.
Japan
Japan , David Murray
Japan, Dorothy Menpes
The Spell of Japan, by Isabel Anderson
Shinto, William George Aston
Religion in Japan , George A. Cobbold, B.A.
A History of the Japanese People , F. Brinkley and Dairoku Kikuchi
Japanese Colour-Prints and Their Designers by Frederick Gookin
Plays of Old Japan, by Marie C. Stopes
The Nō Plays of Japan , Motokiyo Seami and Arthur Waley
The Religion of the Samurai, by Kaiten Nukariya
Bushido, the Soul of Japan, by Inazo Nitobé
Japan: An Attempt at Interpretation, Lafcadio Hearn
Shadowings , Lafcadio Hearn
The Romance of the Milky Way , Lafcadio Hearn
Dutch:
Japan, Aimé Humbert
Japan (East & Southeast Asia)
Introduction ::Japan
Japan National Anthem
Introduction
Background
In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries, this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32, Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937, it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1941, triggering America's entry into World War II, and Japan soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, the country recovered to become an economic power and a US ally.
While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold the decision-making power. After three decades of unprecedented growth, Japan's economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s, but the country remains an economic power. In 2011, Japan's strongest-ever earthquake and an accompanying tsunami devastated the northeast part of Honshu, killed thousands, and damaged several nuclear power plants. ABE Shinzo was reelected as prime minister in 2012, and he embarked on ambitious economic and security reforms to improve Japan's economy and bolster the country's international standing. In 2019, ABE became Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister; he resigned in 2020 and was succeeded by SUGA Yoshihide. KISHIDA Fumio became prime minister in 2021.
Geography ::Japan
Geography
Location
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates
36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total : 377,915 sq km
land: 364,485 sq km
water: 13,430 sq km
note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
comparison ranking: total 63
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than California
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
29,751 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain
mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
mean elevation: 438 m
Natural resources
negligible mineral resources, fish
note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is almost totally dependent on imported sources of energy
Land use
agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 68.5% (2018 est.)
other: 19% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
15,730 sq km (2014)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km
Population distribution
all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)
Natural hazards
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
volcanism: both Unzen (1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note
note 1: strategic location in northeast Asia; composed of four main islands (the "Home Islands") -- Hokkaido, Honshu (the largest, most populous, and site of Tokyo, the capital), Shikoku, and Kyushu
note 2: a 2023 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan survey technically detected 100,000 islands and islets, but only the 14,125 islands with a circumference of at least 100 m (330 ft) were officially counted; only about 260 of the islands are inhabited
note 3: Japan annually records the most earthquakes in the world; it is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
Late 19th Century. Japan , Late 19th Century. Japan,
People and Society
Population
total: 123,201,945
male: 59,875,269
female: 63,326,676 (2024 est.)
comparison rankings: female 11; male 11; total 11
Nationality
noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups
Japanese 97.5%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnam 0.4%, South Korean 0.3%, other 1.2% (includes Filipino, Brazilian, Nepalese, Indonesian, American, and Taiwanese) (2022 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality; up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil
Languages
Japanese
major-language sample(s):
必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Japanese audio sample:
Religions
Shintoism 48.6%, Buddhism 46.4%, Christianity 1.1%, other 4% (2021 est.)
note: total adherents among persons claiming a religious affiliation
Age structure
0-14 years: 12.1% (male 7,701,196/female 7,239,389)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 36,197,840/female 35,777,966)
65 years and over: 29.5% (2024 est.) (male 15,976,233/female 20,309,321)
2023 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 71.1
youth dependency ratio: 20.1
elderly dependency ratio: 51
potential support ratio: 2 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 49.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 48.3 years
female: 51.3 years
comparison ranking: total 3
Population growth rate
-0.43% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 218
Birth rate
6.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 225
Death rate
11.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 18
Net migration rate
0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 70
Population distribution
all primary and secondary regions of high population density lie on the coast; one-third of the population resides in and around Tokyo on the central plain (Kanto Plain)
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Major urban areas - population
37.194 million TOKYO (capital), 19.013 million Osaka, 9.569 million Nagoya, 5.490 million Kitakyushu-Fukuoka, 2.937 million Shizuoka-Hamamatsu, 2.666 million Sapporo (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
30.7 years (2018 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 173
Infant mortality rate
total: 1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 222
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 85.2 years (2024 est.)
male: 82.3 years
female: 88.2 years
comparison ranking: total population 4
Total fertility rate
1.4 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 212
Gross reproduction rate
0.68 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
39.8% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 20-49
Drinking water source
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
10.9% of GDP (2020)
Physician density
2.48 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
13 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.3% (2016)
comparison ranking: 186
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 8.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 1.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 5.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 39
Tobacco use
total: 20.1% (2020 est.)
male: 30.1% (2020 est.)
female: 10% (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 89
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
NA
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
46.8% (2023 est.)
