Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 02 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Japan: Economy & Innovation
What does an economy do for the people inside it?
Japan is placed 2nd of 176 countries on economy & innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: GDP per Capita (PPP) 48,283 (2025); Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit 83.21 (2025).
Share
Economy & Innovation
2nd
of 176 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
- 48,283GDP per Capita (PPP), 2025GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
- 83.21Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, 2025Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
- 1.729Economic Complexity Index, 2024ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
- 98.52Account Ownership at a Financial Institution, 2024Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Japan on economy & innovation — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
48,283
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)
Higher is better
Japan: 48,283. Across the 185 countries in this edition, values run from 1,067 (Burundi) to 139,593 (Singapore); the world median is 17,265.
- World median
- 17,265
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 117,098 Macau
Key 2 of 4
Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit
World Bank Group
Latest reading per country, 2016–2025 · Japan’s is from 2025 · CC BY 4.0
83.21
Firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)
Higher is better
Japan: 83.21. Across the 179 countries at their latest reading, values run from 2.113 (Pakistan) to 88.52 (Israel); the world median is 35.95.
- World median
- 35.95
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 83.21 Japan
Key 3 of 4
Economic Complexity Index
Growth Lab at Harvard University
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC0 1.0
1.729
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3)
Higher is better
Ranked 1st of 145 by Growth Lab at Harvard University
Japan: 1.729. Across the 145 countries in this edition, values run from -3.53 (Chad) to 1.729 (Japan); the world median is 0.131.
- World median
- 0.131
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 1.729 Japan
Key 4 of 4
Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
World Bank Group
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
98.52
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+)
Higher is better
Japan: 98.52. Across the 139 countries in this edition, values run from 14.83 (Niger) to 99.85 (Iceland); the world median is 72.83.
- World median
- 72.83
- Best in Eastern Asia
- 98.52 Japan
02Over time
Which way Japan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
GDP per Capita (PPP)
GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 39,732 in 2000 to 48,283 in 2025; the world median went from 10,589 to 17,265.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2025 48,283 17,265 2024 47,480 18,108 2023 47,387 17,686 2022 46,819 16,933 2021 45,999 16,260 2020 44,213 15,631 2019 46,055 16,761 2018 46,133 16,349 2017 45,693 16,129 2016 44,927 15,512 2015 44,589 14,857 2014 43,754 14,475 2013 43,304 14,681 2012 42,395 14,631 2011 41,641 13,916 2010 41,647 14,101 2009 40,000 13,655 2008 42,519 14,030 2007 43,042 13,755 2006 42,359 12,983 2005 41,740 12,023 2004 40,987 11,608 2003 40,152 11,183 2002 39,690 11,144 2001 39,749 10,907 2000 39,732 10,589 Economic Complexity Index
ECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan fell from 2.086 in 2000 to 1.729 in 2024; the world median went from 0.016 to 0.131.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2024 1.729 0.1310 2023 1.916 0.0710 2022 1.993 0.0580 2021 2.021 0.0010 2020 2.005 0.0470 2019 2.047 0.0300 2018 2.044 -0.0150 2017 2.005 0.0080 2016 2.100 -0.0660 2015 2.091 -0.0600 2014 2.014 -0.0190 2013 2.016 0.0140 2012 2.001 0.0060 2011 2.080 -0.0140 2010 2.045 -0.0020 2009 1.960 0.0990 2008 1.916 0.0700 2007 1.970 -0.0080 2006 1.927 0.0740 2005 1.912 0.0510 2004 2.039 0.0505 2003 2.058 0.0450 2002 2.099 0.0100 2001 2.007 0.0470 2000 2.086 0.0160 Account Ownership at a Financial Institution
Adults with an account (% of population aged 15+) · higher is better
JapanWorld median
Japan rose from 96.42 in 2011 to 98.52 in 2024; the world median went from 37.03 to 72.83.
Every year’s figures
Year Japan World median 2024 98.52 73 2021 98.49 74 2017 98.24 59 2014 96.65 52 2011 96.42 37
03In context
Japan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 176 countries on economy & innovation, never a place within the region.
