Page last modified 19 August 2023
Japan
Community
Area 377,915 square kilometres (land area 364,485 square kilometres)
Population,� Percentage of world population in brackets.
5,000,000? (600)
8,600,000? (736)
10,000,000 (1350)
27,000,000 (1725)
30,000,000 (1850)
34,500,000 (1870)
38,000,000 (1880)
40,453,461 (1891)
44,000,000 (1900)
56,000,000 (1920)
64,450,005 (1930) +15.1%
74,100,000 (1940) +15.0%
83,419,000 (1950)* +12.6%
93,419,000 (3.1%) (1960) +12.0%
102,795,000 (2.8%) (1970) +10.0%
117,057,000 (2.6%) (1980) +13.9%
123,611,541 (2.3%) (1990) +5.6%
126,925.843 (2.1%) (2000) +2.7%
128,500,000 (2010) +1.2%
125,836,000 (2020) -2.1%
? Uncertain, estimate only.
*Approximately 6,000,000 of the
increase 1940-50 is attributable to Japanese citizens returning to the homeland
from former Japanese overseas possessions lost after World War Two.
Ethnicity, %
|
|
Chinese |
Japanese (1) |
Korean |
|
1930 |
0.1 |
99.3 |
0.7 |
|
1970 |
0.2 |
99.2 |
0.6 |
|
1991 |
0.2 |
99.2 |
0.6 |
|
2004, 2011 |
0.4 |
98.5 |
0.5 |
(1) Includes Okinawan, 0.9% (1970)
Religion,
|
|
Buddhist |
Christian |
Shinto |
No religion |
|
1900 |
79.6 |
1.0 |
15.0 |
0.0 |
|
1970 |
62.0 |
3.0 |
|
|
|
1990 |
38.0 |
4.0 |
40.0 |
10.5 |
|
2000 |
34.9 |
2.3 |
55.8 |
|
Birth and death rates Below replacement rate = 2.1
|
|
Fertility Rate |
Birth Rate |
Infant Mortality |
Death Rate |
% Aged Under 15 |
% Aged Over 65 |
% Urban |
|
1870 |
|
36.3 (+5.0) |
|
31.3 |
|
|
|
|
1880 |
|
33.9 (+5.6) |
|
28.3 |
|
|
9.8 |
|
1890 |
|
34.3 (+7.0) |
|
27.3 |
33.5 |
|
|
|
1900 |
|
35.2 (+11.0) |
|
24.2 |
|
|
15.8 |
|
1910 |
|
35.6 (+13.5) |
|
22.1 |
|
|
|
|
1920 |
|
33.0 (+12.0) |
|
23.0 |
|
|
14.2 |
|
1930 |
|
35.6 (+17.5) |
125.31 |
18.1 |
|
|
|
|
1940 |
|
30.8 (+14.5) |
|
16.3 |
|
|
|
|
1950 |
3.7 |
23.7 (+14.3) |
52.0 |
9.4 |
35.4 |
4.9 |
37.4 |
|
1960 |
2.0 |
17.2 (+9.6) |
30.5 |
7.6 |
30.2 |
5.6 |
63.3 |
|
1970 |
2.2 |
18.8 (+12.3) |
14.0 |
6.5 |
24.0 |
6.9 |
71.9 |
|
1980 |
1.8 |
14.0 (+7.9) |
7.5 |
6.1 |
23.6 |
8.9 |
76.2 |
|
1990 |
1.5 |
9.9 (+3.2) |
4.6 |
6.7 |
18.5 |
11.9 |
77.3 |
|
2000 |
1.4 |
9.3 (+1.6) |
3.3 |
7.7 |
14.7 |
17.0 |
78.6 |
|
2010 |
1.4 |
9.0 (-0.5) |
2.4 |
9.5 |
13.4 |
22.5 |
90.5 |
|
2015 |
1.5 |
7.9 (-2.2) |
2.1 |
10.1 |
13.0 |
26.0 |
91.4 |
|
2017 |
1.4 |
7.6 (-3.2) |
1.9 |
10.8 |
|
|
|
|
2018 |
|
|
1.8 |
|
12.7 |
27.6 |
91.2 |
11934 figure
Aged
over 100,
153 (1963)
10,000 (1998)
23,038 (2004)
25,606 (2005)
40,400 (2009)
65,700 (2016)
69,785 (2018)
Life
expectancy,
44.5 (1900); 43.9 (M), 44.8 (F)
46.0 (1930); 45.0 (M), 47.0 (F)
52.6 (1947); 50.1 (M), 54.0 (F)
63.9 (1952); 62.0 (M), 66.0 (F)
67.7 (1960); 65.3 (M), 70.1 (F)
72.0 (1970); 69.4 (M), 74.7 (F)
76.1 (1980); 73.6 (M), 78.8 (F)
78.8 (1990); 75.9 (M), 81.2 (F)
81.1 (2000); 77.7 (M), 84.6 (F)
82.8 (2010); 79.6 (M), 86.3 (F)
84.8 (2020); 81.5 (M), 87.7 (F)
Population of principal cities, 1,000s
|
