National Identity
- Official name
- Japan
- Official name (in Japanese)
- 日本国
- Official name (in Japanese, Romanized)
- Nippon-koku or Nihon-koku
- 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"
Sources:- The Constitution of Japan ↗ - Prime Minister's Office of Japan
- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- National flag
- Proportions of dimensions and position of the sun disc
Height: two-thirds of the width
Sun disc
Diameter: three-fifths of the height
Centre: the centre of the flag - Colouring
Field: white
Sun disc: crimson
Translated from the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan Appendix No. 1 (relating to Article 1)
Specifications of the Nisshōki
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the House of Representatives of Japan It is difficult to identify the meaning of the Hinomaru unequivocally, but we understand that it is generally held that the Hinomaru represents the sun. As for the white ground, it is unknown.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the House of Representatives of Japan The origin of the Hinomaru is not clear, but, viewed historically, we understand that records remain showing that it was used even before the Edo period. In the Edo period, the Hinomaru was established as the official emblem of the shogunate in Kan'ei 11 (1634), and we understand that thereafter the Hinomaru was made the general ship mark of Japan in Ansei 1 (1854), and the general emblem of the nation in Ansei 6 (1859). In the Meiji era, the design of the Hinomaru was prescribed as the national flag to be flown on ships by the Merchant Ship Regulations proclaimed in Meiji 3.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerTranslated from the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan Our country's national flag, the "Nisshōki", and national anthem, "Kimigayo", both have a long history and had already become established as customary law; with the 21st century close at hand, it is truly significant that their basis has now been clearly prescribed in statute law.
Unofficial translation by WorldometerSources:- www8.cao.go.jp ↗ - the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
- shugiin.go.jp ↗ - the House of Representatives of Japan
- Proportions of dimensions and position of the sun disc
- National anthem
- Kimigayo (君が代)0:59
- Title (in Japanese)
- 君が代
- Title (in Japanese, Romanized)
- Kimigayo
- Unofficial title (in English, translated)
- His Majesty’s Reign
- Lyrics
君が代は 千代に八千代に さざれ石の いわおとなりて こけのむすまで
Source: - Citizens
- Japanese
- Official name:The Constitution of Japan ↗ - Prime Minister's Office of Japan
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- National flag:www8.cao.go.jp ↗ - the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
- National flag:shugiin.go.jp ↗ - the House of Representatives of Japan
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
- Total area
- 377,915 km²
- Land area
- 364,485 km²
- Water area
- 13,430 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 29,751 km
- Terrain
Mostly rugged and mountainous - Mean elevation
- 438 m
- Highest point
- 3,776 mMount Fuji
- Lowest point
- −4 mHachiro-gata
- Climate
Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north - Avg. temperature
- 12.1 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 9 to 15.5 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,761 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 3.8 0.6 −2.4 99 February 4.6 1.2 −2 92 March 8.3 4.7 1.3 123 April 14 10 6.5 128 May 19 15.1 11.7 144 June 22.1 18.9 16.1 206 July 25.8 22.7 20.2 222 August 27.2 23.9 21.2 180 September 23.8 20.4 17.5 201 October 18.4 14.7 11.6 156 November 12.3 8.7 5.6 108 December 6.3 3.1 0.2 104 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable11.1%Perm. crops0.7%Pasture0.9%Forest68.3%Other19.0%
- Arable land
- 4,044,000 hectares (11.1%)
- Permanent crops
- 254,000 hectares (0.7%)
- Permanent meadows & pastures
- 310,000 hectares (0.9%)
- Forest
- 24,912,400 hectares (68.3%)
- Other land
- 6,937,527 hectares (19.0%)
Source: - Major lakes
- Biwa-ko688 km²
- Natural hazards2026
- Tsunamis10.0Very high#1/191Earthquakes9.7Very high#2/191Coastal floods9.4Very high#3/191Tropical cyclones9.2Very high#2/191River floods7.8Very high#23/191Epidemics3.7Medium#134/191Drought0.4Very low#170/191
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Mean elevation, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate, Major lakes:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- −0.55% per year−675,748 people/yearWorld Rank208thof 237
- Birth rate
- 6.1 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 12.8 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +1.1 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 50.2 yearsWorld Rank4thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years11.0%15-64 years58.8%65 years +30.2%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 30.2%
- Share aged under 18
- 13.8%
- Total dependency ratio
- 70
- Youth dependency ratio
- 19
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 51
- Sex ratio
