Key indicator comparison

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Japan / South Korea · Key indicator comparisonEach axis shows a 0–100 relative position: 0 is a lower raw value and 100 a higher one. Higher does not mean better; area and axes are not a combined score. Total populationGDP per capitaLife expectancyMedian ageFertility ratePopulation growth
Japan (JPN)South Korea (KOR)

Each axis shows a 0–100 relative position: 0 is a lower raw value and 100 a higher one. Higher does not mean better; area and axes are not a combined score.

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Key indicators

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Choose 4–8 approved radar candidates; six is recommended. This selection is separate from the comparison.

Results: 7

Each indicator compares both countries within the same source series, unit, period type and reference period.
IndicatorJapanSouth KoreaDifference (left − right)Reference period / Trend
Access to electricity (% of population)Not eligible for radar · selectable in comparison mode 100% 100% 0 %p 2024 World Bank Historical trend
GDP per capita, current US$ $35,951 $36,227 -$276 2025 World Bank Historical trend
Life expectancy at birth, total 84 years 83.6 years 0.41 years 2024 World Bank Historical trend
Median age 49 years Estimated 44.5 years Estimated 4.47 years 2023 UN DESA Population Division Historical trend
Rate of population change -0.482%/year Estimated -0.041%/year Estimated -0.44 pp/year 2023 UN DESA Population Division Historical trend
Total fertility rate 1.208 births per woman Estimated 0.72 births per woman Estimated 0.49 births per woman 2023 UN DESA Population Division Historical trend
Total population 123,366,734 people 51,684,564 people 71,682,170 people 2025 World Bank Historical trend

Differences use values before display rounding, so they may differ from subtracting the rounded figures shown.

Bars show relative size from zero. Higher does not mean better.

Sources and data-use information

What to check in this comparison

The notes below use the currently published values. Years and sources may differ across indicators.

GDP per capita, current US$

Japan $35,951 / South Korea $36,227

Reference period: 2025 · World Bank · World Development Indicators

Raw difference, left minus right: -$276. The raw value for South Korea is higher than for Japan. This establishes neither superiority nor the cause of the difference. This is an economy-wide average, not a person's salary or a household's disposable income. The same average can coexist with different income distributions.

Median age

Japan 49 years / South Korea 44.5 years

Reference period: 2023 · UN DESA Population Division · World Population Prospects 2024

Estimated

Raw difference, left minus right: 4.47 years. The raw value for Japan is higher than for South Korea. This establishes neither superiority nor the cause of the difference. Median age differs from mean age. It locates the middle of the population, but does not directly give the older-age or working-age share.

Total fertility rate

Japan 1.208 births per woman / South Korea 0.72 births per woman

Reference period: 2023 · UN DESA Population Division · World Population Prospects 2024

Estimated

Raw difference, left minus right: 0.49 births per woman. The raw value for Japan is higher than for South Korea. This establishes neither superiority nor the cause of the difference. Total fertility rate is not the year's number of births or the completed family size of women who have finished childbearing. It summarizes age-specific fertility in a period.

Total population · Historical trend

World Bank · World Development Indicators

Lines join consecutive periods only. Exact values and quality are in the table below. Unit: people

Exact values by period are available in the table below.

Total population · Exact values
Reference periodJapanSouth KoreaDifference (left − right)
2016 127,076,000 people 51,217,803 people 75,858,197 people
2017 126,972,000 people 51,361,911 people 75,610,089 people
2018 126,811,000 people 51,585,058 people 75,225,942 people
2019 126,633,000 people 51,764,822 people 74,868,178 people
2020 126,261,000 people 51,836,239 people 74,424,761 people
2021 125,681,593 people 51,769,539 people 73,912,054 people
2022 125,124,989 people 51,672,569 people 73,452,420 people
2023 124,516,650 people 51,712,619 people 72,804,031 people
2024 123,975,371 people 51,751,065 people 72,224,306 people
2025 123,366,734 people 51,684,564 people 71,682,170 people

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