Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
Interim president: Dioncounda Traore
Population
127,368,088
15,494,466
Life Expectancy
83.910 years
53.060 years
Capital City
Tokyo
Bamako
Largest city
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Bamako (population: 1,297,280)
Human Development Index
0.956
0.391
GDP per capita
$35,200 US
$1,100 US
Literacy Rate
99%
46.4%
Corruption Perception Index
7.3
3.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
10.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.600%
30.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
republic
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
22 September 1960 (from France)
Religions
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Muslim 90%, Christian 1%, indigenous beliefs 9%
Languages
Japanese
French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
cotton, gold, livestock
External Debt
$2,719,000,000,000 $
$3,192,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar 438.77 (2008 est.), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
25
0
Location
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Western Africa, southwest of Algeria
Area
377,915 km sq
1,240,192 km sq
Coastline
29,751 km
0 km
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
subtropical to arid; hot and dry (February to June); rainy, humid, and mild (June to November); cool and dry (November to February)
