01
Physical geography
Mostly rugged and mountainous.
Local timeTokyo ·
Asia / Eastern Asia · Card 018
Japan
Japan is a country in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Tokyo.
Find Japan
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Languages
- Japanese
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Population
- 123.4 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 377,930 km²145,920 square miles
- Postwar constitution
- 1947
Japan in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Tokyo; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Japanese.
03
Location
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula.
Flag
White with a large red disk that symbolizes the sun without rays, in the center
History & status
Japan’s modern transformation accelerated with the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Defeat in the Second World War in 1945 was followed by Allied occupation and a new constitution in 1947. Sovereignty was restored in 1952, and rapid postwar industrial growth made Japan a major global economy.
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Meiji Restoration
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Postwar constitution takes effect
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Sovereignty restored after occupation
Economy
Main activities
Services and advanced manufacturing are central. Motor vehicles, machinery, electronics and precision equipment are important industries; Japan also depends on imported energy and raw materials.
Industry and production
motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people123.42025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 103,403,000 | 103.403 |
| 1980 | 116,807,000 | 116.807 |
| 1990 | 123,478,000 | 123.478 |
| 2000 | 126,843,000 | 126.843 |
| 2010 | 128,070,000 | 128.070 |
| 2020 | 126,261,000 | 126.261 |
| 2025 | 123,366,734 | 123.367 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars4764.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3,569,102,682,109 | 3,569.103 |
| 1991 | 3,691,076,650,697 | 3,691.077 |
| 1992 | 3,722,379,548,991 | 3,722.380 |
| 1993 | 3,703,100,606,522 | 3,703.101 |
| 1994 | 3,739,874,853,041 | 3,739.875 |
| 1995 | 3,827,464,796,308 | 3,827.465 |
| 1996 | 3,945,177,225,077 | 3,945.177 |
| 1997 | 3,998,948,850,265 | 3,998.949 |
| 1998 | 3,928,061,846,960 | 3,928.062 |
| 1999 | 3,914,407,888,319 | 3,914.408 |
| 2000 | 4,030,991,750,951 | 4,030.992 |
| 2001 | 4,042,464,298,381 | 4,042.464 |
| 2002 | 4,045,899,940,482 | 4,045.900 |
| 2003 | 4,101,737,784,189 | 4,101.738 |
| 2004 | 4,188,405,380,395 | 4,188.405 |
| 2005 | 4,265,818,895,379 | 4,265.819 |
| 2006 | 4,331,781,612,601 | 4,331.782 |
| 2007 | 4,406,651,221,892 | 4,406.651 |
| 2008 | 4,355,242,255,152 | 4,355.242 |
| 2009 | 4,096,717,638,451 | 4,096.718 |
| 2010 | 4,266,176,556,595 | 4,266.177 |
| 2011 | 4,257,628,936,827 | 4,257.629 |
| 2012 | 4,327,834,450,517 | 4,327.834 |
| 2013 | 4,414,273,272,428 | 4,414.273 |
| 2014 | 4,454,262,857,600 | 4,454.263 |
| 2015 | 4,534,438,580,495 | 4,534.439 |
| 2016 | 4,566,405,760,117 | 4,566.406 |
| 2017 | 4,640,539,102,853 | 4,640.539 |
| 2018 | 4,679,247,874,199 | 4,679.248 |
| 2019 | 4,664,812,538,574 | 4,664.813 |
| 2020 | 4,465,005,582,813 | 4,465.006 |
| 2021 | 4,624,147,102,599 | 4,624.147 |
| 2022 | 4,685,724,442,189 | 4,685.724 |
| 2023 | 4,719,498,455,389 | 4,719.498 |
| 2024 | 4,708,167,683,578 | 4,708.168 |
| 2025 | 4,764,341,438,832 | 4,764.341 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.925Very High human developmentRank 23 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.853
20000.889
20100.907
20200.922
20230.925
84.7 yearsLife expectancy at birth
12.7 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The emperor is a symbol of the state; executive authority rests with the cabinet led by the prime minister. The National Diet has two chambers.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Japan.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Japan: Sovereignty restored after occupation?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.