- 0.95 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 4.1% 6.8% 70-79 6.2% 7.1% 60-69 6.1% 6.1% 50-59 7.7% 7.6% 40-49 6.3% 6.2% 30-39 5.1% 4.9% 20-29 5.1% 4.9% 10-19 4.5% 4.3% 0-9 3.5% 3.3% - 2026
- 0.87 below the replacement level for Japan ()1.23 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank216thof 237
- 0.60 daughters per woman0.40 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- −6.7 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 6.7 more deaths than births a year
- 2026
- +1.1 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 92.4% live in 113,138,719 urban residents
- Largest cities2025
- Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, NagoyaRankCityPopulation (2025 census)1Tokyo9,953,1602Yokohama3,754,8403Osaka2,808,6244Nagoya2,345,8925Sapporo1,964,0346Fukuoka1,663,8927Kawasaki1,561,1328Kobe1,497,6309Kyoto1,431,71310Saitama1,345,016Source:
- Statistics Bureau of Japan (2025 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- 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).
- Ethnic groups2022
- Figures count nationality, not ethnicity.Japanese97.5%Chinese0.6%Vietnam0.4%South Korean0.3%Other1.2%
Other includes Filipino, Brazilian, Nepalese, Indonesian, American, and Taiwanese.
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Religions2021
- Counts only people claiming a religious affiliation.Shintoism48.6%Buddhist46.4%Christianity1.1%Other4.0%
- Languages
- Japanese (日本語)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:Statistics Bureau of Japan (2025 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- Constitutional monarchyThe Emperor is "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people", holds a dynastic Throne succeeded to under the Imperial House Law, and has no powers related to government (Arts. 1, 2, 4).Source:
- 日本国憲法 (The Constitution of Japan), 昭和二十一年憲法 ↗, Arts. 1, 2, 4
- System of government
- ParliamentaryThe Diet (parliament) designates the Prime Minister from among its members; the Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Diet and resigns on a House of Representatives non-confidence vote unless that House is dissolved within ten days (Arts. 66, 67, 69).Source:
- 日本国憲法 (The Constitution of Japan), 昭和二十一年憲法 ↗, Arts. 66, 67, 69
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Tokyo10 million people(2024)
- National holidays
- 18 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- MonJan 12Coming of Age Day
- WedFeb 11Foundation Day
- MonFeb 23Emperor's Birthday
- FriMar 20Vernal Equinox Day
- WedApr 29Showa Day
- SunMay 3Constitution Day
- MonMay 4Greenery Day
- TueMay 5Children's Day
- WedMay 6Substitute Holiday
- MonJul 20Marine Day
- TueAug 11Mountain Day
- MonSep 21Respect for the Aged Day
- TueSep 22National Holiday
- WedSep 23Autumnal Equinox Day
- MonOct 12Sports Day
- TueNov 3Culture Day
- MonNov 23Labor Thanksgiving Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- JSTJapan Standard TimeUTC+9
- Currency
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +81
- Internet TLD
- .jp
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- JP, JPN
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 120,305,972 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 3,036
- Aircraft departures
- 975,616 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 8,474 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- JA
Sources:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Japan AirlinesPrivately owned
- Passenger rail
- JR East (JR Group)
- 2025
- 71 / 100World Rank18thof 182Confidence interval
Corruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 74 70 78 2013 74 70 78 2014 76 71 81 2015 75 70 80 2016 72 67 77 2017 73 69 77 2018 73 68 78 2019 73 67.2 78.8 2020 74 70.7 77.3 2021 73 69.5 76.5 2022 73 70 76 2023 73 70.1 75.9 2024 71 66.8 75.2 2025 71 66.9 75.1 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:日本国憲法 (The Constitution of Japan), 昭和二十一年憲法 ↗ - Digital Agency, Government of Japan (e-Gov Law Search)
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +0.8% per yearWorld Rank173rdof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $35,400 (44th in the world)
Source:- 2024
- Services71.4% of GDPIndustry26.8% of GDPAgriculture1% of GDPManufacturing18.8%part of industry
- Households
- +53.1%
- Government
- +20.1%
- Investment
- +27.7%
- Exports
- +22%
- Imports
- −22.9%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 2%down 1.2 percentage points1.2pp from 2025
- Labor force2024
- 69.4 million (56% of population)World Rank10thof 187
- Labor force participation2024
- 63.3% of people aged 15+
- Unemployment2024
- 2.5%
- Youth unemployment2024
- 3.9% ages 15 to 24
- Labor productivity2024
- $52.1 per hour worked at PPP
- Budget balance2026
- 1.4% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 4.6% of GDP, $199.4 billion surplus
Source: - Debt2024
- Government debt236.7% of GDPHousehold debt65.1% of GDPCompany debt116.3% of GDPInterest on debt1.5% of GDPCentral government debt200.9% of GDP
- Trade2025
- Goods$725.2 billion74.7%
- Services$246.1 billion25.3%
- Total exports
- $971.3 billion
- Change from 2024
- up 4 percent on the previous year4%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- 2024
- +1.69World Rank1stof 145
- Projected GDP growth
- +0.8% a year over the next 10 years
Source:- Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products2024
- Onions and shallots (green), Hen eggs in shell (fresh), Lettuce and chicory, and 7 more
- 1Onions and shallots (green)21.2×
- 2Hen eggs in shell (fresh)6.4×
- 3Lettuce and chicory4.8×
- 4Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)4.6×
- 5Cabbages4.5×
- 6Carrots and turnips3.1×
- 7Rice3×
- 8Tangerines and mandarins (including clementines)2.9×
- 9Sugar beet2.9×
- 10Onions and shallots (dry)2.4×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Gold reserves2025
- 846 tonnesWorth $118.8 billion, 9% of total official reserves by value
- Industries
- motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade, Gold reserves:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Labor force, Labor force participation, Unemployment, Youth unemployment, Labor productivity:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Economic Complexity Index:Atlas of Economic Complexity ↗ - Harvard Growth Lab
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Cost of living index
- Loading
- Monthly costs (excluding rent)
- Loading
- Rent
- Loading
- Buying an apartment
- Loading
- Average gross salary2021
- ¥307,400 per month$2,801 (USD), $2,809 (PPP)
- Men
- ¥337,200 per month($3,072)
- Women
- ¥253,600 per month($2,311)
Source:- ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
- 2024
- ¥182,726 per month, gross$1,207 (USD), $1,839 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.925Very highWorld Rank23rdof 193JapanWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Japan World 1990 0.853 0.608 1991 0.857 0.611 1992 0.859 0.614 1993 0.865 0.617 1994 0.872 0.620 1995 0.874 0.625 1996 0.880 0.631 1997 0.883 0.636 1998 0.884 0.641 1999 0.885 0.646 2000 0.889 0.651 2001 0.892 0.657 2002 0.894 0.662 2003 0.896 0.669 2004 0.899 0.675 2005 0.900 0.681 2006 0.903 0.688 2007 0.905 0.694 2008 0.905 0.698 2009 0.905 0.701 2010 0.907 0.707 2011 0.906 0.713 2012 0.909 0.717 2013 0.912 0.721 2014 0.914 0.726 2015 0.917 0.731 2016 0.918 0.735 2017 0.920 0.739 2018 0.921 0.741 2019 0.922 0.745 2020 0.922 0.742 2021 0.922 0.742 2022 0.921 0.752 2023 0.925 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2020
- 32.3
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 12.7 years
- Expected for a child today
- 15.5 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Education expenditure2021
- 3.3% of GDP
- Internet users2023
- 85% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 90.3%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2023
- 221.9 million
- Fixed telephone lines
- 59,326,689
- Fixed broadband
- 38.6 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership2021
- 70% of adults
- Debit-card ownership
- 88%
- Account at a bank or mobile-money provider
- 98%
- Made or received a digital payment
- 96%
Source:- Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted2025
- 29,068 people
- Asylum seekers
- 31,293
- Stateless persons
- 505
- Internally displaced persons
- 44,000All due to disasters
- Refugees from Japan abroad
- 46
Sources:- Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- 2024
- Official tourism site36.9 million arrivalsWorld Rank8thof 139
- Per resident
- 3 arrivals per 10 residents
- All visitors
- 31.9 million arrivals, overnight and same-day(2019, latest available)
- $58.6 billion
- Spending per arrival
- $1,590
- Share of GDP
- 1.9% tourism direct GDP(2023)
- Domestic trips
- 293.1 million overnight trips by residents
- $19 billion
- Hotel beds
- 4.6 million
- Average hotel stay
- 1.8 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2020 to 2024A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 26 sites21 cultural5 natural
Site Type Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area Cultural Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara Cultural Himeji-jo Cultural Shiretoko Natural Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group: Mounded Tombs of Ancient Japan Cultural Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan Cultural Yakushima Natural Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) Cultural Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) Cultural Shirakami-Sanchi Natural Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama Cultural Itsukushima Shinto Shrine Cultural Shrines and Temples of Nikko Cultural Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu Cultural Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range Cultural Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land Cultural Ogasawara Islands Natural Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region Cultural Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Cultural Amami-Oshima Island, Tokunoshima Island, Northern part of Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island Natural The Factbook names 20 of the 26 sites.
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Credit-card ownership:Global Findex Database ↗ - World Bank
- Refugees hosted:Refugee Data Finder ↗ - UN Refugee Agency
