Australia vs Japan
Australia leads on 3 of 6 metrics, Japan on 3. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Australia vs Japan: the verdict
Japan is the more populous of the two, home to 123.37 million people — about 4.5× the population of Australia (27.61 million).
On the economy, Japan has the larger nominal GDP at $4.44T. But measured per person, Australia comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($65,130), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Australia is the larger country, spanning 7,692,024 km².
Australia records the higher Human Development Index (0.958), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall the two are evenly matched across these headline metrics — the "winner" depends on which measures matter most to you.
Full breakdown
Australia
AustraliaAustraliaGovernment & politics
AustraliaAustralia
Australia combines a Westminster parliamentary system with a US-style elected Senate and a written federal constitution. The monarch is head of state, represented by the Governor-General, but power rests with the Prime Minister and Cabinet, drawn from the elected House of Representatives. Unusually, the Senate is powerful and fully elected, and the High Court can strike down laws that breach the constitution. Voting is compulsory.
Japan
Japan is a constitutional monarchy in which the Emperor is defined by the postwar constitution as the 'symbol of the State' with no governing power at all. Executive authority lies with the Prime Minister, chosen by and accountable to the elected House of Representatives, and the Cabinet. Japan's constitution famously renounces war, and the military (the Self-Defense Forces) is under strict civilian control.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Australia or Japan?
Japan has the higher nominal GDP at $4.44T, compared with $1.8T for Australia (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, Australia or Japan?
Japan has the larger population with 123,366,734 people, versus 27,614,411 for Australia.
Which is larger in area, Australia or Japan?
Australia is larger, covering 7,692,024 km² compared with 377,930 km² for Japan.