Head of state: Emperor Akihito Prime minister: Yoshihiko Noda
Population
28,047,938
127,368,088
Life Expectancy
74.080 years
83.910 years
Capital City
Caracas
Tokyo
Largest city
Maracaibo (population: 2,225,000)
Tokyo (population: 8,336,600)
Human Development Index
0.826
0.956
GDP per capita
$12,700 US
$35,200 US
Literacy Rate
93%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
1.9
7.3
Percentage of Women in Parliament
18.6%
12.3%
Wealthiest Citizens
Gustavo Cisneros & family ($3.8bn US)
Tadashi Yanai & family ($6.0bn US)
Unemployment Rate
8.200%
4.600%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
federal republic
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Independence date
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU)
Religions
nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Languages
Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Japanese
Exports
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
External Debt
$89,600,000,000 $
$2,719,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
bolivars (VEB) per US dollar - 2.147 (2008 est.), 2,147 (2007), 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3 (2004) note: On 1 January 2008 Venezuela revalued its currency with 1000 old bolivares equal to 1 new bolivar
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
1.200%
0.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
25
Location
Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Area
912,050 km sq
377,915 km sq
Coastline
2,800 km
29,751 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
