Which has more people, Japan or South Korea?

Japan has a population of 122,427,731 (12th of 235 countries) and South Korea has 51,600,388 (31st of 235).

How do Japan and South Korea compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?

Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Japan 84.0 (10th of 215), South Korea 83.6 (14th of 215) among countries. Japan ranks better.

How do Japan and South Korea compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?

GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Japan $55,422 (39th of 184), South Korea $63,125 (29th of 184) among countries. South Korea ranks better.

Where does Japan beat South Korea most clearly?

Japan ranks far ahead on Male Obesity Rates (GOO) (Obesity Rates by Country): 5.5% vs 36.3%; Alcoholism % Male (Alcoholism by Country): 0.91% vs 5.43%; Alcoholism Rate Male (Alcoholism by Country): 860 per 100k vs 5,180 per 100k.

Where does South Korea beat Japan most clearly?

South Korea ranks far ahead on EPI Recycling Score (Recycling Rates by Country): 67.1 vs 11.5; Central Government Debt (Debt to GDP Ratio by Country): 44.8% vs 200.9%; Death Rate GHDE (Death Rate by Country): 683 deaths per 100k vs 1,297 deaths per 100k.

Japan vs South Korea

Japan comes out ahead of South Korea on 342 of 625 statistics where one end is better, to 252 with 31 ties. Japan leads on Crime & Safety, Politics & Government and Law and 3 more categories. South Korea leads on Travel, Tech & Business and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories.

625 statistics with a better end, compared

Each counts once for the place that ranks better; 31 ties. Totals that mostly track population are left out.

Japan

Wins: 342
Avg. percentile: 64
Categories led: 6

South Korea

Wins: 252
Avg. percentile: 62
Categories led: 5

At a glance

Headline statistics, each ranked among all countries.

Statistic	Japan	South Korea
Population	122,427,731 12th of 235	51,600,388 31st of 235
Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)Health Indicators by Country (World Bank)	84.0 10th of 215	83.6 14th of 215
GDP per Person at PPP (International $)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$55,422 39th of 184	$63,125 29th of 184
Unemployment Rate (%)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	2.45% 24th of 181	2.68% 29th of 181
Access to Electricity (% of People)Development Indicators by Country (World Bank)	100.0% tied 1st of 214	100.0% tied 1st of 214
Infant Deaths per 1,000 BirthsHealth Indicators by Country (World Bank)	1.8 tied 3rd of 195	2.3 tied 16th of 195
GDP per Person (US$)Economic Indicators by Country (World Bank)	$35,951 33rd of 185	$36,227 32nd of 185

By category

Average percentile on each category's widely ranked statistics.

Crime & SafetyJapan · 42 statistics
Politics & GovernmentJapan · 40 statistics
LawJapan · 8 statistics
CultureJapan · 65 statistics
TravelSouth Korea · 10 statistics
Tech & BusinessSouth Korea · 21 statistics
Manufacturing & MiningSouth Korea · 3 statistics
PopulationJapan · 19 statistics
Infrastructure & EnergySouth Korea · 37 statistics
EconomicsSouth Korea · 76 statistics
EducationJapan · 7 statistics
HealthEven · 200 statistics
EnvironmentEven · 47 statistics

Biggest differences

The 30 statistics where their rankings differ most, among rankings of at least 118 countries.