- Refugees hosted:Global Internal Displacement Database ↗ - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2024
- Very low by global standards0.2 per 100,000 peopleWorld Rank111thof 115
- Crime rates
- 7 offence categories
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 0.2 283 2024 Serious assault 17.8 22,169 2023 Sexual violence 7.1 8,807 2023 Kidnapping 0.4 526 2023 Burglary 29.3 36,588 2022 Theft 297.1 371,323 2022 Vehicle theft 10.9 13,647 2022 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2023
- 32.3 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 40,178
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 85.1 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 10.7% of GDP$3,638 per person
- Physicians2022
- 2.65 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2022
- 12.6 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 1.6 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 3 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 6.3 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2022
- 18.5% of adults
- Men
- 27.8%
- Women
- 9.2%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending2023
- 2.5% of household spendingWorld Rank61stof 105
- World median
- 3.1%
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 3.6 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Alcohol and Tobacco Spending:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 972.3 Mt per yeardown 3 percent on the previous year3% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 7.8 t per personWorld Rank32ndof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- 2.5%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 50.9 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 16.5 Mt CO₂-eq
- Fluorinated gases
- 23.7 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 1,063.3 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 10 µg/m³ of PM2.50.5 years of life expectancy lost against the WHO guidelineMost polluted134thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
- National standard
- 15 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- 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
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 119 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1989 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1988 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1993 CITES in force 1980 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) not a party Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2004 Nagoya Protocol in force 2017 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 1980 World Heritage Convention in force 1992 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1998 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1993 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) in force 2004 Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2004 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1996 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1983 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 0% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 430 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 3,440 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 80 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 67%
- Water stress
- 37% of available freshwater withdrawn
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 3.2% of the population3.9 million people
- Obesity2024
- 5.9% of adults
- Men
- 8%
- Women
- 3.7%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2010latest available
- 3.4% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 133.5 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- 2.6%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 13% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade907 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 907 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 859 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- Deficitproduces 3.4% of what it consumes, 2025Oil reserves202544.1 million barrelsWorld Rank77thof 99Imports20202.4 million b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal:Worldwide Oil and Gas Survey ↗ - Oil & Gas Journal
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.4% of GDP$55.3 billion, 3.3% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 230,000–240,000active Self Defense Forces
- Military service2025
- Voluntaryno conscription; men and women 18–32
As of 2023, women made up about 9% of the military's full-time personnel.
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Space program2025
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA; established in 2003)
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
- Launch sites
- Tanegashima Space Center/Yoshinobu Launch Complex (Kagoshima), Uchinoura Space Center (Kagoshima), Noshiro Testing Center (Akita)
- 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
Key milestones
Source:- The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service, Space program:The World Factbook: Japan - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
