Japan vs Germany: which is bigger?
Japan is larger by mapped area: approximately 1.04 times the area of Germany in our map dataset.
These are approximate polygon areas, not official land-area or total-area figures. The maps below use the same area scale.
The maps at a shared scale
Japan
Germany
Outlines above use the same area scale. They are not shown in their geographic positions.
| Place | Area |
|---|---|
| Japan | ≈ 370,098 km² |
| Germany | ≈ 356,167 km² |
Japan covers about 13,931 km² more mapped area, or 3.9% more than Germany. The ratio compares area, not width or population.
Why this comparison can surprise you
Japan stretches across a long island chain; Germany is a much more compact continental shape. Fitting both into equal-sized boxes makes them look deceptively different. The shared area scale restores the comparison while keeping Japan’s islands in their original arrangement.
What these numbers mean
Both values are calculated from Natural Earth v5.1.2 country boundaries at 1:50 million scale. Lakes, islands and overseas areas follow the source polygons. Display paths are simplified after area is calculated. You can inspect the source record and our full methodology and coverage notes.
Would a friend get it right?
Send the question before showing the answer. The playable link starts with independently fitted outlines, then reveals the relative scale after one tap.
Play this comparison →Or try today’s ten-question country size game