|
Fukuoka |
Hiroshima1 |
Kawasaki |
Kobe2 |
Kyoto3 |
Nagoya4 |
Nagoya MA |
|
1000 |
|
|
|
|
200 |
|
|
|
1700 |
|
|
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
1868 |
|
|
|
|
250 |
130 |
|
|
1890 |
|
|
|
116 |
276 |
155 |
|
|
1900 |
70 |
114 |
|
214 |
351 |
240 |
|
|
1920 |
|
|
|
628 |
591 |
432 |
|
|
1935 |
291 |
310 |
154 |
|
1,018 |
1,083 |
|
|
1940 |
|
|
|
967 |
1,090 |
1,328 |
|
|
1950 |
393 |
286 |
319 |
765 |
1,102 |
1,031 |
|
|
1960 |
647 |
431 |
633 |
1,114 |
1,285 |
1,591 |
|
|
1970 |
865 |
590 |
1,154 |
1,329 |
1,450 |
2,036 |
2,353 |
|
1985 |
1,160 |
1,044 |
1,089 |
1,411 |
1,479 |
|
|
|
1995 |
1,220 |
1,080 |
1,170 |
1,430 |
1,480 |
2,130 |
|
|
2005 |
1,401 |
1,154 |
1,327 |
1,525 |
1,485 |
2,215 |
|
|
2009 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,257 |
|
2016 |
5,590 MA |
1,196 |
1,450 |
1,600 |
1,500 |
2,300 |
9,200 |
1Founded in 1589, Hiroshima was the target of the first atom bomb ever dropped in warfare, on 6 August 1945.�
2Kobe was a small fishing village just north east of the much older port of Hyogo when it was opened to foreigners for trade in 1868.� Kobe soon grew to eclipse and then absorb Hyogo. Further growth ensued when an earthquake hit Yokohama in 1932, causing fires that destroyed the silk factories , and the silk trade transferred to Kobe.
3Kyoto was founded in 794 AD (then known as Heian), and built on the grid plan of many Chinese cities.� It was the administrative capital of Japan but continual conflict greatly impoverished the city from 1336 until 1569, when rebuilding began under Odo Nabunsaga.� Industrial development began from the 1890s.
4Nagoya grew around a 16th century castle, which was enlarged in 1610 by Emperor Iyeyasu.
Population of principal cities, 1,000s
|
|
Osaka5 |
MA |
Sapporo |
MA |
TOKYO6 |
MA |
Yokohama7 |
|
1600 |
400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1787 |
|
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
1868 |
300 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
1 |
|
1890 |
443 |
|
14 |
|
1,376 |
|
119 |
|
1900 |
852 |
|
|
|
1,508 |
|
300 |
|
1920 |
1,253 |
|
103 |
|
2,173 |
|
423 |
|
1935 |
2,990 |
|
197 |
|
5,876 |
|
704 |
|
1940 |
3,252 |
|
|
|
6,779 |
|
968 |
|
1945 |
|
|
|
|
3,500 |
|
|
|
1950 |
1,956 |
|
314 |
|
6,277 |
|
951 |
|
1960 |
3,011 |
|
524 |
|
8,303 |
9,676 |
1,375 |
|
1970 |
|
3,307 |
|
1,206 |
|
12,199 |
2,236 |
|
1985 |
2,600 |
8,000 |
1,543 |
|
8,354 |
|
2,993 |
|
1995 |
|
|
1,750 |
|
8,400 |
|
3,230 |
|
2000 |
|
15,040 |
|
|
|
26,440 |
|
|
2005 |
2,629 |
|
1,881 |
|
8,490 |
35,200 |
3,580 |
|
2009 |
|
|
|
2,673 |
8,653 |
36,500 |
|
|
2012 |
2,669 |
19,342 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016 |
|
|
1,947 |
|
13,617 |
37,800 |
3,733 |
7Yokohama was a small fishing village when Japan opened up to foreign trade in 1859.� It is now a major industrial manufacturing centre.
