Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
King: Mswati III
Population
127,368,088
1,386,914
Life Expectancy
83.910 years
49.420 years
Capital City
Tokyo
Mbabane
Largest city
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Manzini (population: 110,537)
Human Development Index
0.956
0.542
GDP per capita
$35,200 US
$5,400 US
Literacy Rate
99%
81.6%
Corruption Perception Index
7.3
3.6
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
4.600%
40.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
monarchy
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
6 September 1968 (from UK)
Religions
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Languages
Japanese
English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
External Debt
$2,719,000,000,000 $
$703,100,000 US
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.75 (2008 est.), 7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
4.700%
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
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Area
377,915 km sq
17,364 km sq
Coastline
29,751 km
0 km
Climate
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
