Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
Population
4,140,289
127,368,088
Life Expectancy
75.230 years
83.910 years
Capital City
Tokyo
Largest city
Beirut (population: 1,916,100)
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Human Development Index
0.796
0.956
GDP per capita
$35,200 US
Literacy Rate
87.4%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3
7.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
4.7%
12.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Najib Mikati ($2.0bn US)
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.600%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Independence date
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
Religions
Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3% note: 17 religious sects recognized
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Languages
Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian
Japanese
Exports
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
External Debt
$2,719,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 103.58 (2008 est.), 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
25
Location
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Area
10,400 km sq
377,915 km sq
Coastline
225 km
29,751 km
Climate
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
