Japan vs Vietnam
Population, economy and geography side by side
vs
Japan has 20.4 million more people than Vietnam (123 million vs 102 million in 2026). Japan is 1.2 times larger by land area. GDP per capita is higher in Japan ($35,951 vs $5,066). People live longer on average in Japan (84.0 vs 74.7 years).
| Japan | Vietnam | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2026) | 122,585,904 | 102,177,431 |
| Yearly population change | −0.63% | +0.57% |
| Population 2050 (projected) | 105 million | 110 million |
| Land area | 364,500 km² | 313,429 km² |
| Density | 336/km² | 326/km² |
| GDP | $4.44 trillion (2025) | $515 billion (2025) |
| GDP per capita | $35,951 (2025) | $5,066 (2025) |
| Life expectancy | 84.0 years | 74.7 years |
| Births per woman | 1.15 | 1.90 |
| Urban population | 92% | 39% |
| Capital | Tokyo | Hanoi |
| Currency | yen (JPY) | Vietnamese đồng (VND) |
| Calling code | +81 | +84 |
Share of world population: Japan 1.48%, Vietnam 1.23%.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a bigger population, Japan or Vietnam?
Japan: about 123 million people versus 102 million in Vietnam (2026).
Is Japan bigger than Vietnam?
By land area, Japan is larger: 364,500 km² versus 313,429 km².
Which economy is bigger, Japan or Vietnam?
Japan, with a GDP of $4.44 trillion versus $515 billion (World Bank, current US$).
Sources: World Bank Open Data — World Development Indicators and Population Estimates and Projections (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0). Retrieved 2026-10-22. GDP in current US dollars (World Bank, latest available year).