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
GDP and GDP per capita
The United States has both a larger GDP and a higher GDP per capita than Japan. The table below compares key economic indicators of the two countries.
| 2026 (IMF) | USA | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | United States Dollar | Japanese Yen |
| GDP (nominal, USD) | $32.64 trillion | $4.34 trillion |
| GDP per capita (nominal, USD) | $95.21 thousand | $35.4 thousand |
| GDP (PPP, international $) | $32.64 trillion | $7.32 trillion |
| GDP per capita (PPP, international $) | $95.21 thousand | $59.71 thousand |
| Real GDP growth | 2.3% | 0.7% |
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF)
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Population
The United States has a larger population than Japan. However, Japan has a higher population density. The table below compares the population, total fertility rate (TFR), and the percentage of the population in different age groups in the two countries.
| 2025 estimate | USA | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 347.3 million | 123.1 million |
| Population aged 0-14 | 17% | 11% |
| Population aged 15-64 | 65% | 59% |
| Population aged 65 and older | 18% | 30% |
| Total fertility rate, per woman | 1.6 | 1.2 |
Source: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
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
The United States is one of the largest countries in the world. It is approximately 26 times larger than Japan in terms of total area.
| 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 |
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Geography
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Continent | North America | Asia |
| Forest cover (2023) | 33.9% | 68.4% |
| Total number of time zones | 11 | 1 |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| International tourist arrivals | 72.4 million (2024) | 36.9 million (2024) |
| Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites | 27 | 27 |
| Popular places to visit | New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Yellowstone National Park, San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Grand Canyon, etc. | Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Hiroshima, Sapporo, Yokohama, etc. |
| Busiest airport | Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport | Haneda Airport, Tokyo |
National Symbols
| USA | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| National animal | American bison (national mammal) | – |
| National flower | Rose | Cherry blossom |
| National bird | Bald eagle | Green pheasant |
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