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When did Japan overtake the United Kingdom in GDP?

1966: Japan overtook the United Kingdom in GDP. Japan leads in 2025. Annual GDP in current US dollars.

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What the data shows

  • Japan: $48.42B in 1960, $4,435.16B in 2025 (92× higher). It peaked at $6,333.80B in 2012.
  • United Kingdom: $73.23B in 1960, $4,002.59B in 2025 (55× higher).

About this chart

Japan overtook the United Kingdom in 1966 in the annual GDP series. The change is visible between consecutive observations: in 1965, Japan stood at $99.39 billion, against the United Kingdom at $101.83 billion. In 1966, the order reversed, with Japan at $115.43 billion and the United Kingdom at $108.57 billion. This is the most recent upward crossing by Japan in the available record.

By 2025, Japan was ahead: Japan recorded $4,435.16 billion and the United Kingdom $4,002.59 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.

Japan overtakes the United Kingdom, GDP, current US$ billions, 1960–2025, 1960–2025
Date🇯🇵 Japan🇬🇧 United Kingdom
1960$48.42B$73.23B
1961$58.47B$77.74B
1962$66.36B$81.25B
1963$75.95B$86.56B
1964$89.33B$94.41B
1965$99.39B$101.83B
1966$115.43B$108.57B
1967$135.27B$113.12B
1968$160.20B$107.76B
1969$188.18B$116.47B
1970$221.80B$130.67B
1971$250.53B$148.11B
1972$331.78B$169.97B
1973$450.76B$192.54B
1974$500.36B$206.13B
1975$544.08B$241.76B
1976$611.50B$232.62B
1977$752.59B$263.07B
1978$1,057.42B$335.88B
1979$1,100.61B$438.99B
1980$1,153.16B$564.95B
1981$1,271.44B$540.77B
1982$1,183.13B$515.05B
1983$1,297.62B$489.62B
1984$1,374.17B$461.49B
1985$1,457.07B$489.29B
1986$2,164.73B$601.45B
1987$2,635.09B$745.16B
1988$3,191.55B$910.12B
1989$3,174.94B$926.89B
1990$3,252.99B$1,093.17B
1991$3,724.89B$1,142.80B
1992$4,064.53B$1,179.66B
1993$4,632.48B$1,061.39B
1994$5,104.06B$1,140.49B
1995$5,639.65B$1,349.09B
1996$5,021.44B$1,425.29B
1997$4,579.78B$1,569.32B
1998$4,150.36B$1,660.82B
1999$4,688.98B$1,693.46B
2000$5,042.38B$1,671.60B
2001$4,438.79B$1,656.17B
2002$4,245.95B$1,790.54B
2003$4,573.41B$2,061.23B
2004$4,941.49B$2,429.78B
2005$4,875.65B$2,551.36B
2006$4,648.06B$2,719.56B
2007$4,624.67B$3,104.70B
2008$5,160.20B$2,945.25B
2009$5,336.77B$2,429.36B
2010$5,811.58B$2,496.74B
2011$6,279.42B$2,675.59B
2012$6,333.80B$2,719.72B
2013$5,272.30B$2,796.91B
2014$4,985.76B$3,085.36B
2015$4,534.44B$2,945.58B
2016$5,110.36B$2,706.81B
2017$5,038.23B$2,699.12B
2018$5,154.29B$2,897.03B
2019$5,245.76B$2,875.71B
2020$5,189.20B$2,724.00B
2021$5,225.93B$3,194.56B
2022$4,447.98B$3,181.24B
2023$4,384.85B$3,420.80B
2024$4,190.01B$3,695.54B
2025$4,435.16B$4,002.59B

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Frequently asked questions

When did Japan overtake the United Kingdom in GDP?

Japan overtook the United Kingdom in 1966 in the annual GDP series. Japan was below the United Kingdom in 1965 and above it in 1966.

Which has the larger GDP in 2025?

By 2025, Japan was ahead: Japan recorded $4,435.16 billion and the United Kingdom $4,002.59 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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