5Osaka has been a cultural, religious, and political centre from the 4th century AD; originally called Naniwa.� Trade through Osaka grew, but after Japan was opened up to the rest of the world in 1868, the town lost business to Kobe, which had a deepwater port.
6Known as Yedo or Edo (�eastern capital�) until 1868, Yedo was a small town, founded in the 12th century AD.� Yedo then grew to a peak population of 1.4 million in 1787; it was then the world�s largest city.� However Tokyo�s population subsequently declined to around 600,000 in 1868.� In that year Tokyo was made the capital of Japan, replacing Kyoto.�
Wealth; Gross Domestic Product (nominal values)
|
|
GDP, US$ million |
Total GDP, % of USA |
GDP per capita, US$ |
GDP per capita % of USA |
|
1914 |
2,000 |
|
36 |
|
|
1948 |
11,523 |
5.16 |
143 |
9.38 |
|
1956 |
20,620 |
5.76 |
|
|
|
1960 |
44,300 |
8.15 |
480 |
15.96 |
|
1965 |
90,950 |
12.23 |
800 |
20.90 |
|
1970 |
203,740 |
19.60 |
2,000 |
38.12 |
|
1975 |
499,780 |
30.56 |
4,482 |
57.31 |
|
1980 |
1,070,230 |
38.28 |
9,189 |
72.94 |
|
1985 |
1,364,370 |
32.38 |
11,335 |
62.04 |
|
1990 |
3,051,600 |
52.58 |
24,718 |
103.19 |
|
1995 |
5,290,160 |
71.48 |
42,337 |
140.80 |
|
2000 |
4,759,520 |
47.77 |
37,578 |
103.09 |
|
2005 |
4,505,900 |
34.41 |
37,200 |
83.96 |
|
2010 |
5,459,000 |
36.48 |
44,500 |
91.99 |
|
2015 |
4,383,000 |
24.30 |
34,500 |
61.38 |
|
2016 |
4,393,300 |
23.66 |
38,900 |
67.69 |
GDP by primary sector
|
|
Agriculture % GDP |
Agriculture % employed |
Industry % GDP |
Industry % employed |
Services % GDP |
Services % employed |
|
1880 |
|
82.0 |
|
10.0 |
|
12.0 |
|
1900 |
70.0 |
70.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1910 |
|
69.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1920 |
50.0 |
54.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1930 |
|
48.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1940 |
|
44.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
1950 |
48.3 |
37.0 |
|
|
|
29.8 |
|
1960 |
|
33.0 |
|
30.0 |
|
37.0 |
|
1970 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
|
35.0 |
|
46.9 |
|
1980 |
10.0 |
10.0 |
|
35.0 |
55.4 |
55.0 |
|
1990 |
2.8 |
8.0 |
40.4 |
32.9 |
56.8 |
55.9 |
|
2000 |
1.4 |
5.0 |
31.0 |
35.0 |
71.0 |
70.0 |
|
2010 |
1.1 |
3.9 |
23.0 |
26.2 |
75.0 |
69.8 |
|
2016 |
1.1 |
2.9 |
29.6 |
26.2 |
69.4 |
70.9 |
Communications
Language Official; Japanese
Literacy
15.0% (1868)
98.0% (1960)
99.9% (1980 and subsequent years)
Physical communications � roads
|
|
Roads (km) |
Motor vehicles |
Cars |
Commercial Vehicles |
|
1930 |
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
1936 |
951,200 |
|
|
|
|
1946 |
|
107315 |
|
|
|
1948 |
|
219,094 |
|
|
|
1955 |
|
640,000 |
153,300 |
|
|
1959 |
|
2,700,000 |
319,000 |
1,190,000 |
|
1961 |
|
|
602,402 |
1,602,516 |
|
1965 |
|
6,300,000 |
2,500,000 |
4,500,000 |
|
1977 |
1,088,254 |
|
|
|
|
1978 |
|
|
19,942,500 |
11,369,600 |
|
1980 |
1,108,000 |
37,100,000 |
23,800,000 |
13,200,000 |
|
1985 |
|
45,216,000 |
27,845,000 |
17,140,000 |
|
1990 |
|
56,400,000 |
32,937,813 |
|
|
1992 |
1,120,461 |
|
38,964,000 |
21,132,000 |
|
1995 |
1,140,000 |
64,400,000 |
42,956,339 |
|
|
1997 |
|
|
48,611,000 |
19,652,000 |
|
2000 |
1,171,647 |
70,000,000 |
52,000,000 |
|
|
2005 |
1,185,590 |
75,700,000 |
56,288,256 |
|
|
2010 |
1,203,777 |
76,000,000 |
57,902,835 |
|
|
2015 |
1,218,772 |
|
60,517,249 |
|
|
2016 |
|
|
60,831,892 |
|
Railways; Japan�s first railway, Yokahama to Tokyo, 30 km, opened 1872. �Tokyo to Kobe opened 1889.
|
|
Length (km) |
% electrified |
|
1880 |
158 |
|
|
1890 |
2,348 |
|
|
1900 |
6,803 |
|
|
1910 |
7,840 |
|
|
1920 |
10,440 |
|
|
1930 |
14,582 |
|
|
1938 |
24,433 |
18.2 |
|
1960 |
27,800 |
30.9 |
|
1970 |
26,889 |
42.4 |
|
1984 |
26,908 |
51.3 |
|
2000 |
27,500 |
|
|
2015 |
27,311 |
75.2 |
Urban metro systems, kilometres (date opened)
|
|
Fukuoka (1981) |
Hiroshima (1994) |
Kobe (1977) |
Kyoto (1981) |
Nagoya (1957) |
|
1992 |
15.0 |
|
30.6 |
11.0 |
67.0 |
|
2001 |
18.0 |
|
|
26.0 |
|
|
2010 |
29.8 |
18.4 |
38.2 |
28.8 |
89.1 |
|
2015 |
|
|
|
31.2 |
93.3 |
Urban metro systems, kilometres (date opened)
|
|
Osaka (1933) |
Sapporo (1971) |
Sendai (1987) |
Tokyo (1927) |
Yokohama (1972) |
|
1992 |
104.0 |
40.0 |
14.8 |
230.0 |
22.0 |
|
2001 |
116.0 |
48.0 |
14.8 |
286.0 |
40.4 |
|
2010 |
137.8 |
48.0 |
14.8 |
316.6 |
44.5 |
|
2015 |
|
|
28.7 |
|
53.4 |
Electronic communications, Radio broadcasting began in 1925. TV broadcasting began in 1939; colour
from 1960.� By the early 1960s about 90%
of Japanese households had a television
set. The first telephones were
installed in Japan in 1877 but for official government use only. The telephone
was not available to the general public in Japan until 1890.
|
|
Telephones (landlines) 1,000s |
Mobile Telephones |
Radios 1,000s |
Televisions 1,000s |
PCs 1,000s |
Internet Users 1,000s |
|
1938 |
982 |
|
3,584 |
|
|
|
|
1948 |
1,237 |
|
6,858 |
|
|
|
|
1950 |
|
|
9,193 |
|
|
|
|
1959 |
4,335 |
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
|
1960 |
|
|
12,410 |
5,992 |
|
|
|
1961 |
6,345 |
|
|
9,215 |
|
|
|
1965 |
|
|
|
17,700 |
|
|
|
1968 |
|
|
|
20,500 |
|
|
|
1969 |
20,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1971 |
|
|
|
23,281 |
|
|
|
1975 |
32,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1977 |
|
|
64,978 |
27,495 |
|
|
|
1980 |
39,934 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1981 |
|
13,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
1985 |
|
61,800 |
|
|
2,100 |
|
|
1990 |
54,528 |
868,078 |
111,000 |
75,500 |
7,400 |
|
|
1995 |
|
11,712,140 |
114,500 |
85,500 |
15,100 |
|
|
1998 |
|
|
|
|
|
14,000 |
|
2000 |
61,957 |
66,784,380 |
120,000 |
|
40,000 |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
|
108,000 |
|
62,500 |
|
2004 |
|
|
|
|
69,200 |
66,500 |
|
2005 |
58,780 |
94,745,000 |
|
|
|
76,000 |
|
2010 |
44,364 |
114,917,000 |
|
|
|
99,182 |
|
2016 |
64,025 |
164,265,000 |
|
|
|
116,566 |
Tourism: Visitors to Japan,
519,000 (1968)
850,000 (1970)
764,246 (1974)
1,112,606 (1979)
2,259,894 (1985)
3,236,000 (1990)
3,345,000 (1995)
4,757,000 (2000)
6,728,000 (2005)
8,611,000 (2010)
19,737,000 (2015)