Location: Eastern Asia island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E

Area: total 377,835 sq km (land 374,744 sq km/water 3,091 sq km)

Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous

Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata 4m
highest point: Mt.Fuji 3,776 m

Land use: arable land 11% ; permanent crops 1% ; permanent pastures 2% ; forests and woodland 67% ; other 19% (1993 est.)

Natural resources: negligible mineral resources& fish

Population: 125,732,794 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 15% ; 15-64 years: 69% ; 65 years and over: 16% (July 1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.45 years; male 77.4 years; female 83.65 years (1997 est.)

Language: Japanese

Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (includingChristian 0.7%)

Ethnic groups: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)

Government type: constitutional monarchy

National capital: Tokyo

Exports: total value $385 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)commodities: manufactures 96% (including machinery 50%, motor vehicles 19%, consumer electronics 3%)

Imports: total value $329 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)commodities: manufactures 54%, foodstuffs and raw materials 28%, fossil fuels 16%

Currency: yen (\) (Rate as of Aug.31,1998: $1 = \144)

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

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