Japan vs China: Inflation Comparison

Compare cumulative inflation, annual rates and purchasing power between Japan and China from 2000 to 2026, based on World Bank CPI data.

Cumulative inflation in Japan was 11.4% between 2000 and 2026, according to World Bank CPI data (FP.CPI.TOTL).

Over the same period, cumulative inflation in China was 42.1%.

VS

Japan

JPY
+11.4% Total Inflation
0.45% Avg Annual Rate
-10.3% Purchasing Power Lost
VS

China

CNY
+42.1% Total Inflation
1.41% Avg Annual Rate
-29.6% Purchasing Power Lost
🏆
Japan had lower cumulative inflation — 30.6 percentage points less than the other country.

CPI Comparison Chart

Year-by-Year Comparison

Year Japan CPI Japan (Change) China CPI China (Change)
2000 102.67 - 80.97 -
2001 101.91 -0.7% 81.55 +0.7%
2002 100.97 -0.9% 80.96 -0.7%
2003 100.71 -0.3% 81.87 +1.1%
2004 100.70 0.0% 85.00 +3.8%
2005 100.41 -0.3% 86.51 +1.8%
2006 100.66 +0.2% 87.94 +1.6%
2007 100.72 +0.1% 92.17 +4.8%
2008 102.12 +1.4% 97.63 +5.9%
2009 100.73 -1.4% 96.92 -0.7%
2010 100.00 -0.7% 100.00 +3.2%
2011 99.73 -0.3% 105.55 +5.6%
2012 99.68 0.0% 108.32 +2.6%
2013 100.02 +0.3% 111.16 +2.6%
2014 102.78 +2.8% 113.29 +1.9%
2015 103.59 +0.8% 114.92 +1.4%
2016 103.46 -0.1% 117.22 +2.0%
2017 103.96 +0.5% 119.09 +1.6%
2018 104.99 +1.0% 121.56 +2.1%
2019 105.48 +0.5% 125.08 +2.9%
2020 101.09 -4.2% 111.50 -10.9%
2021 101.30 +0.2% 113.11 +1.4%
2022 107.84 +6.5% 115.12 +1.8%
2023 111.36 +3.3% 114.78 -0.3%
2024 114.41 +2.7% 114.89 +0.1%
2025 - - 115.03 +0.1%

Inflation by Decade: Japan vs China

Year-by-year CPI and inflation for Japan and China, 2000–2026
Year Japan (Total Inflation) Japan (Avg Annual Rate) China (Total Inflation) China (Avg Annual Rate)
1960s +61.1% 5.44% - -
1970s +119.1% 9.11% - -
1980s +18.9% 1.94% +50.7% 14.64%
1990s +9.3% 1.00% +99.5% 7.98%
2000s -1.9% -0.21% +19.7% 2.02%
2010s +5.5% 0.60% +25.1% 2.52%
2020s +13.2% 3.14% +3.2% 0.63%

The inflation gap between Japan and China widened to 30.6 percentage points from 2000 to 2026.

¥100 in Japan in 2000 lost roughly the same relative value as ¥127.48 in China.

Japan's highest annual inflation was 6.5% in 2022; China's was 5.9% in 2008.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which had higher inflation, Japan or China?

Between 2000 and 2026, China had higher cumulative inflation (42.06%) than Japan (11.44%), according to World Bank CPI data.

What was cumulative inflation in Japan from 2000 to 2026?

Prices in Japan rose 11.44% cumulatively, an average of 0.45% per year.

What was cumulative inflation in China from 2000 to 2026?

Prices in China rose 42.06% cumulatively, an average of 1.41% per year.

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Calculate Individually

Between 2000 and 2026, Japan had lower cumulative inflation (11.4%) than China (42.1%).