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China vs Japan GDP per capita
Japan has held the lead throughout the published window. In 1960 China stood at roughly 17% of Japan’s GDP per capita; today the figure is about 39%, and the pair was closest in 2024 (39%).
| Year | China | Japan | Japan as % of China |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 519.42 | 89.72 | 17% |
| 1970 | 2,144.99 | 113.35 | 5% |
| 1980 | 9,872.35 | 195.15 | 2% |
| 1990 | 26,344.73 | 318.5 | 1% |
| 2000 | 39,752.94 | 969.2 | 2% |
| 2010 | 45,378.14 | 4,629.25 | 10% |
| 2020 | 41,098.97 | 10,627.46 | 26% |
| 2025 | 35,951.04 | 13,861.97 | 39% |
Frequently asked questions
When did Japan pass China in GDP per capita?
It has not come to that. Japan has held the larger GDP per capita in every published year (1960–2025).
How do China and Japan compare today?
Japan is ahead: 35,951.04 against 13,861.97 — the trailing economy stands at about 39% of the leader.
Are these GDP per capita figures nominal or adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — current US$ — with no inflation restatement, no PPP conversion and no interpolation for missing years.
Full series
Every published year for both economies, with charts, downloads and citations: