

Topic: Introduction
Background: Japan opened its ports in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power.Japan opened its ports in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and an ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians hold actual decision-making power.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 377,915 sq km

land: 364,485 sq km

water: 13,430 sq km
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish; note - with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

Topic: People and Society
Population: 124,214,766 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Japanese 97.9%, Chinese 0.6%, Korean 0.4%, other 1.1% (includes Vietnamese, Filipino, and Brazilian) (2017 est.)
Languages: Japanese
Religions: Shintoism 70.5%, Buddhism 67.2%, Christianity 1.5%, other 5.9% (2019 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.39% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Tokyo
Executive branch: chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019); note - succeeds his father who abdicated on 30 April 2019

head of government: Prime Minister Fumio KISHIDA (since 4 October 2021 )
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of:
House of Councillors or Sangi-in (245 seats, currently 242; 146 members directly elected in multi-seat districts by simple majority vote and 96 directly elected in a single national constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with half the membership renewed every 3 years); note - the number of seats increases to 248 at the July 2022 election for renewal of half the membership 
House of Representatives or Shugi-in (465 seats; 289 members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote and 176 directly elected in multi-seat districts by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: third-largest, trade-oriented, and diversified economy; most indebted country; recent infrastructure spending, significant currency devaluations, consumption tax hikes; declining labor force; recent government stimulus largely offset COVID-19 downturnthird-largest, trade-oriented, and diversified economy; most indebted country; recent infrastructure spending, significant currency devaluations, consumption tax hikes; declining labor force; recent government stimulus largely offset COVID-19 downturn
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $5,224,850,000,000 (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $41,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, milk, sugar beet, vegetables, eggs, poultry, potatoes, cabbages, onions, pork
Industries: among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Exports: $793.32 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 19%, China 18%, South Korea 6%, Taiwan 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, personal appliances, ships (2019)
Imports: $799.52 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 23%, United States 11%, Australia 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, integrated circuits, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates: yen (JPY) per US dollar -Page last updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2022