2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

364,485 sq km

total

377,915 sq km

water

13,430 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California

Climate

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Coastline

29,751 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Fuji 3,776 m

lowest point

Hachiro-gata -4 m

mean elevation

438 m

Geographic coordinates

36 00 N, 138 00 E

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

Irrigated land

15,730 sq km (2014)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

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.)

forest

68.3% (2023 est.)

other

19% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Biwa-ko 688 sq km

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

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

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"

Natural resources

negligible mineral resources, fish 

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)

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

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

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50% (2020 est.)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.5% national budget (2022 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.68 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

23.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

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

Infant mortality rate

female

1.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

88.2 years

male

82.3 years

total population

85.2 years (2024 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)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

51.3 years

male

48.3 years

total

50.2 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.7 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Japanese

noun

Japanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.3% (2016)

Physician density

2.65 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

63,326,676

male

59,875,269

total

123,201,945 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.45% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2022 est.)

male

16 years (2022 est.)

total

16 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

7.2% (2025 est.)

male

24.4% (2025 est.)

total

15.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.41 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

92% of total population (2023)

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

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

geographic coordinates

35 41 N, 139 45 E

name

Tokyo

time difference

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

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

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

history

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

Country name

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 nichi, or "sun," and hon, or "origin," which is frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

local long form

Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local short form

Nihon/Nippon

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

TokyoACS@state.gov 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 20521-9800

telephone

[81] (03) 3224-5000

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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

FAX

[1] (202) 328-2187

telephone

[1] (202) 238-6700

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)

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

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)

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.

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

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)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

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

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)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

National Diet (Kokkai)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

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

Legislative branch - upper chamber

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

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

lyrics/music

unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

title

"Kimigayo" (“His Majesty’s Reign)

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 color(s)

red, white

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)

total World Heritage Sites

26 (21 cultural, 5 natural)

National holiday

Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960)

National symbol(s)

red sun disc, chrysanthemum

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

2.5% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

15.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$897.03 billion (2022 est.)

revenues

$661.986 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance

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.)

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$922.813 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$923.488 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$922.447 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.9% (2023 est.)

industry

28.6% (2023 est.)

services

69.8% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.026 trillion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

32.3 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.9% (2020 est.)

lowest 10%

2.4% (2020 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$1.081 trillion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$996.364 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$965.047 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

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

Industrial production growth rate

1.4% (2023 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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.)

Labor force

69.382 million (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2022

215.9% of GDP (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.6% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

3.7% (2024 est.)

male

4.2% (2024 est.)

total

3.9% (2024 est.)

Coal

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.)

Electricity

consumption

902.769 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

361.617 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

41.79 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

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.)

hydroelectricity

7.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

8.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

10.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

129.504 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

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.)

Nuclear energy

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.)

Petroleum

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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

39 (2023 est.)

total

47.9 million (2023 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.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

48 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

59.758 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

168 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

219 million (2023 est.)

Airports

280 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

JA

Heliports

3,036 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

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

total

5,229 (2023)

Ports

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

Railways

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)

standard gauge

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

total

27,311 km (2015)

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)

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 and security service personnel strengths

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

Military deployments

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

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.)

Military service age and obligation

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

29,244 (2024 est.)

refugees

60,361 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

505 (2024 est.)

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

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)

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

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

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)

total global geoparks and regional networks

10

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

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.)

Particulate matter emissions

10.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

430 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

53 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

13 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

13.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

42.72 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

11.5% (2022 est.)