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Country comparison

JapanvsNorth Korea

See the biggest differences first, then scan the geographic, economic, and practical reference data.

This comparison uses the latest available atlas values for each country; reporting years can differ by metric.

The biggest differences first

Population

Japan is higher

Japan records 123,975,371, about 4.68× the other value.

Surface area

Japan is higher

Japan records 377,969 km², about 3.14× the other value.

What stands out

Proportional bars and relative differences make the headline numbers easier to read.

Population

🇯🇵 Japan123,975,371
🇰🇵 North Korea26,498,823

Japan’s population is 368% larger than that of North Korea, a difference of 97,476,548.

Surface area

🇯🇵 Japan377,969 km²
🇰🇵 North Korea120,540 km²

Japan’s surface area is 214% larger than that of North Korea, a difference of 257,429 km².

Population density

🇯🇵 Japan328 /km²
🇰🇵 North Korea220 /km²

Japan’s population density is 49% higher than that of North Korea, a difference of 108 /km².

Nominal GDP

🇯🇵 Japan$4.03 trillion · 2024
🇰🇵 North KoreaNo data

Nominal GDP data is unavailable for North Korea, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.

GDP per capita

🇯🇵 Japan$32,487 · 2024
🇰🇵 North KoreaNo data

GDP per capita data is unavailable for North Korea, so a relative difference cannot be calculated.

Values use the latest available observations in WorldSumma. Economic reporting years are shown when available and can differ by country.

Full side-by-side comparison

Capital

Tokyo

Pyongyang

Population

123,975,371

26,498,823

Surface area

377,969 km²

120,540 km²

Population density

328 /km²

220 /km²

Nominal GDP

$4.03 trillion · 2024

—

GDP per capita

$32,487 · 2024

—

Region

Asia

Asia

Subregion

Eastern Asia

Eastern Asia

Currency

Japanese yen · JPY · ¥

North Korean Won · KPW · ₩

Nationality

Japanese

North Korean

Phone code

+81

+850

Internet domain

.jp

.kp

ISO codes

JP / JPN

KP / PRK

Time zone

Asia/Tokyo

Asia/Pyongyang

Native name

日本

북한

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About Japan

Japan, an island nation where ancient traditions meet cutting‑edge technology, captivates visitors with its harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural depth, and urban dynamism.

Full Japan profile →

About North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, is a country in East Asia occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula.

Full North Korea profile →

Japan & North Korea: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Japan?

The capital of Japan is Tokyo.

What is the population of Japan?

Japan has a recorded population of approximately 123,975,371 people.

How big is Japan?

Japan covers an area of about 377,969 km².

What is the population density of Japan?

Japan has a population density of roughly 328 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What is the GDP of Japan?

Japan has a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $4.03 trillion as of 2024.

What is the GDP per capita of Japan?

Japan has a GDP per capita of approximately $32,487.

What currency is used in Japan?

Japan uses the Japanese yen (JPY), with the symbol ¥.

Where is Japan located?

Japan is located in Eastern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of Japan?

The native name of Japan is 日本.

What are people from Japan called?

People from Japan are referred to as Japanese.

What is the phone calling code for Japan?

The international dialing code for Japan is +81.

What is the internet domain for Japan?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Japan is .jp.

What time zone is Japan in?

Japan uses the Asia/Tokyo time zone.

What is Japan known for?

Japan, an island nation where ancient traditions meet cutting‑edge technology, captivates visitors with its harmonious blend of natural beauty, cultural depth, and urban dynamism.

What is the capital of North Korea?

The capital of North Korea is Pyongyang.

What is the population of North Korea?

North Korea has a recorded population of approximately 26,498,823 people.

How big is North Korea?

North Korea covers an area of about 120,540 km².

What is the population density of North Korea?

North Korea has a population density of roughly 220 /km² (people per square kilometre).

What currency is used in North Korea?

North Korea uses the North Korean Won (KPW), with the symbol ₩.

Where is North Korea located?

North Korea is located in Eastern Asia, Asia.

What is the native name of North Korea?

The native name of North Korea is 북한.

What are people from North Korea called?

People from North Korea are referred to as North Korean.

What is the phone calling code for North Korea?

The international dialing code for North Korea is +850.

What is the internet domain for North Korea?

The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for North Korea is .kp.

What time zone is North Korea in?

North Korea uses the Asia/Pyongyang time zone.

What is North Korea known for?

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, is a country in East Asia occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula.