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When did Germany overtake Japan in GDP?

2023: Germany overtook Japan in GDP. Germany leads in 2025. Annual GDP in current US dollars.

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What the data shows

  • Germany: $3,808.20B in 2008, $5,050.92B in 2025. Its low point was $3,425.10B in 2015.
  • Japan: $5,160.20B in 2008, $4,435.16B in 2025. It peaked at $6,333.80B in 2012.

About this chart

Germany overtook Japan in 2023 in the annual GDP series. The change is visible between consecutive observations: in 2022, Germany stood at $4,201.02 billion, against Japan at $4,447.98 billion. In 2023, the order reversed, with Germany at $4,562.21 billion and Japan at $4,384.85 billion. This is the most recent upward crossing by Germany in the available record.

By 2025, Germany was ahead: Germany recorded $5,050.92 billion and Japan $4,435.16 billion. These World Bank figures measure total GDP in current US dollars. Exchange-rate movements and price changes can affect the ranking; this is neither a comparison of real economic growth nor a purchasing-power-adjusted measure of living standards.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. GDP is nominal, in current US dollars, not inflation-adjusted or purchasing-power adjusted.

Germany overtakes Japan, GDP, current US$ billions, 2008–2025, 2008–2025
Date🇩🇪 Germany🇯🇵 Japan
2008$3,808.20B$5,160.20B
2009$3,478.55B$5,336.77B
2010$3,467.09B$5,811.58B
2011$3,823.58B$6,279.42B
2012$3,596.48B$6,333.80B
2013$3,807.02B$5,272.30B
2014$3,964.87B$4,985.76B
2015$3,425.10B$4,534.44B
2016$3,536.79B$5,110.36B
2017$3,765.35B$5,038.23B
2018$4,055.43B$5,154.29B
2019$3,959.90B$5,245.76B
2020$3,941.40B$5,189.20B
2021$4,355.25B$5,225.93B
2022$4,201.02B$4,447.98B
2023$4,562.21B$4,384.85B
2024$4,685.59B$4,190.01B
2025$5,050.92B$4,435.16B

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Frequently asked questions

When did Germany overtake Japan in GDP?

Germany overtook Japan in 2023 in the annual GDP series. Germany was below Japan in 2022 and above it in 2023. Earlier upward crossings by Germany in this record occurred in 1971.

Which has the larger GDP in 2025?

By 2025, Germany was ahead: Germany recorded $5,050.92 billion and Japan $4,435.16 billion.

What does the GDP comparison measure?

These World Bank figures measure total GDP in current US dollars. Exchange-rate movements and price changes can affect the ranking; this is neither a comparison of real economic growth nor a purchasing-power-adjusted measure of living standards.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (NY.GDP.MKTP.CD), GDP in current US$, current US$ billions. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Crossings compare adjacent annual observations; the highlighted year is the most recent upward crossing in this series. GDP is nominal, in current US dollars, not inflation-adjusted or purchasing-power adjusted. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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