Japan vs South Korea: Inflation Comparison
Compare cumulative inflation, annual rates and purchasing power between Japan and South Korea 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 South Korea was 80.8%.
Japan
JPYSouth Korea
KRWCPI Comparison Chart
Year-by-Year Comparison
| Year | Japan CPI | Japan (Change) | South Korea CPI | South Korea (Change) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 102.67 | - | 73.11 | - |
| 2001 | 101.91 | -0.7% | 76.09 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 100.97 | -0.9% | 78.19 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 100.71 | -0.3% | 80.94 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 100.70 | 0.0% | 83.84 | +3.6% |
| 2005 | 100.41 | -0.3% | 86.15 | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 100.66 | +0.2% | 88.08 | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 100.72 | +0.1% | 90.32 | +2.5% |
| 2008 | 102.12 | +1.4% | 94.54 | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 100.73 | -1.4% | 97.14 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 100.00 | -0.7% | 100.00 | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 99.73 | -0.3% | 104.03 | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 99.68 | 0.0% | 106.30 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 100.02 | +0.3% | 107.68 | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 102.78 | +2.8% | 109.06 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 103.59 | +0.8% | 109.83 | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 103.46 | -0.1% | 110.89 | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 103.96 | +0.5% | 113.05 | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 104.99 | +1.0% | 114.72 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 105.48 | +0.5% | 115.16 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 101.09 | -4.2% | 105.77 | -8.2% |
| 2021 | 101.30 | +0.2% | 109.68 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 107.84 | +6.5% | 115.20 | +5.0% |
| 2023 | 111.36 | +3.3% | 118.85 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 114.41 | +2.7% | 132.20 | +11.2% |
Inflation by Decade: Japan vs South Korea
| Year | Japan (Total Inflation) | Japan (Avg Annual Rate) | South Korea (Total Inflation) | South Korea (Avg Annual Rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | +61.1% | 5.44% | +214.4% | 13.57% |
| 1970s | +119.1% | 9.11% | +250.4% | 14.95% |
| 1980s | +18.9% | 1.94% | +69.1% | 6.01% |
| 1990s | +9.3% | 1.00% | +60.5% | 5.40% |
| 2000s | -1.9% | -0.21% | +32.9% | 3.21% |
| 2010s | +5.5% | 0.60% | +15.2% | 1.58% |
| 2020s | +13.2% | 3.14% | +25.0% | 5.73% |
The inflation gap between Japan and South Korea widened to 69.4 percentage points from 2000 to 2026.
¥100 in Japan in 2000 lost roughly the same relative value as ₩162.25 in South Korea.
Japan's highest annual inflation was 6.5% in 2022; South Korea's was 11.2% in 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which had higher inflation, Japan or South Korea?
Between 2000 and 2026, South Korea had higher cumulative inflation (80.81%) 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 South Korea from 2000 to 2026?
Prices in South Korea rose 80.81% cumulatively, an average of 2.5% per year.
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Calculate Individually
Between 2000 and 2026, Japan had lower cumulative inflation (11.4%) than South Korea (80.8%).