Japan and Eastern Asia
Japan has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 176; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | GDP per Capita (PPP)GDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP) | Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of CreditFirms with a bank loan or line of credit (%) | Economic Complexity IndexECI score (standardised, roughly −3 to +3) | Account Ownership at a Financial InstitutionAdults with an account (% of population aged 15+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 2nd | 48,283 | 83.21 | 1.729 | 98.52 |
 South Koreacompare | 15th | 55,697 | 50.38 | 1.6 | 96.89 |
 Hong Kong | 37th | 68,725 | 14.93 | 1.162 | 97.31 |
 Chinacompare | =46th | 25,067 | 29.49 | 1.271 | 89.38 |
 Mongolia | 70th | 17,773 | 52.3 | -1.568 | 98.28 |
 Macau | not placed | 117,098 | — | — | — |
 North Korea | not placed | — | — | — | — |
 Taiwan | not placed | — | — | 1.621 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 176.
Placed either side on economy & innovation
The countries immediately above and below Japan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Japan is ahead of the world, and behind
47 more statistics filed under economy & innovation, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median20
Statistics on which Japan does better than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.815.87641.81No earlier reading
Japan: 5.876 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 178th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Informal Output (DGE Model Estimate)World Bank Group (Prospects Group) · 2020 · world median 27.510.2127.5No real change since 2010
Japan: 10.21 · world median 27.5 · Informal output, model estimate (% of official GDP). World Bank Group (Prospects Group), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 7.91 to 60.43; lower is better.
Liner Shipping Connectivity IndexUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 56.21415.7156.21No real change since 2016
Japan: 415.71 · world median 56.21 · LSCI (index, average Q1 2023 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 4.13 to 1,319; higher is better.
Ranked 8th of 175 by UNCTAD.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8143.4410.814▼ Worsened since 2013
Japan: 3.441 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 6th of 84 · derived.
Government AI Readiness IndexOxford Insights · 2025 · world median 40.1972.2440.19No real change since 2020
Japan: 72.24 · world median 40.19 · AI readiness score (0–100). Oxford Insights, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 12.12 to 88.36; higher is better.
Ranked 14th of 195 by Oxford Insights.
Global Innovation IndexWorld Intellectual Property Organization · 2025 · world median 28.5253.5628.52No real change since 2022
Japan: 53.56 · world median 28.52 · GII score (0–100). World Intellectual Property Organization, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.94 to 65.96; higher is better.
Ranked 12th of 139 by World Intellectual Property Organization.
Regulatory QualityWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median -0.0931.221-0.093No real change since 2015
Japan: 1.221 · world median -0.093 · Regulatory Quality (−2.5 to 2.5). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -2.106 to 2.113; higher is better.
Position 20th of 209 · derived.
Logistics Performance IndexWorld Bank Group · 2023 · world median 2.93.92.9▼ Worsened since 2014
Japan: 3.9 · world median 2.9 · LPI score (1–5). World Bank Group, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.9 to 4.3; higher is better.
Ranked 13th of 139 by World Bank Group.
Comprehensive Wealth per CapitaWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 46,486517,52446,486No real change since 2010
Japan: 517,524 · world median 46,486 · National comprehensive wealth per person (real chained 2019 US$). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 4,276 to 1,246,092; higher is better.
Position 16th of 150 · derived.
Frontier Technology Readiness IndexUNCTAD · 2023 · world median 0.4850.8440.485▼ Worsened since 2013
Japan: 0.844 · world median 0.485 · Frontier Technology Readiness Index (0–1). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1; higher is better.
Position 20th of 170 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.955,609701.95No earlier reading
Japan: 5,609 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 19th of 145 · derived.
Productive Capacities IndexUNCTAD · 2022 · world median 46.6761.4546.67No real change since 2012
Japan: 61.45 · world median 46.67 · Productive Capacities Index (1–100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 17.8 to 71.02; higher is better.
Position 30th of 195 · derived.
Actual Individual Consumption per Capita (PPP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 12,80029,63712,800▼ Worsened since 2017
Japan: 29,637 · world median 12,800 · Actual individual consumption per capita (PPP, current international $). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 688.7 to 52,654; higher is better.
