Poland is almost as rich as Japan now
https://crossborders.io/insights/countries-that-caught-up-with-japan

HOW TO CREDIT
Source: CrossBorders, "Poland is almost as rich as Japan now", 1 November 2026, using World Bank data (CC BY 4.0). https://crossborders.io/insights/countries-that-caught-up-with-japan

TERMS
Use these charts in your article, no need to ask. Please link to this story as the source. In print, credit CrossBorders. The charts and data are licensed CC BY 4.0.
The story's rent chart uses third-party city data and is not covered by this licence.

FINDINGS YOU CAN QUOTE
- Poland's GDP per person rose from 37% of Japan's in 1995 to 97% in 2025, at purchasing power parity.
- Lithuania went from 32% of Japan's GDP per person to 101% over the same period, passing Japan in 2025. Malta, South Korea, Czechia and Slovenia had already moved ahead.
- Japan's GDP per person grew 27% from 1995 to 2025, the second slowest of all 38 OECD members after Italy.
- Measured per person of working age, Japan's output grew 50%, against 51% in Germany. The share of Japanese aged 15 to 64 fell from 70% to 59%.
- Had Japan kept its 1995 share of working-age people, its output per person would be about 19% higher, and of the six countries only Malta would be ahead of it.

ONE THING TO KEEP STRAIGHT
GDP per person measures output, not wages. Please describe it as GDP per person at purchasing power parity, not as income or pay.

DATA
World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0). GDP per capita, PPP, constant 2021 international dollars (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.KD); population (SP.POP.TOTL); population aged 15 to 64 (SP.POP.1564.TO); population aged 65 and over (SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS). CrossBorders calculated the shares of Japan and the index values.

QUESTIONS, CORRECTIONS OR ANOTHER CUT OF THE DATA: elliot@crossborders.io
