Japan vs Russia
Japan leads on 4 of 6 metrics, Russia on 2. Here's the full side-by-side breakdown.
Japan vs Russia: the verdict
Russia is the more populous of the two, home to 143.51 million people — about 1.2× the population of Japan (123.37 million).
On the economy, Japan has the larger nominal GDP at $4.44T. But measured per person, Japan comes out ahead on GDP per capita ($35,951), a better proxy for average living standards.
Geographically, Russia is the larger country, spanning 17,098,242 km².
Japan records the higher Human Development Index (0.925), reflecting stronger combined outcomes in health, education and income (source: UNDP).
Overall, Japan leads on more headline metrics in this comparison, though "which country is better" depends entirely on which measures matter to you.
Full breakdown
Japan
JapanJapanGovernment & politics
JapanJapan
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.
Russia
On paper Russia is a federal semi-presidential republic, but in practice power is heavily concentrated in the presidency. The President controls the security services, the military and foreign policy, and dominates a Prime Minister who chiefly manages the economy. The State Duma and the courts exercise limited independent check on executive power. Constitutional changes in 2020 further strengthened and extended the presidency.
Travel & practical
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Frequently asked questions
Which country has a higher GDP, Japan or Russia?
Japan has the higher nominal GDP at $4.44T, compared with $2.56T for Russia (World Bank).
Which country has a larger population, Japan or Russia?
Russia has the larger population with 143,513,328 people, versus 123,366,734 for Japan.
Which is larger in area, Japan or Russia?
Russia is larger, covering 17,098,242 km² compared with 377,930 km² for Japan.