Japan Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Tokyo

Population

123,201,945 (2024 est.)

Area

377,915 sq km

Location

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

🧭 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

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

Area — land

364,485 sq km

Area — water

13,430 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly smaller than California

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

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — 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

Elevation — lowest point

Hachiro-gata -4 m

Elevation — mean elevation

438 m

Natural resources

Negligible mineral resources, fish

Land use — agricultural land

12.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

68.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

19% (2023 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 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; 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, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

123,201,945 (2024 est.)

Population — male

59,875,269

Population — female

63,326,676

Nationality — noun

Japanese (singular and plural)

Nationality — 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.)

Languages — Languages

Japanese

Languages — 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.

Religions

Shintoism 48.6%, Buddhism 46.4%, Christianity 1.1%, other 4% (2021 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

12.1% (male 7,701,196/female 7,239,389)

Age structure — 15-64 years

58.4% (male 36,197,840/female 35,777,966)

Age structure — 65 years and over

29.5% (2024 est.) (male 15,976,233/female 20,309,321)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

71.2 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

20.8 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

50.4 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

2 (2024 est.)

Median age — total

50.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

48.3 years

Median age — female

51.3 years

Population growth rate

-0.45% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

6.84 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

12.04 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

-0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.7 years (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

2 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

85.2 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

82.3 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

88.2 years

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.68 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

23.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

2.65 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

12.7 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

8.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

1.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

5.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

15.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

24.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

7.2% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50% (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.5% national budget (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

16 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

16 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

16 years (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Air pollution from power plants results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality; waste management issues; ongoing environmental clean-up in small area of Fukushima after nuclear accident in 2011

International environmental 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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Land use — agricultural land

12.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

68.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

19% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

92% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

-0.25% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

960.23 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

367.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

403.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

190.043 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

214.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

972.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

208.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

22.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

42.72 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

11.5% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

430 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks — total global geoparks and regional networks

10

Geoparks — 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⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Japan

Country name — local long form

Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

Country name — local short form

Nihon/Nippon

Country name — etymology

The English word for Japan comes from the Chinese name for the country, Cipangu; both Nihon and Nippon come from the Japanese words nichi, or "sun," and hon, or "origin," which is frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

Government type

Parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital — name

Tokyo

Capital — geographic coordinates

35 41 N, 139 45 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary" because of its location on a bay; the name was changed to Tokyo, meaning "eastern capital," in 1868, as a contrast to Kyoto, the previous capital to the west

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

Legal system

Civil law system based on German model; also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts

Constitution — history

Previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947

Constitution — amendment process

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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Japan

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

Executive branch — election results

2025: Sanae TAKAICHI (LDP) elected prime minister on 21 October 2025; upper house vote - 125 of 171 votes (runoff); lower house vote - 237 of 386 votes 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

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Diet (Kokkai)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives (Shugiin)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

465 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

7/20/2025

Legislative branch - lower chamber — 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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

15.7%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

October 2028

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

House of Councillors (Sangiin)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

248 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Partial renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

6 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

10/27/2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber — parties elected and seats per party

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) (39); Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (22); Democratic Party for the People (17); Sanseito (14); Komeito (8); Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) (7); Independents (8); Other (10)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

29.4%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

June 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices)

Judicial branch — 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 during the first general election of the House of Representatives after each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward

Judicial branch — 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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 238-6700

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 328-2187

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Emb-consulate.dc@ws.mofa.go.jp https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Chicago

Diplomatic representation in the US — 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 George GLASS (since 17 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC 20521-9800

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[81] (03) 3224-5000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[81] (03) 3224-5856

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

TokyoACS@state.gov https://jp.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation from the US — consulate(s) general

Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

Diplomatic representation from the US — consulate(s)

Fukuoka, Nagoya

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

Independence

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of Emperor JIMMU founding the nation); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

National holiday

Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960)

Flag

Description: white with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center history: the current flag was adopted in 1854, but a sun flag has been in use in Japan since at least 1184; the sun has long been a national symbol: according to tradition, the sun goddess Amaterasu founded the country in the 7th century B.C.

National symbol(s)

Red sun disc, chrysanthemum

National color(s)

Red, white

National coat of arms

The Kikumon is the Japanese emperor's family coat of arms and dates from 1183; the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, kikunogomon) is a yellow or orange chrysanthemum with black or red outlines and background; a central disc is surrounded by a front set of 16 petals; a rear set of 16 petals are half-staggered in relation to the front set and are visible at the edges of the flower

National anthem(s) — title

"Kimigayo" (“His Majesty’s Reign)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; some oppose the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)

National heritage — 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); 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); 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)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Second-largest East Asian economy; trade-oriented and highly diversified; high public debt levels; following years of near-zero interest rates, gradual increases to address inflation and depreciation of yen; strong rebound in tourism; aging population poses challenges to labor force participation

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.715 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.71 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.627 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$46,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$45,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$45,000 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.026 trillion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.7% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

28.6% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

69.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

55.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

21.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

26.3% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

21.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-25.3% (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, milk, sugar beets, vegetables, eggs, chicken, potatoes, onions, cabbages, pork (2023)

Industries

Motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2023 est.)