Position 29th of 173 · derived.
Historical GDP per Capita (Maddison)GGDC · 2022 · world median 12,89038,26912,890No real change since 2012
Japan: 38,269 · world median 12,890 · GDP per capita (2011 international $). Maddison Project, Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 596.39 to 149,171; higher is better.
Position 28th of 166 · derived.
Digitally-Deliverable Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 25.4252.925.42▼ Worsened since 2014
Japan: 52.9 · world median 25.42 · Digitally-deliverable services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.377 to 87.15; higher is better.
Position 29th of 170 · derived.
ICT Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 0.9757.640.975No real change since 2014
Japan: 7.64 · world median 0.975 · ICT goods exports (% of total goods exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.45; higher is better.
Position 21st of 119 · derived.
World Energy Trilemma IndexWorld Energy Council · 2023 · world median 63.87563.8No earlier reading
Japan: 75 · world median 63.8 · Trilemma score (0–100). World Energy Council, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 27.7 to 83.2; higher is better.
Ranked 23rd of 99 by World Energy Council.
Water-Use EfficiencyFAO · 2023 · world median 16.159.3316.1No real change since 2013
Japan: 59.33 · world median 16.1 · Value added per cubic metre of freshwater withdrawn (constant US$ per m³). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 1,378; higher is better.
Firms with an International Quality CertificationWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 10.411.6710.4No earlier reading
Japan: 11.67 · world median 10.4 · Firms with an internationally recognised quality certification (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 45.77; higher is better.
Total Factor Productivity LevelGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.6270.640.627▼ Worsened since 2013
Japan: 0.64 · world median 0.627 · TFP level at current PPPs (USA = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.052 to 1.192; higher is better.
Behind the world median8
Statistics on which Japan does worse than the middle country measured.
Livestock Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 107.06104.84107.06▲ Improved since 2012
Japan: 104.84 · world median 107.06 · Livestock production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 35.52 to 190.08; higher is better.
Position 107th of 194 · derived.
ICT Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 7.4744.7137.474▲ Improved since 2014
Japan: 4.713 · world median 7.474 · ICT services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 56.25; higher is better.
Position 79th of 118 · derived.
Management Practices IndexWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 52.3948.4752.39No earlier reading
Japan: 48.47 · world median 52.39 · Management practices index, medium and large firms (0–100). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 28.07 to 69.29; higher is better.
Position 113th of 169 · derived.
Adjusted Net SavingsWorld Bank Group · 2021 · world median 8.3893.5518.389▼ Worsened since 2011
Japan: 3.551 · world median 8.389 · Adjusted net savings, including particulate emission damage (% of GNI). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from -81.62 to 32.18; higher is better.
Position 83rd of 118 · derived.
Food Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.08100.27106.08▼ Worsened since 2012
Japan: 100.27 · world median 106.08 · Food production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 71.08 to 177.49; higher is better.
Position 142nd of 195 · derived.
Crop Production IndexFAO · 2022 · world median 106.2394.6106.23▼ Worsened since 2012
Japan: 94.6 · world median 106.23 · Crop production index (2014–2016 = 100). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 53.79 to 189.93; higher is better.
Position 152nd of 195 · derived.
GDP GrowthWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3961.1933.396▼ Worsened since 2015
Japan: 1.193 · world median 3.396 · GDP growth (annual %). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -5.847 to 19.34; higher is better.
Position 153rd of 186 · derived.
New Business DensityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 2.1870.5762.187▼ Worsened since 2014
Japan: 0.576 · world median 2.187 · New limited liability companies registered per 1,000 people aged 15–64. World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.02 to 26.76; higher is better.
No better end19
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Merchant Fleet by Country of OwnershipUNCTAD · 2026 · world median 275.73243,175275.73No real change since 2016
Japan: 243,175 · world median 275.73 · Merchant fleet owned (thousand dead-weight tons). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 397,071.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240154,0372,240No real change since 2022
Japan: 154,037 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Creative Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 6.17126.346.171No real change since 2014
Japan: 26.34 · world median 6.171 · Creative services exports (% of services exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.002 to 63.91.
