Japan vs South Korea: GDP growth
GDP growth in 2025: 1.2% a year in Japan and 1.1% a year in South Korea, by IMF estimates. In 2025 the value was higher in Japan, by 0 percentage points, or 1.02 times that in South Korea.
JapanSouth Korea
Watch it change on the map% a year · IMF
Latest figures
% a year · IMF
| Country | Latest | 10 years before | Rank in 2025 | Projected |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 1.2 2025 | 1.8 | 118 of 143 | 0.6 2031 |
| South Korea | 1.1 2025 | 2.9 | 119 of 143 | 1.9 2031 |
What the numbers say
- Japan has been higher since 2025, when it overtook South Korea.
- In 2025, Japan ranked 118 and South Korea ranked 119 of 143 countries, counting from the highest.
- The IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) puts Japan at 0.6% a year and South Korea at 1.9% a year in 2031.
Every year
% a year · IMF
| Year | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| 2024 | 0.1 | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 3.6 | 4.7 |
| 2020 | -4.3 | -0.7 |
| 2019 | -0.3 | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 0.8 | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 1.6 | 3.4 |
| 2016 | 0.7 | 3.2 |
| 2015 | 1.8 | 2.9 |
| 2014 | 0.9 | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 2 | 3.3 |
| 2012 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 2011 | -0.2 | 3.7 |
| 2010 | 4.1 | 7 |
| 2009 | -5.9 | 0.8 |
| 2008 | -1.2 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1.7 | 5.8 |
| 2006 | 1.5 | 5.2 |
| 2005 | 1.8 | 4.4 |
| 2004 | 2.1 | 5.2 |
| 2003 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 0.1 | 7.7 |
| 2001 | 0.3 | 4.7 |
| 2000 | 3 | 9.2 |
| 1999 | -0.3 | 11.6 |
| 1998 | -1.8 | -4.9 |
| 1997 | 1.4 | 6.3 |
| 1996 | 3.1 | 8 |
| 1995 | 2.3 | 9.7 |
| 1994 | 0.9 | 9.4 |
| 1993 | -0.5 | 7 |
| 1992 | 0.9 | 6.4 |
| 1991 | 3.5 | 10.9 |
| 1990 | 4.8 | 10 |
| 1989 | 4.9 | 7.2 |
| 1988 | 6.7 | 12.1 |
| 1987 | 4.6 | 12.9 |
| 1986 | 3.3 | 11.5 |
| 1985 | 5.2 | 7.9 |
| 1984 | 4.4 | 10.6 |
| 1983 | 3.6 | 13.5 |
| 1982 | 3.3 | 8.5 |
| 1981 | 4.3 | 7.4 |
| 1980 | 3.2 | -1.5 |
IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026) · 2026–2031
| Year | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
| 2027 | 0.7 | 2.8 |
| 2028 | 0.6 | 2.3 |
| 2029 | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| 2030 | 0.6 | 1.9 |
| 2031 | 0.6 | 1.9 |
Each country on its own
Good to know
- How much the economy grew or shrank in a year, after inflation.
- Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, October 2026.
- The dashed line is the IMF projection (World Economic Outlook, October 2026), a scenario rather than a forecast.
- Ranks count the 143 countries with a value in 2025, highest first.
How the layers work, where their data comes from and what they can’t tell you: Countries through time