Japan's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to drop to the sixth place worldwide in 2027, overtaken by both India and the UK, according to a projection from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Japanese media reported Wednesday.
The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook estimates Japan's GDP at 4.3419 trillion U.S. dollars in 2026, keeping it in the fourth place globally. By 2027, however, Japan's GDP is projected at 4.4676 trillion U.S. dollars, below India's 4.5211 trillion U.S. dollars and the UK's 4.4889 trillion U.S. dollars, pushing Japan down to the sixth.
Japanese media analysis points to two main factors behind the decline. One is Japan's sluggish economic growth, which lags behind the pace of both India and Britain. The other is the continued depreciation of the yen, which "compresses" Japan's GDP when converted into dollar terms.
In a report released in April, the IMF had predicted that the UK would overtake Japan in 2029, but the latest forecast moves that timeline forward by two years.
The news has drawn widespread attention and discussion among the Japanese public. Writing on Yahoo, one commenter said the ranking slip to behind India and Britain reflects a decline in national strength in numerical terms, describing it as a consequence of the "lost 30 years" Japan experienced under Liberal Democratic Party rule. Others criticized the situation as stemming from politicians who chase personal interests and never consider the country's future.
Japan's GDP to slip to sixth largest by 2027: IMF
Japan's GDP to slip to sixth largest by 2027: IMF