Container Port TrafficUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1,827,78821,886,6831,827,788Moved since 2014
Japan: 21,886,683 · world median 1,827,788 · Container port traffic (TEU, twenty-foot equivalent units). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 17,263 to 299,703,800.
Position 9th of 103 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Statutory Minimum WageILO · 2024 · world median 657.951,839657.95Moved since 2014
Japan: 1,839 · world median 657.95 · Statutory minimum wage per month (2021 PPP $). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.038 to 3,804.
Statutory Corporate Income Tax RateOECD · 2026 · world median 2429.7424Moved since 2016
Japan: 29.74 · world median 24 · Combined statutory corporate income tax rate, central and sub-central government (%). OECD, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 36.13.
Gross Savings (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2024 · world median 22.0632.0622.06Moved since 2014
Japan: 32.06 · world median 22.06 · Gross savings (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -21.13 to 47.82.
Position 26th of 146 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Price Level of Household ConsumptionGGDC · 2023 · world median 0.5230.8460.523Moved since 2013
Japan: 0.846 · world median 0.523 · Price level of household consumption (US output price level in 2021 = 1). Groningen Growth and Development Centre (GGDC), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.177 to 65.54.
Complexity Outlook IndexGrowth Lab at Harvard University · 2024 · world median -0.2250.068-0.225Moved since 2014
Japan: 0.068 · world median -0.225 · Complexity Outlook Index (standardised; roughly −2.5 to +3). Growth Lab at Harvard University, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -1.682 to 2.878.
Inflation, GDP DeflatorWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 3.3063.4223.306Moved since 2015
Japan: 3.422 · world median 3.306 · Annual change in the GDP implicit deflator (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -7.93 to 227.09.
Creative Goods ExportsUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 1.2350.9961.235No real change since 2014
Japan: 0.996 · world median 1.235 · Creative goods exports (% of merchandise exports). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.23.
Foreign Value Added Share of Gross ExportsOECD · 2022 · world median 27.4120.9827.41Moved since 2012
Japan: 20.98 · world median 27.41 · Foreign value added (% of gross exports). OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 4.491 to 66.08.
Tariff Rate, Applied, Weighted Mean, All ProductsWorld Bank Group · 2022 · world median 3.661.643.66Moved since 2012
Japan: 1.64 · world median 3.66 · Applied tariff rate, trade-weighted mean (%). World Bank Group, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 29.52.
Services ExportsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 9.6025.7779.602Moved since 2015
Japan: 5.777 · world median 9.602 · Services exports (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.085 to 166.21.
Terms of Trade IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 103.2393.65103.23Moved since 2015
Japan: 93.65 · world median 103.23 · Terms of trade index (2015 = 100). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 38.2 to 1,448.
Total Natural Resources Rents (% of GDP)World Bank Group · 2021 · world median 1.7080.0471.708Moved since 2011
Japan: 0.047 · world median 1.708 · Natural resources rents (% of GDP). World Bank Group, 2021 edition, data for 2021.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 61.03.
Position 157th of 180 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Export Concentration IndexUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 0.3060.1580.306Moved since 2015
Japan: 0.158 · world median 0.306 · Export concentration index (0–1, normalised Herfindahl–Hirschman). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.059 to 0.933.
Foreign Direct Investment InflowsUNCTAD · 2025 · world median 1.9680.3361.968Moved since 2015
Japan: 0.336 · world median 1.968 · FDI inflows (% of GDP). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from -32.97 to 2,221.
Commodity Export DependenceUNCTAD · 2024 · world median 67.179.76667.17No real change since 2014
Japan: 9.766 · world median 67.17 · Commodity exports (% of merchandise exports, three-year average). UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 4.605 to 99.77.
