Japan vs South Korea — Country Comparison
Japan
South KoreaJapan and South Korea side by side: Japan is the larger country (377,930 km² vs 100,210 km², roughly 3.8× the size), while Japan has the bigger population (123.2 million vs 51.2 million). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Japan | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Tokyo | Seoul |
| Population | 123,210,000 | 51,159,889 |
| Area | 377,930 km² | 100,210 km² |
| Currency | Japanese yen | South Korean won |
| Language | Japanese | Korean |
| Dialling code | +81 | +82 |
| Main timezone | UTC+09:00 | UTC+09:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Right |
| Region | Eastern Asia | Eastern Asia |
| Emergency number | 110 (police) / 119 (fire & ambulance) | 112 (police) / 119 (fire & ambulance) |
Key differences: Japan vs South Korea
- Japan has about 2.4 times the population of South Korea.
- Japan is about 3.8 times larger by area.
- South Korea is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: JPY and KRW.
- They do not share an official language.
- They do not share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 940 km apart.
- Japan and South Korea are in the same time zone (UTC+09:00).
Want the full picture for each country? See Japan and South Korea, or compare their population pages: Japan · South Korea.
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Japan vs South Korea — FAQ
Which is bigger, Japan or South Korea?
Japan is bigger by area: 377,930 km² vs 100,210 km², roughly 3.8× the size of South Korea.
Is Japan bigger than South Korea?
Yes — Japan covers 377,930 km², compared to 100,210 km² for South Korea.
Which has more people, Japan or South Korea?
Japan has the larger population: 123,210,000 (123.2 million) vs 51,159,889 (51.2 million).
How does the size of Japan compare to South Korea?
Japan (377,930 km²) is about 3.8× larger than South Korea (100,210 km²).
Do Japan and South Korea use the same currency?
No — Japan uses the Japanese yen and South Korea uses the South Korean won.
Are Japan and South Korea on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Asia.
What is the time difference between Japan and South Korea?
Japan and South Korea are in the same time zone (UTC+09:00).
Do Japan and South Korea share an official language?
No — Japan and South Korea do not share an official language.
Do Japan and South Korea share a border?
No — Japan and South Korea do not share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Japan or South Korea?
South Korea is more densely populated at roughly 511 people per km², compared to 326 for Japan.
How far is Japan from South Korea?
The distance between the geographic centres of Japan and South Korea is roughly 940 km (580 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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