Overview:
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, and a comparatively
small defense allocation have helped Japan advance with extraordinary
rapidity, notably in high-technology fields. Industry, the most important
sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and
fuels. Self-sufficent in rice, Japan must import 50% of its requirements for
other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest
fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. Overall
economic growth has been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%
average in the 1970s and 1980s. A major contributor to overall growth of
4.5% in 1991 was net exports, which cushioned the effect of slower growth in
domestic demand. Inflation remains low at 3.3% and is easing due to lower
oil prices and a stronger yen. Japan continues to run a huge trade surplus,
$80 billion in 1991, which supports extensive investment in foreign assets.
The increased crowding of its habitable land area and the aging of its
population are two major long-run problems.
GDP:
purchasing power equivalent - $2,360.7 billion, per capita $19,000; real
growth rate 4.5% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.3% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
2.1% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $481 billion; expenditures $531 billion, including capital
expenditures (public works only) of about $60 billion (FY91)
Exports:
$314.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
manufactures 97% (including machinery 40%, motor vehicles 18%, consumer
electronics 10%)
partners:
Southeast Asia 31%, US 29%, Western Europe 23%, Communist countries 4%,
Middle East 3%
Imports:
$236.6 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
manufactures 50%, fossil fuels 21%, foodstuffs and raw materials 25%
partners:
Southeast Asia 25%, US 22%, Western Europe 17%, Middle East 12%, Communist
countries 8%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.1% (1991); accounts for 30% of GDP (mining and manufacturing)
Electricity:
196,000,000 kW capacity; 823,000 million kWh produced, 6,640 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
metallurgy, engineering, electrical and electronic, textiles, chemicals,
automobiles, fishing, telecommunications, machine tools, construction
equipment
Agriculture:
accounts for only 2% of GDP; highly subsidized and protected sector, with
crop yields among highest in world; principal crops - rice, sugar beets,
vegetables, fruit; animal products include pork, poultry, dairy and eggs;
about 50% self-sufficient in food production; shortages of wheat, corn,
soybeans; world's largest fish catch of 11.9 million metric tons in 1988
:Japan Economy
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $83.2 billion; ODA outlay of $9.1
billion in 1990 (est.)
Currency:
yen (plural - yen); 1 yen (Y) = 100 sen
Exchange rates:
yen (Y) per US$1 - 132.70 (March 1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79 (1990), 137.96
(1989), 128.15 (1988), 144.64 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
:Japan Communications
Railroads:
27,327 km total; 2,012 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 25,315 km
predominantly 1.067-meter narrow gauge; 5,724 km doubletrack and multitrack
sections, 9,038 km 1.067-meter narrow-gauge electrified, 2,012 km
1.435-meter standard-gauge electrified (1987)
Highways:
1,111,974 km total; 754,102 km paved, 357,872 km gravel, crushed stone, or
unpaved; 4,400 km national expressways; 46,805 km national highways; 128,539
km prefectural roads; and 930,230 km city, town, and village roads
Inland waterways:
about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inland seas
Pipelines:
crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas 1,800 km
Ports:
Chiba, Muroran, Kitakyushu, Kobe, Tomakomai, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Kawasaki, Niigata, Fushiki-Toyama, Shimizu, Himeji,
Wakayama-Shimozu, Shimonoseki, Tokuyama-Shimomatsu
Merchant marine:
976 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,684,459 GRT/34,683,035 DWT;
includes 10 passenger, 40 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger cargo, 89 cargo,
44 container, 36 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 111 refrigerated cargo, 93 vehicle
carrier, 227 petroleum tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 40 liquefied gas, 9
combination ore/oil, 3 specialized tanker, 260 bulk; note - Japan also owns
a large flag of convenience fleet, including up to 55% of the total number
of ships under the Panamanian flag
Civil air:
360 major transport aircraft
Airports:
163 total, 158 usable; 131 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways
over 3,659 m; 31 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 51 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
excellent domestic and international service; 64,000,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 318 AM, 58 FM, 12,350 TV (196 major - 1 kw or greater);
satellite earth stations - 4 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT; submarine cables to US (via Guam), Philippines, China, and Russia
:Japan Defense Forces
Branches:
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
(Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Maritime Safety Agency
(Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 32,219,754; 27,767,280 fit for military service; 1,042,493
reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $36.7 billion, 0.94% of GDP (FY92 est.)
:Jarvis Island Geography
Total area:
4.5 km2
Land area:
4.5 km2
Comparative area:
about 7.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
8 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
12 nm
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth)
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment:
sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; lacks fresh
water; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
Note:
2,090 km south of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, just south of the
Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
:Jarvis Island People