Education expenditures
3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 142
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years (2019)
Environment
Environment - current 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 fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing issue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy
Environment - international agreements
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Land use
agricultural land: 12.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 11.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 68.5% (2018 est.)
other: 19% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 92% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
Revenue from forest resources
0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 138
Revenue from coal
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
comparison ranking: 137
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 10.84 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1,135.89 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 29.99 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 43.981 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,155,069 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.9% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Biwa-ko 688 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 14.8 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 10.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 53.3 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
430 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks: 10
global geoparks and regional networks: Aso UNESCO; Hakusan Tedorigawa; Itoigawa; Izu Peninsula; Mt. Apoi; Muroto; Oki Islands; San'in Kaigan; Toya - Usu; Unzen (2023)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan
local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form: Nihon/Nippon
etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" in Japanese, the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868
Administrative divisions
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence
3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
National holiday
Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor
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
Constitution
history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947
amendments: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Shigeru ISHIBA (since 1 October 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister
election results: 2024: Shigeru ISHIBA (LDP) elected prime minister on 27 September 2024; upper house vote - 143 of 242 votes; lower house vote - 291 of 461 votes (note - ISHIBA resigned as prime minister on 11 November 2024 following parliamentary elections but was re-elected over Yoshihiko NODA (CDP) in the second round of voting in the lower house, 221-160)
2021: Fumio KISHIDA reelected prime minister on 10 November 2021; upper house vote - Fumio KISHIDA (LDP) 141, Yukio EDANO (CDP) 60; lower house vote - Fumio KISHIDA 297, Yukio EDANO 108
Legislative branch
legislature name: National Diet (Kokkai)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name: House of Representatives (Shugiin)
number of seats: 465 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 10/27/2024
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (191); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (148); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (38); Democratic Party for the People (28); Komeito (24); Other (36)
percentage of women in chamber: 15.7%
expected date of next election: October 2028
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name: House of Councillors (Sangiin)
number of seats: 248 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: partial renewal
term in office: 6 years
most recent election date: 7/10/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (63); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (17); Komeito (13); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (12); Other (20)
percentage of women in chamber: 26.6%
expected date of next election: July 2025
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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 of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward
subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)
Political parties
Conservative Party of Japan or CPJ
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP
Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP
Japan Communist Party or JCP
Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin
Komeito or Komei
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP
Okinawa Social Mass Party or Okinawa Whirlwind or OW
Party to Protect the People from NHK or NHK
Reiwa Shinsengumi
Sanseito Party
Social Democratic Party or SDP
International organization participation
ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Quad, SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
email address and website:
emb-consulate.dc@ws.mofa.go.jp
https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
consulate(s) general: Chicago
consulate(s): Anchorage (AK), Atlanta, Boston, Denver (CO), Detroit (MI), Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), Seattle (WA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Rahm EMANUEL (since 25 March 2022)
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: 9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC 20521-9800
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3224-5856
email address and website:
TokyoACS@state.gov
https://jp.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
National symbol(s)
red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white
Kikumon – the Japanese Family Coat of Arms of the emperor:
Kikumon – the Japanese Family Coat of Arms of the emperor
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 or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales:
Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Himeji-jo (c); Shiretoko (n); Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan (c); Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape (c); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Yakushima (n); Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)(c); Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) (c); Shirakami-Sanchi (n); Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (c); Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (c); Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (c); Shrines and Temples of Nikko (c); Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (c); Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (c); Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land (c); Ogasawara Islands (n); Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration (c); Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites (c); Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining (c); The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement (c); Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region (c); Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region (c); Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island (n); Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan (c); Sado Island Gold Mines (c)
Economy
Economic overview
fourth-largest economy; trade-oriented and highly diversified; high public debt levels; real wage declines in inflationary environment; sustained near-zero central bank rates coupled with depreciation of yen; strong rebound in tourism
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.747 trillion (2023 est.)
$5.652 trillion (2022 est.)
$5.599 trillion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 5
Real GDP growth rate
1.68% (2023 est.)
0.95% (2022 est.)
2.56% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 152
Real GDP per capita
$46,200 (2023 est.)
$45,200 (2022 est.)
$44,500 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 52
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.204 trillion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.27% (2023 est.)
2.5% (2022 est.)
