Japan vs United States of America: Government spending vs. GDP
Government spending vs. GDP over time
- Japan
- United States of America
How they compare
United States of America currently reports 3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$ against 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in Japan, a difference of 2.03 trillion constant 2015 US$.
That makes United States of America's figure about 3.0 times Japan's.
Across all 55 years both countries report, United States of America has been ahead every year.
Japan ranks 2nd and United States of America ranks 1st of 166 countries.
United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Japan | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 286.80 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.42 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.14 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
| 1980s | 434.38 billion constant 2015 US$ | 1.72 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.28 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
| 1990s | 596.16 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.08 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.48 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
| 2000s | 746.41 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.49 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.75 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
| 2010s | 860.27 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.66 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.80 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
| 2020s | 975.11 billion constant 2015 US$ | 2.92 trillion constant 2015 US$ | 1.94 trillion constant 2015 US$ | United States of America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher government spending vs. gdp, Japan or United States of America?
- United States of America, at 3.03 trillion constant 2015 US$ against 999.41 billion constant 2015 US$ in Japan as of 2024.
- What is the difference in government spending vs. gdp between Japan and United States of America?
- 2.03 trillion constant 2015 US$, with United States of America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and United States of America?
- 55 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
- How do Japan and United States of America rank globally for government spending vs. gdp?
- Japan ranks 2nd and United States of America ranks 1st of 166 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) β processed by Our World in Data, published as Government spending vs. GDP. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
General government final consumption expenditure includes all government current expenditures for purchases of goods and services (including compensation of employees). Both measures are expressed in constant 2015 US$.