How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Korea?

34 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2024.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data, published as Imports Merchandise, Customs, constant US$, millions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Japan vs South Korea: Imports Merchandise, Customs, constant US$, millions

Japan

775,584

in 2024

South Korea

642,244

in 2024

Japan rank

5th

South Korea rank

8th

Imports Merchandise, Customs, constant US$, millions over time

Japan
South Korea

How they compare

Japan currently reports 775,584 against 642,244 in South Korea, a difference of 133,340.

That makes Japan's figure about 1.2 times South Korea's.

Across all 34 years both countries report, Japan has been ahead every year.

Japan ranks 5th and South Korea ranks 8th of 47 countries.

Japan has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Japan	South Korea	Difference	Ahead
1990s	442,537	172,708	269,829	Japan
2000s	630,823	317,899	312,924	Japan
2010s	745,289	492,812	252,477	Japan
2020s	785,328	628,689	156,639	Japan

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher imports merchandise, customs, constant us$, millions, Japan or South Korea?: Japan, at 775,584 against 642,244 in South Korea as of 2024.
What is the difference in imports merchandise, customs, constant us$, millions between Japan and South Korea?: 133,340, with Japan ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Japan and South Korea?: 34 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2024.
How do Japan and South Korea rank globally for imports merchandise, customs, constant us$, millions?: Japan ranks 5th and South Korea ranks 8th of 47 countries.
Where does this data come from?: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data, published as Imports Merchandise, Customs, constant US$, millions. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Imports Merchandise, Customs, constant US$, millions
Source: World Bank staff calculations based on Datastream and IMF International Finance Statistics data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 54 places, 1,507 data points, 1991–2024
Last refreshed: 10 August 2026

Merchandise (goods) imports, cost, insurance and freight basis (c.i.f.), in constant US$ millions, not seasonally adjusted. The base year is 2005.