-0.23% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 63
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: A (2015)
Moody's rating: A1 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 1% (2022 est.)
industry: 26.9% (2022 est.)
services: 71.4% (2022 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 33; industry 78; agriculture 182
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 55.6% (2022 est.)
government consumption: 21.6% (2022 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.8% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 21.8% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -23.4% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
rice, milk, sugar beets, vegetables, eggs, chicken, potatoes, cabbages, sugarcane, pork (2022)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate
-1.25% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 168
Labor force
69.208 million (2023 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 10
Unemployment rate
2.58% (2023 est.)
2.6% (2022 est.)
2.83% (2021 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 29
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 4.1% (2023 est.)
male: 4.5% (2023 est.)
female: 3.7% (2023 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 182
Average household expenditures
on food: 16.3% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 2.7% of household expenditures (2022 est.)
Remittances
0.11% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.13% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.11% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $661.986 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $892.184 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
216.21% of GDP (2022 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 1
Taxes and other revenues
35.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 16
Current account balance
$150.691 billion (2023 est.)
$90.277 billion (2022 est.)
$196.525 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 3
Exports
$920.737 billion (2023 est.)
$922.813 billion (2022 est.)
$920.639 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 7
Exports - partners
US 19%, China 19%, South Korea 7%, Taiwan 7%, Thailand 4% (2022)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities
cars, machinery, integrated circuits, vehicle parts/accessories, refined petroleum (2022)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$989.843 billion (2023 est.)
$1.081 trillion (2022 est.)
$942.45 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 6
Imports - partners
China 22%, Australia 10%, US 10%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 4% (2022)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, garments (2022)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.295 trillion (2023 est.)
$1.228 trillion (2022 est.)
$1.406 trillion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 2
Exchange rates
yen (JPY) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
140.491 (2023 est.)
131.498 (2022 est.)
109.754 (2021 est.)
106.775 (2020 est.)
109.01 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 349.94 million kW (2022 est.)
consumption: 939.314 billion kWh (2022 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 52.053 billion kWh (2022 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 205; consumption 5; installed generating capacity 4
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 71.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
nuclear: 5.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
solar: 9.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
geothermal: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
biomass and waste: 5.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors: 12 (2023)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction: 2 (2023)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 11.05GW (2023 est.)
Percent of total electricity production: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 27 (2023)
Coal
production: 29.141 million metric tons (2022 est.)
consumption: 216.332 million metric tons (2022 est.)
exports: 917,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
imports: 191.092 million metric tons (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 350 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 3.289 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 44.115 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 2.22 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
consumption: 92.843 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
exports: 271.607 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
imports: 92.567 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
proven reserves: 20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
1.049 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 442.647 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 406.998 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 199.783 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 5
Energy consumption per capita
136.122 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: 30
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 60.721 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 3
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 207.648 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 168 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 8
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Japan has one of the best developed telecom markets globally, the fixed-line segment remains stagnant and the focus for growth is in the mobile sector; the MNOs have shifted their investment from LTE to 5G, and growth in 5G showed early promise although there have been recent setbacks; these have partly been attributed to the economic difficulties, the impact of restrictions imposed during the pandemic, and unfavorable investment climate (not helped by the delay of the Tokyo Olympics from 2020 to 2021), and to restrictions in the supply of 5G-enabled devices; the fixed broadband market is dominated by fiber, with a strong cable platform also evident; fiber will continue to increase its share of the fixed broadband market, largely at the expense of DSL; the mobile market is dominated by three MNOs, mobile broadband subscriber growth is expected to be relatively low over the next five years, partly due to the high existing subscriptions though growth has been stimulated by measures which have encouraged people to school and work from home; there has also been a boost in accessing entertainment via mobile devices since 2020 (2021)
domestic: 49 per 100 for fixed-line and 161 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2021)
international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables with landing points for HSCS, JIH, RJCN, APCN-2, JUS, EAC-C2C, PC-1, Tata TGN-Pacific, FLAG North Asia Loop/REACH North Asia Loop, APCN-2, FASTER, SJC, SJC2, Unity/EAC-Pacific, JGA-N, APG, ASE, AJC, JUPITER, MOC, Okinawa Cellular Cable, KJCN, GOKI, KJCN, and SeaMeWE-3, submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2019)
Broadcast media
a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 5 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2023)
Internet country code
.jp
Internet users
