Data at glance of Japan - average on period

History

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.

Environment

Area: 377,915 sq km km2

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish 

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Japanese 97.5%, Chinese 0.6%, Vietnam 0.4%, South Korean 0.3%, other 1.2% (includes Filipino, Brazilian, Nepalese, Indonesian, American, and Taiwanese) (2022 est.)

Languages: Japanese

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

Government

Capital: Tokyo

Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Executive branch

Chief of state: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019)

Head of government: Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025)

Legislative branch

Description: National Diet (Kokkai) - bicameral

Industries

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

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 0.9% (2023 est.), Industry: 28.6% (2023 est.), Services: 69.8% (2023 est.)

Trade

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

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

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

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

Geography

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

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.)