China is the world's second-largest economy by nominal GDP ($17.9 trillion vs Japan's $4.2 trillion) with 3.6x larger population, while Japan leads in per capita GDP ($39,285 vs $12,720), technological innovation, and quality of life metrics. China dominates manufacturing and export volume; Japan excels in precision engineering, robotics, and consumer electronics.
Japan vs China — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
China wins for economic scale, manufacturing dominance, and global trade influence with a GDP 4.3x larger and 1.3 billion more people. Japan wins for quality of life, technological precision, innovation in robotics/semiconductors, and per capita prosperity. Choose China for understanding the world's largest manufacturing economy and emerging superpower; choose Japan for studying advanced technology adoption, demographic challenges, and high-income development models.
Insular island nation with the world's third-largest economy and leading quality of life metrics.
Upper-middle-income country with world's 2nd-largest economy and dominant manufacturing base.
Structured comparison data for Japan vs China with 146 attributes.
OLED Display Global Market Share (Leading Company)
Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Production
Government Education Expenditure Per Capita
Years to Double GDP at Current Growth Rate
Foreign Direct Investment Inflows (2025)
Japan vs China — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Japan vs China.
Why does Japan have higher per capita GDP despite being smaller?
Japan's wealth is more concentrated in a smaller, highly educated, aging population with advanced technology and services sectors. China's wealth is spread across 1.4 billion people with lower average incomes outside major cities and coastal zones.
Which country has a stronger economy overall?
China has a larger total economy ($17.9T vs $4.2T), but Japan has a stronger per-person economy ($39,285 per capita vs $12,720). China leads in manufacturing volume and global trade; Japan leads in wealth concentration and living standards.
Which country is better for manufacturing and outsourcing?
China remains the world's factory (28% of global manufacturing), offering lowest costs and largest capacity. Japan excels in precision manufacturing, robotics, semiconductors, and quality-critical products, commanding premium prices.
What are the biggest demographic differences?
China has 1.417 billion people (85% of working age), facing rapid aging. Japan has 125 million people with 29% over 65, experiencing population decline, creating labor shortages but also lower environmental pressure per capita.
Which country leads in technology and innovation?
China leads by volume (1.57M patents/year vs 281K), dominating AI, EVs, and 5G. Japan leads by quality and precision (robotics, optics, semiconductors), holding 52% of global industrial robots and dominating niche high-value markets.