total: 99.6 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 83% (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total 8
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 44,000,791 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: total 3
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 22 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 673
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 126,387,527 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 9,420,660,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
JA
Airports
279 (2024)
comparison ranking: 24
Heliports
2,839 (2024)
Pipelines
4,456 km gas, 174 km oil, 104 km oil/gas/water (2013)
Railways
total: 27,311 km (2015)
standard gauge: 4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified)
dual gauge: 132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)
22,207 km 1.067-mm gauge (15,430 km electrified)
48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified)
comparison ranking: total 11
Roadways
total: 1,218,772 km
paved: 992,835 km (includes 8,428 km of expressways)
unpaved: 225,937 km (2015)
comparison ranking: total 6
Waterways
1,770 km (2010) (seagoing vessels use inland seas)
comparison ranking: 46
Merchant marine
total: 5,229 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 166, container ship 49, general cargo 1,893, oil tanker 666, other 2,455
comparison ranking: total 4
Ports
total ports: 163 (2024)
large: 11
medium: 26
small: 54
very small: 71
size unknown: 1
ports with oil terminals: 99
key ports: Kawasaki Ko, Kobe, Mikawa, Nagasaki, Nagoya Ko, Onomichi-Itozaki, Osaka, Tokyo Ko, Wakamatsu Ko, Wakayama-Shimotsu Ko, Yokohama Ko
Military and Security
Military and security 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 Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2024)
note: the Coast Guard is under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; it is barred by law from operating as a military force, but in times of conflict Article 80 of the 1954 Self-Defense Forces Act permits the transfer of control of the coast guard to the Ministry of Defense with Cabinet approval
Military expenditures
1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2023)
1.1% of GDP (2022)
1% of GDP (2021)
1% of GDP (2020)
note: the Japanese Government in 2022 pledged to increase defense expenditures to 2% of GDP in line with NATO standards by March 2028; if the planned increase occurs, Japan would have the world's third largest defense budget
comparison ranking: 101
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 230-240,000 active personnel (145-150,000 Ground; 40-45,000 Maritime; 40-45,000 Air); 14,000 Coast Guard (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically produced equipment; Japan has a robust defense industry and is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; the majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-32 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2024)
note: as of 2023, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments
approximately 200 Djibouti (2024)
Military - note
the Japan Self-Defense Force's (JSDF) primary concerns are perceived threats posed by China and North Korea; it has a range of missions, including territorial defense, monitoring the country’s air and maritime spaces, countering piracy and terrorism, and conducting humanitarian operations; it exercises regularly with the US military and increasingly with other regional countries, such as Australia
Japan’s alliance with the US (signed in 1951) is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large component of the US security role in Asia; approximately 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, are stationed in Japan and have exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities; in exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security; the Japanese Government provides about $2 billion per year to offset the cost of stationing US forces in Japan; in addition, it pays compensation to localities hosting US troops, rent for bases, and costs for new facilities to support the US presence; Japan also has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation
Japan was disarmed after its defeat in World War II; shortly after the Korean War began in 1950, US occupation forces in Japan created a 75,000-member lightly armed force called the National Police Reserve; the JSDF was founded in 1954; Article 9 of Japan’s 1947 constitution renounced the use of force as a means of settling international disputes; however, Japan has interpreted Article 9 to mean that it can maintain a military for national defense purposes and, since 1991, has allowed the JSDF to participate in noncombat roles overseas in a number of UN peacekeeping missions and in the US-led coalition in Iraq; in 2014-2015, the Japanese Government reinterpreted the constitution as allowing for "collective self-defense," described as the use of force on others’ behalf if Japan’s security was threatened; in 2022, the government released three security policy documents that labeled China as an “unprecedented strategic challenge,” declared Japan’s intention to develop "counterstrike” capabilities, including cruise missiles and armed drones, and outlined plans to increase Japan’s security-related expenditures to 2% of its national gross domestic product (GDP), in line with NATO standards (post-war Japan generally has limited defense spending to 1% of its GDP) (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; established in 2003) (2024)
Space launch site(s)
Tanegashima Space Center/Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Kagoshima), Uchinoura Space Center (Kagoshima), Noshiro Testing Center (Akita) (2024)
Space program overview
has one of the world’s largest and most advanced space programs with independent capabilities in all areas of space categories except for autonomous manned space flight; designs, builds, launches, and operates the full spectrum of satellites, including communications, remote sensing (RS), astronomical observation, scientific, and navigational/positional; designs, builds, and independently launches satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs) and other spacecraft, including interplanetary and Lunar probes, space station modules and space labs, and space transportation systems; has a wide range of research and development programs, including reusable SLVs, space-based astronomy, spacecraft components, robotics, solar sails, radio waves, and space plasma; has an astronaut training program; participates in international space programs, including the International Space Station (ISS), leading the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum, and co-leading the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the European Space Agency (ESA) and its individual member states, India, Russia, the UAE, the US, and a range of other countries and space agencies throughout Africa, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions; has a substantial commercial space industry that develops an array of space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite payloads and subcomponents, and SLVs; in recent years, the Japanese Government has encouraged and supported the development of space startup companies (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
stateless persons: 531 (2022)
