Japan: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

Honda reports robust results on the back of healthy motorcycle sales • Nov. 10, 2026, 5:59 AM ET (AP)

Peschel scores in her debut as US shuts out Germany 5-0 at women's worlds, Canada routs Japan 9-0 • Nov. 8, 2026, 5:14 PM ET (AP)

Kao Miura wins men's figure skating title and completes Japanese sweep at Cup of China • Nov. 8, 2026, 4:05 AM ET (AP)

Strong earthquake shakes central Japan, shattering store windows and injuring at least 22 • Nov. 8, 2026, 2:23 AM ET (AP)

AI stocks halt their brutal, worldwide sell-off as Wall Street trims its loss for the week • Nov. 6, 2026, 4:18 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Nippon • Nihon
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Sanae Takaichi
Capital	Tokyo
Population	(2026 est.) 122,587,000
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 159.865 Japanese yen
Form Of Government	constitutional monarchy with a national Diet consisting of two legislative houses (House of Councillors [248]; House of Representatives [465])
Official Language	none¹
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Nihon, or Nippon (Japan)
Total Area (Sq Km)	377,975
Total Area (Sq Mi)	145,937
Monetary Unit	yen (¥)
Population Rank	(2026) 11
Population Projection 2030	120,984,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 840
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 324.2
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2018) 91.6% • Rural: (2018) 8.4%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2022) 81.1 years • Female: (2022) 87.1 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 4,463,244
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 36,000
Symbol Of State	Emperor: Naruhito
¹Japanese is the national language.

Did You Know?

In Japan's early modern period, women would blacken their teeth with dye in a process called "ohaguro".
Japan and Russia have never signed a peace treaty to end their World War II conflict.
40% of publications sold in Japan are manga.
Consuming fugu, a poisonous blowfish delicacy, is illegal for Japanese royalty.
Japan consists of over 6,000 islands.

Photos and Videos

Political map of Japan showing its main islands and surrounding seas, with prefectures labeled by name and number. Major cities, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo, are marked, as well as the locations of Okinawa and other smaller islands. Insets provide detail for the Ryukyu Islands and Japan's position relative to neighboring countries like South Korea, China, and Russia. A key lists all 47 prefectures by number.

Map showing Japan highlighted in orange, located in East Asia between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, with neighboring countries China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines labeled. The capital city, Tokyo, is also marked.

Mount Fuji with a snow-capped peak rises in the background, seen from across Lake Yamanakaka, with a lakeside road and autumn trees in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Map of Japan highlighting its main islands, mountain ranges, peninsulas, and national parks, with surrounding bodies of water labeled including the Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean, and East China Sea. Insets show Japan's location in East Asia and detail the southern islands and disputed territories.

Tall, rugged basaltic cliffs of Tojinbo rise above the shoreline along the Sea of Japan in Fukui prefecture, with waves crashing at their base and a calm sea beyond.

Snow-capped Mount Fuji rises above a layer of mist, with a bridge and calm water in the foreground under a pink and blue sky in Japan.

A boat travels across Lake Towada, bordered by steep hills covered in vibrant autumn foliage, in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, northern Honshu, Japan.

How snow monkeys survive winter in the Japanese Alps

Size and eating habits of Japan's giant salamanders

Survival of Japanese cranes in Kushiro Shitsugen National Park

A traditional Shintō wedding ceremony in Japan

High-tech urban farming: A new hope for Japan?

National anthem of Japan

See All Videos, Images, Audio and Interactives →

Topics

World War II Anglo-American Chain of Command in Western Europe, June 1944 German Chain of Command in Western Europe, June 1944 casualties of World War II Fujiwara Family Jingū Himiko Jimmu Nihon shoki Kojiki United States Tokyo - Facts India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia France

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Political map of Eastern Asia showing national boundaries and labeling major countries including China, Mongolia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. Neighboring countries such as Russia, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos are also partially shown. Major surrounding bodies of water include the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Pacific Ocean. Disputed and administered regions along the India-China border are marked with lettered labels.

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