Japan
Asia · Eastern Asia
Ultra-safe and culturally singular; aging society, intense work culture, difficult immigration.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
Retiree
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Japan's Human Development Index
0.920
Very High human development#23 of 191 countries worldwide, #4 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 88% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Japan
Japan is a country where ancient tradition and hyper-modern innovation coexist with a seamlessness that seems impossible until you experience it, from the temples and zen gardens of Kyoto to the neon-lit streets of Tokyo and the mountain shrines of the Japan Alps. The culture is one of extraordinary attention to craft, detail, and hospitality, expressed in everything from a bowl of ramen to the design of a train station. It suits almost every kind of traveller and consistently ranks among the most memorable places people have ever visited.
- Lowest homicide rate of any large nation on earth.
- Has more people over 100 years old than any country except the United States.
- Vending machines outnumber convenience stores — roughly one per 25 people.
Quick Facts
Capital
Tokyo
Language
Japanese
Currency
¥ JPY
Area
364,569 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
256Mbps
Mobile
69Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$5,500/mo
Duration
6 months
Renewable
No
Application Fee
Varies
GDP / Capita
$36K
PPP / Capita
$55K
Inflation
3.2%
Unemployment
2.5%
Innovation (GII)
53.6
GNI / Capita
$38K
FDI Inflows
1.0%
Education Spend
3.3%
Cost of Living
47.5
Price Level Index
23rd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.846 → 0.920 (+0.074)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Japan for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Japan head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Japan's Human Development Index?
Japan's Human Development Index is 0.920 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #23 of 191 countries.
Is Japan safe?
Japan scores 1.49 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #10 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Japan?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Japan at 47.5 (New York = 100); that is #89 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Japan?
Life expectancy at birth in Japan is 84.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #9 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Japan?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Japan at 185.6, ranked #17 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.