China's economy is approximately 4 times larger than Japan's by nominal GDP ($17.9T vs $4.2T in 2024), making it the world's second-largest economy, while Japan ranks fourth. However, Japan has a significantly higher GDP per capita ($39,285 vs $12,720), reflecting deeper wealth distribution and higher living standards per citizen.
Japan vs China Economy — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Mature, technology-driven developed economy with low unemployment and high per capita wealth
World's largest economy by nominal GDP as of 2024, specializing in manufacturing, infrastructure, and tech exports.
Nominal GDP (2024). GDP Per Capita (2024). Population. GDP Growth Rate (2024). Unemployment Rate (2024). Foreign Exchange Reserves. Manufacturing Output Global Share
Choose China's economy if analyzing global economic scale, manufacturing capacity, and growth momentum—it dominates in absolute size and production output. Choose Japan's economy if prioritizing wealth per citizen, economic stability, labor efficiency, and developed-market characteristics. Both represent different economic models: China represents rapid-growth emerging dominance while Japan represents mature, stable prosperity.
Japan Economy: $4.2 trillion | China Economy: $18.7 trillion
Japan Economy: 1.2% | China Economy: 4.8%
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (Annual)
Japan Economy: $13.2 billion | China Economy: $163.5 billion
Japan Economy: 123 million | China Economy: 1.42B
Japan Economy: 49.2 | China Economy: 37.9
Japan Economy: 20% (high-tech focused) | China Economy: 28% (diversified)
Japan Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 4.1%
Japan Economy: $4.2 trillion | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: $31,546 | China Economy: $12,720
Japan Economy: 124 million | China Economy: 1,420 million
Japan Economy: 2.6% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 19.3% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: 5.1%
Japan Economy: 3.9% | China Economy: 14.3%
Japan Economy: 48.7 years | China Economy: 38.8 years
Japan Economy: $39,300 | China Economy: $12,700
Japan Economy: $1.2T | China Economy: $3.4 trillion
Japan Economy: 125 million | China Economy: 1,420 million
Japan Economy: $32,100 | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 2.5% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 264% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: $39,200 | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 123 million | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: $4.2 trillion | China Economy: $17.9T
Japan Economy: 1.2% | China Economy: 5.2%
Japan Economy: +$229B | China Economy: +$821 billion surplus
Japan Economy: 2.8% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: 264% | China Economy: 77%
Japan Economy: $925 billion | China Economy: $3.6 trillion
Japan Economy: $5.2 trillion | China Economy: $11.8 trillion
Japan Economy: 1.2% | China Economy: 5.0%
Japan Economy: $26 billion | China Economy: $189 billion
Japan Economy: 310,000 | China Economy: 1,750,000
Japan Economy: 4th largest exporter | China Economy: 2nd largest exporter (after USA)
Japan Economy: 7.2% | China Economy: 28%
Japan Economy: $4.2 trillion | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
Japan Economy: 18.9% | China Economy: 29.4%
Japan Economy: 1.2% | China Economy: N/A
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,800
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $220 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17-18
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.0%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,720
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~80%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: Limited by US export controls, advancing in AI adoption
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: -0.5 to -2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.5-5.0%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $296.5 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $620.1 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.5-2.0%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: Restricted to 7nm+ (export controls)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,700
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $620 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $525
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: -0.5 to -2.0%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: Limited by US export controls
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.6-4.8%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: €296.5 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: €467
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 80%+
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~5.2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $13,500
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $5,708.7
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $296.5
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $680 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.2-0.3%
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28.3%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 4.7%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $400-800B reduction
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production Share
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.5-2.0pp
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $45.78 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.0%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 77% (government only)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~5.5%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: EV manufacturing, 5G, solar, semiconductors
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $16,800 (119,800 yuan)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $14,874
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $11.1 trillion behind
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.1%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: ~16-17% of global GDP
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.9% CPI
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.1%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 3-4%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: Data not available
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $14,800+
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 36% smaller than US
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $189 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $17.9T
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12,500
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.4T
