Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
Micronesia, in the western Pacific, consists of some 600 islands grouped into four states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk (Truk) and Yap.
Population
127,368,088
106,487
Life Expectancy
83.910 years
71.800 years
Capital City
Tokyo
Largest city
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Weno (population: 17,624)
Human Development Index
0.956
NA
GDP per capita
$35,200 US
Literacy Rate
99%
89%
Corruption Perception Index
7.3
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
NA
Wealthiest Citizens
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.600%
Death Penalty
Legal
NA
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
Religions
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%, other 3%
Languages
Japanese
English (official and common language), Chuukese, Kosrean, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
External Debt
$2,719,000,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
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
Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia
Area
377,915 km sq
702 km sq
Coastline
29,751 km
6,112 km
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage
