | 36.9 million |
| Busiest airport | Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport | Haneda Airport, Tokyo |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 26 | 26 |
| Most visited city | New York City | Tokyo |
National Symbols
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| National animal | American bison (national mammal) | – |
| National flower | Rose | Cherry blossom |
| National bird | Bald eagle | Green pheasant |
Flags
Read more