Statistic	Japan	South Korea
Male Obesity Rates (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	5.5% tied 26th of 170	36.3% 156th of 170
EPI Recycling ScoreRecycling Rates by Country	11.5 tied 135th of 180	67.1 1st of 180
Alcoholism % MaleAlcoholism by Country	0.91% 42nd of 204	5.43% 190th of 204
Alcoholism Rate MaleAlcoholism by Country	860 per 100k 42nd of 204	5,180 per 100k 190th of 204
Alcoholism %Alcoholism by Country	0.64% 43rd of 204	3.32% 190th of 204
Alcoholism RateAlcoholism by Country	616 per 100k 43rd of 204	3,205 per 100k 190th of 204
Planet and Climate Rank GCI v1.6Good Country Index by Country	32nd 32nd of 171	152nd 149th of 171
Central Government DebtDebt to GDP Ratio by Country	200.9% 146th of 149	44.8% 46th of 149
Female Obesity Rate (GOO)Obesity Rates by Country	5.5% 11th of 199	27.6% 130th of 199
Death Rate GHDEDeath Rate by Country	1,297 deaths per 100k 195th of 203	683 deaths per 100k 75th of 203
Debt to GDP RatioDebt to GDP Ratio by Country	237.0% 157th of 158	46.8% 66th of 158
Drug Use DALYsDrug Use by Country	0.6 tied 38th of 202	2.0 tied 161st of 202
% Overweight (Ages 5-19)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	4.36% 35th of 193	14.0% 136th of 193
Alcoholism Rate FemaleAlcoholism by Country	387 per 100k 68th of 204	1,218 per 100k 169th of 204
Legal Status of ExecutionsMost Strict Countries in the World	2.96 169th of 174	0.85 83rd of 174
STD Rate FemaleSTD Rates by Country	11,906 per 100k 12th of 201	24,453 per 100k 111th of 201
Heart Disease All Ages Death Rate - MaleHeart Disease Rates by Country	322 per 100k 151st of 204	129 per 100k 51st of 204
Crude Death Rate per 1k Population - UN 2020-2025Death Rate by Country	11.5 tied 182nd of 198	6.9 tied 83rd of 198
Alcoholism % FemaleAlcoholism by Country	0.4% 69th of 204	1.25% 168th of 204
Heart Disease All Ages Death RateHeart Disease Rates by Country	321 per 100k 158th of 204	140 per 100k 62nd of 204
Nurses and MidwivesNurse Vacancies by Country	9.84 per 10k 159th of 193	50.13 per 10k 72nd of 193
Heart Disease All Ages DALYs - MaleHeart Disease Rates by Country	6,087 per 100k 123rd of 204	3,134 per 100k 32nd of 204
Heart Disease All Ages Death Rate - FemaleHeart Disease Rates by Country	320 per 100k 164th of 204	151 per 100k 74th of 204
% Overweight (Age < 5)Childhood Obesity Rates by Country	2% 11th of 163	5.5% tied 80th of 163
Change in Colon Cancer Rates 1990-2017Colon Cancer Rate by Country	23.8% 103rd of 191	127.3% 186th of 191
Heart Disease All Ages DALYs - FemaleHeart Disease Rates by Country	4,400 per 100k 114th of 204	2,520 per 100k 26th of 204
Total STD RateSTD Rates by Country	8,497 per 100k 8th of 201	15,911 per 100k 91st of 201
Polity Democracy ScorePolity Data Series by Country	10 tied 1st of 132	8 tied 57th of 132
Debt as % of GNICountries Without Debt	105.6% 174th of 206	36.1% 99th of 206
Out-of-Pocket % of Health ExpenditureMedical Bankruptcies by Country	11.0% 32nd of 189	28.8% 100th of 189

See every statistic they shareSearch and sort all of them, adjust for cost of living or population, or add up to two more places.

Quick answers

Which is better, Japan or South Korea?: Japan comes out ahead of South Korea on 342 of 625 statistics where one end is better, to 252 with 31 ties. Japan leads on Crime & Safety, Politics & Government and Law and 3 more categories. South Korea leads on Travel, Tech & Business and Manufacturing & Mining and 2 more categories. Statistics where neither end is better, and totals that mostly track population, are not counted.
Which has more people, Japan or South Korea?: Japan has a population of 122,427,731 (12th of 235 countries) and South Korea has 51,600,388 (31st of 235).
How do Japan and South Korea compare on Life Expectancy at Birth (Years)?: Life Expectancy at Birth (Years): Japan 84.0 (10th of 215), South Korea 83.6 (14th of 215) among countries. Japan ranks better.
How do Japan and South Korea compare on GDP per Person at PPP (International $)?: GDP per Person at PPP (International $): Japan $55,422 (39th of 184), South Korea $63,125 (29th of 184) among countries. South Korea ranks better.
Where does Japan beat South Korea most clearly?: Japan ranks far ahead on Male Obesity Rates (GOO) (Obesity Rates by Country): 5.5% vs 36.3%; Alcoholism % Male (Alcoholism by Country): 0.91% vs 5.43%; Alcoholism Rate Male (Alcoholism by Country): 860 per 100k vs 5,180 per 100k.
Where does South Korea beat Japan most clearly?: South Korea ranks far ahead on EPI Recycling Score (Recycling Rates by Country): 67.1 vs 11.5; Central Government Debt (Debt to GDP Ratio by Country): 44.8% vs 200.9%; Death Rate GHDE (Death Rate by Country): 683 deaths per 100k vs 1,297 deaths per 100k.

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