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PEOPLE

Language
Japanese
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	127.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	129.0 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	128.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	127.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	127.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	127.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	127.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	127.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	127.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
101.7 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
The Japanese are ethnically homogeneous, having their origin in the migration of peoples from the Asian continent. There are Korean, Chinese and Ainu minorities, among others.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Buddhism and Shintoism 84 percent
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	66.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	66.0 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	65.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	65.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	65.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	65.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	65.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	65.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1945 1947
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2007)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	13.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	14.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	14.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	14.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	14.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	14.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT +9

Climate description
Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Currency
Yen

Telephone dialling code
(+) 81

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	82.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	82.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	82.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	78.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	78.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	78.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	77.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	77.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	85.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	85.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	85.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	85.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	84.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	84.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	3 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	3 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	3 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	3 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	3 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	3 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	3 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	5 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	No data available percent
1996-2004	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	6 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	10 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	8	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	7	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	11	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	9	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	9	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	9	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	100 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	100 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	402 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	402 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	433 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	456 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	468 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	473 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	478 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	483 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	489 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	867 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	843 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	798 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	757 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	718 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	681 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	638 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	590 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	527 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	689 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	689 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	683 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	666 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	621 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	483 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	464 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	384 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	299 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	18 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	17 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	17	Transparency International
2005	21 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	24	Transparency International
2003	21 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	20 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	21	Transparency International
2000	23 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	37790 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	38720 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	38940 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	36690 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	33420 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	33240 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	35120 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	34620 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	4384.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4376.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4552.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4605.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4229.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3918.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	4095.5 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	4667.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	2.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	-0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	-0.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	-1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	-1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-1.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	-1.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	-1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
4.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
21.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	198 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	198 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	202 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	197 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	No data available percent
2006	No data available percent
2005	No data available percent
2004	No data available percent
2003	No data available percent

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	21 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	23 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	24 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	26 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	28 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	29 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	32 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	34 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	185	UNHCR
2007	521	UNHCR
2006	168	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	13	UNHCR
2004	21	UNHCR
2003	19	UNHCR
2002	19	UNHCR
2001	No data available
2000	No data available

Number of refugees residing here

2008	2019	UNHCR
2007	1794	UNHCR
2006	1844	UNHCR
2005	1941	UNHCR
2004	1967	UNHCR
2003	2266	UNHCR
2002	2657	UNHCR
2001	3200	UNHCR
2000	3752	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	1.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	3.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003