No current reading for Japan
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2021), Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Debt Service on External Debt, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption (last 2024), Gini Index (last 2020), Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID) (last 2021), GNI per Capita (PPP) (last 2024), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP) (last 2024), Household Consumption (last 2024), Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP) (last 2024), Income Share Held by Lowest 20% (last 2020), Income Share Held by Richest 10% (last 2020), Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP) (last 2024), Interest Payments on External Debt, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP) (last 2024), Palma Ratio (last 2020), Tax Revenue (% of GDP) (last 2023) and Trade (% of GDP) (last 2024). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Economy & Innovation among Japan’s 15 topics
Economy & Innovation is Japan’s 2nd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour2nd of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation2nd of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture5th of 1842/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing7th of 2003/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 9th of 1984/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 10th of 1944/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge13th of 1982/4 keys
- Peace & Security12th of 1774/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital18th of 1963/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade25th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties28th of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience55th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality56th of 1593/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 116th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability161st of 1864/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on economy & innovation
The three countries placed highest of 176, and the leaders Japan can most readily be measured against.
1
AustriaWestern Europe
1st of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: chensiyuan · CC BY-SA 4.0, greyscale
- 2Japan
Eastern Asia
2nd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
GermanyWestern Europe
3rd of 176 · 4 of 4 keys
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 176 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Japan and economy & innovation
On economy & innovation
China Leads Global High-Technology Exports
The world’s ten largest high-technology exporters as a treemap, with the rest of the world beside them. Each country’s figure is its own most recent year, between 2022 and 2024.
On economy & innovation
India vs Pakistan 2025: Comparison of Hunger Index, Happiness, HDI, Rule of Law, Literacy & GDP
India and Pakistan on six published measures: hunger, happiness, human development, rule of law, literacy and GDP per capita, each from its own publisher and year.
On economy & innovation
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
08Questions
Japan on economy & innovation: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Japan rank on economy & innovation?
Japan is placed 2nd of 176 countries on Economy & Innovation in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (GDP per Capita (PPP), Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit, Economic Complexity Index and Account Ownership at a Financial Institution). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest GDP per Capita (PPP) figure for Japan?
48,283 in 2025 (gDP per capita (constant 2021 international $, PPP)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 17,265.
What is the latest Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit figure for Japan?
83.21 in 2025 (firms with a bank loan or line of credit (%)), according to World Bank Group. The world median in the same edition was 35.95.
How have Japan’s economy & innovation figures changed?
GDP per Capita (PPP) rose from 39,732 in 2000 to 48,283 in 2025; Economic Complexity Index fell from 2.086 in 2000 to 1.729 in 2024; Account Ownership at a Financial Institution rose from 96.42 in 2011 to 98.52 in 2024.
Which economy & innovation statistics are missing for Japan?
No current reading is published for Japan on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added (% of GDP), Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Business Ready: Operational Efficiency, Business Ready: Public Services, Business Ready: Regulatory Framework, Debt Service on External Debt, Exports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), External Debt Stocks (% of GNI), General Government Consumption, Gini Index, Gini Index of Disposable Income (SWIID), GNI per Capita (PPP), Gross Capital Formation (% of GDP), Household Consumption, Imports of Goods and Services (% of GDP), Income Share Held by Lowest 20%, Income Share Held by Richest 10%, Industry Value Added including Construction (% of GDP), Interest Payments on External Debt, Manufacturing Value Added (% of GDP), Palma Ratio, Tax Revenue (% of GDP) and Trade (% of GDP). They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
The total size of an economy is deliberately left out: a very large economy spread over a very large population is not doing more for each person. Growth rates, trade shares and the structure of output (how much is farming, industry or services) are published here as context, because they describe an economy's shape rather than how well it serves people. Jobs and wages have their own topic, Work & Labour.
How the Economy & Innovation standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The economy & innovation method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- GDP per Capita (PPP) — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Firms with a Bank Loan or Line of Credit — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
- Economic Complexity Index — Growth Lab at Harvard University, CC0 1.0
- Account Ownership at a Financial Institution — World Bank Group, CC BY 4.0
The other 47 statistics on this page come from 14 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Japan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Japan (banner) — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Austria — chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Germany — dronepicr, CC BY 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Japan: Economy & Innovation — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/japan/economy