Labor force

69.382 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

2.6% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

3.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

4.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

3.7% (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

32.3 (2020 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.4% (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

23.9% (2020 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$661.986 billion (2022 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$897.03 billion (2022 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2022

215.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$194.257 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$156.592 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$90.21 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$922.447 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$923.488 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$922.813 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 19%, China 18%, Taiwan 6%, S. Korea 6%, Hong Kong 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Cars, integrated circuits, machinery, vehicle parts/accessories, construction vehicles (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$965.047 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$996.364 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$1.081 trillion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

China 22%, USA 11%, Australia 8%, UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$1.231 trillion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.295 trillion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.228 trillion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Yen (JPY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

151.366 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

140.491 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

131.498 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

109.754 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

106.775 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

361.617 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

902.769 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

41.79 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

65.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — nuclear

8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

10.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

7.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — geothermal

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

6.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of operational nuclear reactors

14 (2025)

Nuclear energy — Number of nuclear reactors under construction

2 (2025)

Nuclear energy — Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

12.63GW (2025 est.)

Nuclear energy — Percent of total electricity production

5.5% (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy — Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

27 (2025)

Coal — production

27.657 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

197.612 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

1.615 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

170.874 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

3.14 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

44.115 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

2.019 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

88.317 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — exports

271.607 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Natural gas — imports

85.003 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

129.504 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

59.758 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

219 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

168 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

A mix of public and commercial TV and radio stations; 5 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; large number of radio and TV stations; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2023)

Internet country code

.jp

Internet users — percent of population

87% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

47.9 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JA

Airports

280 (2025)

Heliports

3,036 (2025)

Railways — total

27,311 km (2015)

Railways — standard gauge

4,800 km (2015) 1.435-m gauge (4,800 km electrified)

Railways — narrow gauge

124 km (2015) 1.372-m gauge (124 km electrified)

Railways — dual gauge

132 km (2015) 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

Merchant marine — total

5,229 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

Bulk carrier 166, container ship 49, general cargo 1,893, oil tanker 666, other 2,455

Ports — total ports

163 (2024)

Ports — large

11

Ports — medium

26

Ports — small

54

Ports — very small

71

Ports — size unknown

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

99

Ports — key ports

Kawasaki Ko, Kobe, Mikawa, Nagasaki, Nagoya Ko, Onomichi-Itozaki, Osaka, Tokyo Ko, Wakamatsu Ko, Wakayama-Shimotsu Ko, Yokohama Ko

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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) (2025)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 230-240,000 active Self Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The JSDF is equipped largely with domestically produced weapons platforms; most of its imported arms are from the US; Japan's defense industry is capable of producing a wide range of air, ground, and naval weapons systems; some domestically produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18-32 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)

Military deployments

Maintains a presence of about 400 military personnel at a permanent base in Djibouti (2025)

Military - note

The Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) has a range of missions, including territorial defense, monitoring the country’s air and maritime spaces, countering piracy and terrorism, and conducting humanitarian operations; the JSDF exercises regularly with the US military and increasingly with other regional countries, including Australia and the Philippines Japan’s alliance with the US is one of the cornerstones of the country’s security, as well as a large component of the US security posture in Asia; the US-Japan mutual defense treaty grants the US the right to base US military forces in Japan, including aircraft and ships, in return for US security guarantees; the Japanese Government provides approximately $3 billion on average 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 security policy documents that declared Japan’s intention to develop "counterstrike” capabilities, including armed drones and cruise missiles, and outlined plans to increase Japan’s security-related expenditures to 2% of GDP (2025)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

Space agency/agencies

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; established in 2003) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

Tanegashima Space Center/Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Kagoshima), Uchinoura Space Center (Kagoshima), Noshiro Testing Center (Akita) (2025)

Space program overview

Has one of the world’s largest and most advanced space programs, with independent capabilities in all areas except autonomous manned space flight; designs, builds, launches, and operates the full spectrum of satellites; designs, builds, and independently launches satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs) and other spacecraft; has a wide range of research and development programs; has an astronaut training program; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station and the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope project; leads the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum and co-leads the Global Earth Observation System of Systems; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, the ESA and its member states, India, Russia, the UAE, the US; has a commercial space industry that develops space-related capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite payloads and subcomponents, and SLVs; in recent years, the Japanese Government has supported space startup companies (2025)

Key space-program milestones

1966-1970 - initiated satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program and launched first domestically produced satellite (OHSUMI) 1985 - launched two Halley’s Comet observation satellites (Japan’s first missions beyond Earth’s orbit) 1992 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 1998 - launched its first Mars orbiter (failed to enter orbit) 2003 - launched world’s first uncrewed spacecraft (Hayabusa 1) to return with a sample from an asteroid (2010) 2007 - launched Lunar orbiter (Kaguya) mission 2010 - launched Venus orbiter (Akatsuki) mission 2014 - launched asteroid probe with lander/rover (Hayabusa 2); first Japanese International Space Station commander 2018 - launched joint Japan-ESA probe to Mercury (BepiColombo); began operation of a navigational/positioning satellite constellation (Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, QZSS) 2019 - began participating in US-led lunar orbital station and Moon exploration programs 2024 - soft-landed unmanned spacecraft (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon or SLIM) on the Moon; conducted first successful test launch of domestically produced H3 medium-lift SLV

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

60,361 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

29,244 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

505 (2024 est.)