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 5.3%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.8T (Alibaba, Tencent, Meituan weighted total)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 37.4 years (projected 53 by 2050)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 282%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $652 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$631 billion (surplus)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 142 companies
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.8 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $10.8 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 28.4%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 54.8%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $22.8 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: +$632 billion (surplus)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,480 GW
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $11,500
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.3 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14.8%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,200 thousand
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $189B
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $35.5 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 687,231
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $15.2 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $6.8 trillion
Tech Sector Market Capitalization (Top 7 Companies)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $2.8 trillion
Average Annual GDP Growth Rate (2010-2023)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 6.8%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $31.6 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 16% of world GDP
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $696 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.2 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 920 million
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,820,000
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 0.2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.2 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.7 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1,200,000
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $38,000
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 12.4%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $36.1 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8.7%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $3.6T
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 8-10%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 30 million
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $4.7 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 38.4 years
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $24 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $1,370 billion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $12.3 trillion
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 20.6%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2.1%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $28.7T
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $163B
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $90 billion
Annual GDP Growth Rate (2020-2026 Average)
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 14.2%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 142,000
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 2.4%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 1.59 million
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: 15.8%
Japan Economy: N/A | China Economy: $369 billion
How to choose between Japan Economy and China Economy
Japan vs China Economy — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Japan vs China Economy. Contains 231 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Japan vs China Economy — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Japan vs China Economy.
Why is China's economy so much larger than Japan's if Japan is wealthier per capita?
China has 11.4 times more people (1.42B vs 125M), so despite lower per-capita wealth, the total economy is much larger. China's economy = $17.9T with 1.42B people; Japan's = $4.2T with 125M people. It's the difference between total economic output (where size matters) and individual prosperity (where per-capita metrics matter).
Which economy is growing faster and why?
China grows at 5.3% annually versus Japan's 1.0%, a 430% difference. China benefits from rapid industrialization, urbanization (60% urban rate rising from 30% in 2000), and a younger workforce. Japan faces demographic headwinds: its population shrinks 0.5% yearly and 28% are over 65, reducing working-age productivity and creating labor shortages.
Is Japan's economy stronger or weaker than China's?
It depends on the metric. China is stronger in absolute size, growth rate, manufacturing capacity, and currency reserves. Japan is stronger in per-capita wealth, labor efficiency, unemployment rate, and technological advancement. Different metrics reveal different strengths: China dominates scale, Japan dominates quality of life per citizen.
How do their exports and trade positions compare?
China controls 28% of global manufacturing exports ($2.3T in exports, 2024) versus Japan's 8% share ($890B). However, Japan's exports are higher-value: Japan dominates semiconductors, robotics, and precision manufacturing with 35% global semiconductor equipment share. China dominates volume in consumer goods, electronics assembly, and raw materials.
What economic challenges does each face?
Japan faces demographic collapse: -0.5% population decline annually, aging workforce, and low birth rates (1.2 children per woman) creating shrinking consumer base and pension crises. China faces debt accumulation (government + corporate debt at 280% of GDP), property market instability, and slowing growth as it transitions from manufacturing-led to consumption-led growth models.
How to Choose Between Japan Economy and China Economy
Nominal GDP (2024): Japan Economy has $4.2 trillion USD, while China Economy has $17.9 trillion USD.
GDP Per Capita (2024): Japan Economy has $39,285 USD, while China Economy has $12,720 USD.
Population: Japan Economy has 125 million, while China Economy has 1.42 billion.
GDP Growth Rate (2024): Japan Economy has 1.0%, while China Economy has 5.3%.
Unemployment Rate (2024): Japan Economy has 2.5%, while China Economy has 5.1%.
Foreign Exchange Reserves: Japan Economy has $1.2 trillion USD, while China Economy has $3.2 trillion USD.
Consider: Manufacturing Output Global Share
Manufacturing Output Global Share: Japan Economy has 8%, while China Economy has 28%.