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Japan
Japan
Population
124.0M
Rank #12Source: World Bank
Capital
Tokyo
Source: REST Countries
Region
Asia
East Asia & Pacific
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$4.03T
Rank #4Source: World Bank
Land Area
377.9K km²
Rank #63Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
84.041 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 377,930 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation: mean elevation: 438 m lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural Hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoonsvolcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and...
Environmental Issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of...
Land Use: agricultural land: 12.5% (2011 est.) forest: 68.5% (2011 est.) other: 19% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: note 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands - from north: Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest and most populous), Shikoku, and Kyushu (the "Home Islands") - and 6,848...
Natural Resources
negligible mineral resourcesfishnotewith virtually no natural energy resourcesJapan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gasas well as the second largest importer of oil
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.20
Population
124.0M
Ethnic Groups
Japanese (98.1%)Chinese (0.5%)Korean (0.4%)other (1%)
Religions
Shintoism (70.4%)Buddhism (69.8%)Christianity (1.5%)other 6.9%
note: total adherents exceeds (100%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$32,487.078
GDP per Capita PPP
52,039.172
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
36,000
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
32.3
(2020)
(2020)
Unemployment
2.5%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.739%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
100%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
8.8%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
972.267 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
3.15 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
21.104%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
68.396% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
86.982%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
178.432%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
38.631%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
8,474.02 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
22,515,870 TEU
(2022)
(2022)
Airports
975,616
Rail Lines
20,087.4 km
Roads Total
1,231,084 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF; includes aviation), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF; includes naval aviation), Air Self-Defense...
Personnel Strength
the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) is comprised of approximately 240,000 active personnel (145,000 Ground; 45,000 Maritime; 45,000 Air; 4,000 Joint Forces); 14,000 Coast Guard; 56,000 reserves
Military Expenditure (USD)
$55.27B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.37%
Military Expenditure History
0.93% of GDP (2019) 0.93% of GDP (2018) 0.93% of GDP (2017) 0.94% of GDP (2016) 0.94% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
approximately 170 Djibouti (2020 )
Equipment & Inventories
the JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically-produced equipment; Japan is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; the majority of its weapons...
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
86.695%
(2015)
(2015)
Primary Enrollment
102.496%
(2023)
(2023)
Secondary Enrollment
102.344%
(2023)
(2023)
Tertiary Enrollment
64.891%
(2023)
(2023)
Education Spending
3.336% of GDP
(2021)
(2021)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
15.661:1
(2017)
(2017)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
2.649
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
99.183%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
98.727%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
2.4 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
28.848 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
81.709
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
86
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
99%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
1.2%
(2020)
(2020)
Food Insecurity
Not Available
Youth NEET Rate
3.962%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
15.699%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
1.11
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.95
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
1.63
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
1.47
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Rule of Law
1.54
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
1.40
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Legal System
civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
Executive Branch
chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019); note - succeeds his father who abdicated on 30 April 2019 head of government: Prime Minister Yoshihide SUGA (since 16 September 2020 ); Deputy...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of:House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats; 146 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 96 directly elected in...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues judge selection and term...
International Organizations
ADBAfDB (nonregional member)APECArctic Council (observer)ARFASEAN (dialogue partner)Australia GroupBIS
National Symbols
Flag Description
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
National Symbols
red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white
National Anthem
name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign) lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century...
Safety
Homicide Rate
0.229 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Japanese
Currency: JPY (¥)
Timezone(s): UTC+09:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +81
Car Sign: J
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Colorful kimonos in a Tokyo coffee shop.
Colorful kimonos in a Tokyo coffee shop. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
CIA World Factbook • 2020
Pathway leading down to an Okinawan beach.
Pathway leading down to an Okinawan beach. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Rugged grassy ridges known as the Sea Horse and the Galloping Horse can be seen from the top of a hill known as the Gifu or Mount Austen on Guadalcanal. This area was the scene of intense fighting from December 1942 to January 1943 as US Army units fought entrenched Imperial Japanese Army forces in what was the last major land battle of the Guadalcanal Campaign. Photo courtesy of the US Army/ Staff Sgt. Armando R. Limon.
Rugged grassy ridges known as the Sea Horse and the Galloping Horse can be seen from the top of a hill known as the Gifu or Mount Austen on Guadalcanal. This area was the scene of intense fighting from December 1942 to January 1943 as US Army units fought entrenched Imperial Japanese Army forces in what was the last major land battle of the Guadalcanal Campaign. Photo courtesy of the US Army/ Staff Sgt. Armando R. Limon. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A Laughing Buddha in Narita.
A Laughing Buddha in Narita. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
53 photos available
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