Japan

<p>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. <br><br>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.</p>

Land

364,485 sq km

Note

<strong>note:</strong> includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

Total

377,915 sq km

Water

13,430 sq km

slightly smaller than California

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

29,751 km

Asia

Highest point

Mount Fuji 3,776 m

Lowest point

Hachiro-gata -4 m

Mean elevation

438 m

36 00 N, 138 00 E

<strong>note 1:</strong> 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  <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>note 3:</strong> 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

15,730 sq km (2014)

Total

0 km

Agricultural land

12.6% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.9% (2023 est.)

arable land

11.09%

Forest

68.3% (2023 est.)

Other

19% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.7%

No

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

Fresh water lake(s)

Biwa-ko 688 sq km

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/NGTLSCSrA8bMrvnX9

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/382313

Asia

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

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

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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"

negligible mineral resources, fish 

note

<strong>note:</strong> with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is almost totally dependent on imported sources of energy

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)

Eastern Asia

mostly rugged and mountainous

UTC+09:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

1.35 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

5.09 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

8.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

50% (2020 est.)

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

adult female

37 per 1,000

adult male

66 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

50.4 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

2 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

71.2 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

20.8 (2024 est.)

improved total

98.73%

Improved: total

total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.5% national budget (2022 est.)

3 % of GDP

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

<strong>note:</strong> 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

0.68 (2025 est.)

11 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

23.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

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

Female

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

2 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

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

Languages

Japanese

Major-language sample(s)

<br>必要不可欠な基本情報の源、ワールド・ファクトブック(Japanese)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

number of languages

1

Female

88.2 years

Male

82.3 years

Total population

85.2 years (2024 est.)

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)

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

Female

51.3 years

Male

48.3 years

Total

50.2 years (2025 est.)

30.7 years (2018 est.)

Adjective

Japanese

Noun

Japanese (singular and plural)

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

4.3% (2016)

2.65 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

63,326,676

Male

59,875,269

Total

123,201,945 (2024 est.)

-0.45% (2025 est.)

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

note

<strong>note:</strong> total adherents among persons claiming a religious affiliation

improved total

99.19%

Improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Female

16 years (2022 est.)

Male

16 years (2022 est.)

Total

16 years (2022 est.)

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

At birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Total population

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

Female

7.2% (2025 est.)

Male

24.4% (2025 est.)

Total

15.5% (2025 est.)

1.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

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

Urban population

92% of total population (2023)

measles

95%

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

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

Geographic coordinates

35 41 N, 139 45 E

Name

Tokyo

Time difference

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

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/jp.svg

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

History

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

alternative spellings

JP, Nippon, Nihon

Conventional long form

none

Conventional short form

Japan

Etymology

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

FIFA code

JPN

Local long form

Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local long form (jpn)

日本

Local short form

Nihon/Nippon

Chief of mission

Ambassador George GLASS (since 17 July 2025)

Consulate(s)

Fukuoka, Nagoya

Consulate(s) general

Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo

Email address and website

<br>TokyoACS@state.gov<br><br>https://jp.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

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

FAX

[81] (03) 3224-5856

Mailing address

9800 Tokyo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-9800

Telephone

[81] (03) 3224-5000

Chancery

2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador YAMADA Shigeo (since 27 February 2024)

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)

Consulate(s) general

Chicago

Email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2187

Telephone

[1] (202) 238-6700

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

Chief of state

Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)

Election results

<em><br><br>2025: </em>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<em><br><br>2024: </em>Shigeru ISHIBA (LDP) elected prime minister on 27 September 2024; upper house vote - 143 of 242 votes; lower house vote - 291 of 461 votes

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

Head of government

Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Shigeru ISHIBA resigned as prime minister on 7 September 2025; the party vote on the new prime minister is expected in early October 2025

<strong>description:</strong> white with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center<br><br><strong>history:</strong> 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.

The flag of Japan features a crimson-red circle at the center of a white field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/jp.svg

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

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)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Highest court(s)

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

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

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

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)

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

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

National Diet (Kokkai)

Chamber name

House of Representatives (Shugiin)

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

October 2028

Most recent election date

7/20/2025

Number of seats

465 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

Chamber name

House of Councillors (Sangiin)

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

June 2028

Most recent election date

10/27/2024

Number of seats

248 (all directly elected)

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)

Percentage of women in chamber

29.4%

Scope of elections

partial renewal

Term in office

6 years

the Kikumon is the Japanese emperor's family coat of arms and dates from 1183; the Imperial chrysanthemum emblem (菊の御紋, <em>kikunogomon</em>) 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

red, white

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)

Total World Heritage Sites

26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)

Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960)

note

<strong>note:</strong> celebrates the birthday of the current emperor

red sun disc, chrysanthemum

Conservative Party of Japan or CPJ<br>Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan or CDP <br>Democratic Party for the People or DPFP or DPP <br>Japan Communist Party or JCP <br>Japan Innovation Party or Nippon Ishin no kai or Ishin <br>Komeito or Komei<br>Liberal Democratic Party or LDP <br>Okinawa Social Mass Party or Okinawa Whirlwind or OW<br>Party to Protect the People from NHK or NHK<br>Reiwa Shinsengumi <br>Sanseito Party<br>Social Democratic Party or SDP

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$897.03 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$661.986 billion (2022 est.)

code

JPY

name

Japanese yen (JPY) [¥]

$194.26 billion

Current account balance 2022

$90.21 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$156.592 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$194.257 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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

Currency

yen (JPY) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

106.775 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

109.754 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

131.498 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

140.491 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

151.366 (2024 est.)

$917.04 billion

Exports 2022

$922.813 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$923.488 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$922.447 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$16.16 billion

Exports of goods and services

21.5% (2022 est.)

Government consumption

21.6% (2022 est.)

Household consumption

55.5% (2022 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-25.3% (2022 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

26.3% (2022 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

0.9% (2023 est.)

Industry

28.6% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

69.8% (2023 est.)

$4.026 trillion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$32,487

32.9 (2013)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

32.3 (2020 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$4.29 trillion

$36,000

26 % of GDP

Highest 10%

23.9% (2020 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.4% (2020 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$952.04 billion

Imports 2022

$1.081 trillion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$996.364 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$965.047 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

1.4% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

2.74%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

3.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

69.382 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

69.39 million persons

agriculture

2.81%

industry

23.23%

services

73.96%

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2022

215.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

$6.45 trillion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$5.627 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$5.71 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$5.715 trillion (2024 est.)

0.1%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.9% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.1% (2024 est.)

$52,039

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$45,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$45,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$46,100 (2024 est.)

$4.64 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$1.23 trillion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$1.228 trillion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$1.295 trillion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$1.231 trillion (2024 est.)

2.45%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.6% (2024 est.)

Female

3.7% (2024 est.)

Male

4.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

3.9% (2024 est.)

Consumption

197.612 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

1.615 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

170.874 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

27.657 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

350 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

902.769 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

7,655 kWh

Installed generating capacity

361.617 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

41.79 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

6.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

65.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Geothermal

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

8.48%

Hydroelectricity

7.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear

8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

renewable

21.1%

Solar

10.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

3,039 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

129.504 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

88.317 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

271.607 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Imports

85.003 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

2.019 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

20.898 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

12.63GW (2025 est.)

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

27 (2025)

Number of nuclear reactors under construction

2 (2025)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

14 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

5.5% (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

44.115 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

3.14 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

8.8%

per 100 inhabitants

39 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2023 est.)

Total

47.9 million (2023 est.)

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)

.jp

Percent of population

87% (2023 est.)

###-####

+81

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

59.758 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

178 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

168 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

219 million (2023 est.)

passengers carried

120.31 million passengers

registered carrier departures

975,616 departures

280 (2025)

JA

Left

3,036 (2025)

By type

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

Total

5,229 (2023)

Key ports

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

Large

11

Medium

26

Ports with oil terminals

99

Size unknown

1

Small

54

Total ports

163 (2024)

Very small

71

Dual gauge

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

Narrow gauge

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

Note

22,207 km 1.067-mm gauge (15,430 km electrified)<br>48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified)

Standard gauge

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

Total

27,311 km (2015)

J

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br><br>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<br><br>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)

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)

active duty personnel

261,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

percent of total labor force

0.38 %

approximately 230-240,000 active Self Defense Forces&nbsp; (2025)

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

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)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$55,273,904,317

Military Expenditures 2020

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.25 %

percent of GDP

1.37 % of GDP

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

note

<strong>note:</strong> as of 2023, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel

PowerIndex score

0.1876

IDPs

29,244 (2024 est.)

Refugees

60,361 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

505 (2024 est.)

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

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

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

has one of the world&rsquo;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)

From coal and metallurgical coke

367.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

190.043 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

403.042 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

960.23 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

Global geoparks and regional networks

Aso UNESCO; Hakusan Tedorigawa; Itoigawa; Izu Peninsula; Mt. Apoi; Muroto; Oki Islands; San'in Kaigan; Toya - Usu; Unzen (2023)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

10

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

Agriculture

972.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

214.7 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

22.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

208.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

15 % of total land area

13 % of total

430 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

19 % of internal resources

Agricultural

53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

42.72 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

11.5% (2022 est.)