GeoRealityMatch
Tokyo cityscape featuring modern buildings and a bridge over a canal under a clear blue sky.Spectacular view of Tokyo Tower brightly lit against the urban skyline at night.

Japan

Asia · Eastern Asia

Very high safetyAffordable cost of livingVery high development

It is one of the most peaceful countries, and incomes are high. Few locals speak English well.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 256 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development, very high safety and affordable cost of living.RetireeCombines very high life expectancy, very high safety and affordable cost of living.
vs United Statesvs United Kingdomvs China
Safety

10th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.489lower is more peacefulVery high safety
#10 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.2per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
77.2Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferVery highNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$38,340national income per person, US dollarsVery high
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
14.7New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
11.4years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person fell 1% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 14% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$30K$60K$55,422 PPP$35,951Inflation, % a year4%0200620102015202020252006, $36,354 a person, $33,971 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2007, $36,130 a person, $35,359 at PPP2008, $40,294 a person, $35,643 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2009, $41,678 a person, $33,843 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2010, $45,378 a person, $35,658 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2011, $49,122 a person, $36,483 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2012, $49,627 a person, $37,974 at PPP2013, $41,369 a person, $39,855 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2014, $39,173 a person, $40,272 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2015, $35,665 a person, $41,722 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $40,215 a person, $41,463 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2017, $39,680 a person, $42,347 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $40,645 a person, $43,090 at PPP, inflation 1%2019, $41,425 a person, $43,744 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2020, $41,099 a person, $43,560 at PPP2021, $41,581 a person, $45,999 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2022, $35,548 a person, $49,246 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $35,215 a person, $52,726 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2024, $33,797 a person, $54,156 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2025, $35,951 a person, $55,422 at PPP, inflation 3.2%$0$30K$60KInflation, % a year4%0200620102015202020252006, $36,354 a person, $33,971 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2007, $36,130 a person, $35,359 at PPP2008, $40,294 a person, $35,643 at PPP, inflation 1.4%2009, $41,678 a person, $33,843 at PPP, inflation -1.4%2010, $45,378 a person, $35,658 at PPP, inflation -0.7%2011, $49,122 a person, $36,483 at PPP, inflation -0.3%2012, $49,627 a person, $37,974 at PPP2013, $41,369 a person, $39,855 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2014, $39,173 a person, $40,272 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2015, $35,665 a person, $41,722 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2016, $40,215 a person, $41,463 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2017, $39,680 a person, $42,347 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2018, $40,645 a person, $43,090 at PPP, inflation 1%2019, $41,425 a person, $43,744 at PPP, inflation 0.5%2020, $41,099 a person, $43,560 at PPP2021, $41,581 a person, $45,999 at PPP, inflation -0.2%2022, $35,548 a person, $49,246 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2023, $35,215 a person, $52,726 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2024, $33,797 a person, $54,156 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2025, $35,951 a person, $55,422 at PPP, inflation 3.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
84.0years, at birthVery high
#9 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
86WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
8.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
2.5%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
256 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
446EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery lowEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet256 MbpsVery fast
Mobile69 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaHard

Minimum income
$5,500 a month
Duration
6 months
Renewable
No
Application fee
Varies
  • Tax treatmentExempt
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyNo
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official pageImmigration portal
Spectacular view of Tokyo Tower brightly lit against the urban skyline at night.
How it changed

Japan's Human Development Index

0.925Very high human development

23rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 4th of 43 in Asia.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #21Slovenia0.931
  2. #22Austria0.930
  3. #23Japan0.925
  4. #24Malta0.924
  5. #25Luxembourg0.922
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.853 in 1990 to 0.925 in 2023.

0.800.880.950.92519902000201020231990: 0.8531991: 0.8571992: 0.8591993: 0.8651994: 0.8721995: 0.8741996: 0.8801997: 0.8831998: 0.8841999: 0.8852000: 0.8892001: 0.8922002: 0.8942003: 0.8962004: 0.8992005: 0.9002006: 0.9032007: 0.9052008: 0.9052009: 0.9052010: 0.9072011: 0.9062012: 0.9092013: 0.9122014: 0.9142015: 0.9172016: 0.9182017: 0.9202018: 0.9212019: 0.9222020: 0.9222021: 0.9222022: 0.9212023: 0.9250.800.880.9519902000201020231990: 0.8531991: 0.8571992: 0.8591993: 0.8651994: 0.8721995: 0.8741996: 0.8801997: 0.8831998: 0.8841999: 0.8852000: 0.8892001: 0.8922002: 0.8942003: 0.8962004: 0.8992005: 0.9002006: 0.9032007: 0.9052008: 0.9052009: 0.9052010: 0.9072011: 0.9062012: 0.9092013: 0.9122014: 0.9142015: 0.9172016: 0.9182017: 0.9202018: 0.9212019: 0.9222020: 0.9222021: 0.9222022: 0.9212023: 0.925

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
84 years2024at birthUp 2.1 years from 82 years in 2005
Internet users
86%2024of people onlineUp 17 points from 69% in 2006
Urban population
92%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 87% in 2006
Births per woman
1.152024births per womanDown 0.11 from 1.26 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
9%2021of energy usedUp 5 points from 4% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 3 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
7.8 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.2 t from 10 t in 2005
Forest area
68%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ultra-safe and culturally singular; aging society, intense work culture, difficult immigration. The case for living here is peace, high incomes and long lives. The case against is little English among locals.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalTokyo
  • LanguagesJapanese
  • CurrencyJapanese yen (JPY)
  • Area364,569 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Japan's Human Development Index?

Japan's Human Development Index is 0.925 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #23 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Japan safe?

Japan scores 1.49 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #10 of 161 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.