Japan

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

36.00° N, 138.00° E

total: 377,915 sq km

land: 364,485 sq km

water: 13,430 sq km

note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)

slightly smaller than California

0 km

29,751 km

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

mostly rugged and mountainous

mean elevation:

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m

highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

negligible mineral resources, fish

note: with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil

agricultural land: 12.5%

arable land 11.7%; permanent crops 0.8%; permanent pasture 0%

forest: 68.5%

other: 19% (2011 est.)

24,690 sq km (2012)

430 cu km (2011)

total: 90.04 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%)

per capita: 714.3 cu m/yr (2007)

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

volcanism: both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (elev. 1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu

air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan now seeks to make itself nuclear free by the 2030s

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

strategic location in northeast Asia

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Japanese

Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6%

note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)

Japanese

Shintoism 79.2%, Buddhism 66.8%, Christianity 1.5%, other 7.1%

note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism (2012 est.)

126,919,659 (July 2015 est.)

0-14 years: 13.11% (male 8,582,648/female 8,051,706)

15-24 years: 9.68% (male 6,436,948/female 5,846,808)

25-54 years: 37.87% (male 23,764,421/female 24,297,773)

55-64 years: 12.76% (male 8,104,835/female 8,084,317)

65 years and over: 26.59% (male 14,693,811/female 19,056,392) (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 64.5%

youth dependency ratio: 21.1%

elderly dependency ratio: 43.3%

potential support ratio: 2.3% (2015 est.)

total: 46.5 years

male: 45.2 years

female: 47.9 years (2015 est.)

-0.16% (2015 est.)

7.93 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

9.51 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

urban population: 93.5% of total population (2015)

rate of urbanization: 0.56% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

TOKYO (capital) 38.001 million; Osaka-Kobe 20.238 million; Nagoya 9.406 million; Kitakyushu-Fukuoka 5.51 million; Shizuoka-Hamamatsu 3.369 million; Sapporo 2.571 million (2015)

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

30.3 (2012 est.)

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 2.08 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 2.31 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

total population: 84.74 years

male: 81.4 years

female: 88.26 years (2015 est.)

1.4 children born/woman (2015 est.)

54.3%

note: percent of women aged 20-49 (2005)

10.3% of GDP (2013)

2.3 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

13.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

NA

NA

NA

3.5% (2014)

3.8% of GDP (2012)

total: 15 years

male: 15 years

female: 15 years (2012)

total: 6.9%

male: 7.6%

female: 6.2% (2013 est.)

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Japan

local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku

local short form: Nihon/Nippon

etymology: the English word for Japan comes via the Chinese name for the country "Cipangu"; both Nihon and Nippon mean "where the sun originates" and are frequently translated as "Land of the Rising Sun"

a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

name: Tokyo

geographic coordinates: 35.41° N, 139.45° E

time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 ; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947 (2015)

civil law system based on German model; system also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

20 years of age; universal

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)

head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 December 2012); Deputy Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 26 December 2012)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; the leader of the majority party or majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister

description: bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats; 146 members directly elected by majority vote and 96 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (475 seats; 295 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 180 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve maximum 4-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 2 years)

elections: House of Councillors - last held on 21 July 2013 (next to be held in July 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 14 December 2014 (next to be held by 15 December 2016)

election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPD 115, DPJ 59, New Komeito 20, Your Party 18, JCP 11, JRP 9, SDP 3, others 4, independents 3

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 61.26%, DPJ 15.37%, JIP 8.63%, New Komeito 7.37%, JCP 4.42%, PFG .42%, SDP .42%, PLP .42%, independents 1.68%; seats by party - LDP 291, DPJ 73, JIP 41, New Komeito 35, JCP 21, PFG 2, SDP 2, PLP 2, independents 8

note: the 2013 amended electoral law - effective for the December 2016 election - reduced to 475 the number of seats in the House of Representatives

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum at the first general election of the House of Representatives following each judge's appointment and every 10 years afterward

subordinate courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Banri KAIEDA]

Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]

Japan Innovation Party or JIP [Kenji EDA]

Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]

New Komeito or NK [Natsuo YAMAGUCHI]

Party for Future Generations or PFG [Shintaro ISHIHARA]

People's Life Party or PLP [Ichiro OZAWA]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Tadatomo YOSHIDA]

other: business groups; trade unions

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CD, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CICA (observer), CP, CPLP (associate), EAS, EBRD, EITI (implementing country), FAO, FATF, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

red sun disc, chrysanthemum; national colors: red, white

name: "Kimigayo" (The Emperor"s Reign)

lyrics/music: unknown/Hiromori HAYASHI

note: adopted 1999; unofficial national anthem since 1883; oldest anthem lyrics in the world, dating to the 10th century or earlier; there is some opposition to the anthem because of its association with militarism and worship of the emperor

In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan develop an advanced economy. Two notable characteristics of the post-war economy were the close interlocking structures of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, known as keiretsu, and the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features are now eroding under the dual pressures of global competition and domestic demographic change.

Scarce in many natural resources, Japan has long been dependent on imported raw materials. Since the complete shutdown of Japan’s nuclear reactors after the earthquake and tsunami disaster in 2011, Japan's industrial sector has become even more dependent than it was previously on imported fossil fuels. A small agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. While self-sufficient in rice production, Japan imports about 60% of its food on a caloric basis.

For three decades, overall real economic growth had been impressive - a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the aftereffects of inefficient investment and an asset price bubble in the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. Modest economic growth continued after 2000, but the economy has fallen into recession four times since 2008. Government stimulus spending helped the economy recover in late 2009 and 2010, but the economy contracted again in 2011 as the massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and the ensuing tsunami in March of that year disrupted manufacturing. The economy has largely recovered in the four years since the disaster, although reconstruction in the affected Tohoku region has lagged, in part due to a shortage of labor in the construction sector.

Japan enjoyed a sharp uptick in growth in 2013 on the basis of Prime Minister Shinzo ABE’s “Three Arrows” economic revitalization agenda - dubbed “Abenomics” - of monetary easing, “flexible” fiscal policy, and structural reform. In 2015, ABE revised his “Three arrows” to: growth in nominal GDP to 600 trillion yen, support for child-rearing, and a stable social security system. ABE’s government has replaced the preceding administration’s plan to phase out nuclear power with a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards, and emphasizing nuclear energy’s importance as a base-load electricity source. Japan successfully restarted two nuclear reactors at the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant in Kagoshima prefecture. Japan joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations in 2013, a pact that would open Japan's economy to increased foreign competition and create new export opportunities for Japanese businesses.

Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, Japan in 2015 stood as the fourth-largest economy in the world after first-place China, which surpassed Japan in 2001, and third-place India, which edged out Japan in 2012. While seeking to stimulate and reform the economy, the government must also devise a strategy for reining in Japan's huge government debt, which amounts to more than 230% of GDP. To help raise government revenue, Japan adopted legislation in 2012 to gradually raise the consumption tax rate to 10% by 2015, beginning with a hike from 5% to 8% implemented in April 2014. That increase had a contractionary effect on GDP, however, so PM ABE in late 2014 decided to postpone the final phase of the increase until April 2017 to give the economy more time to recover. Led by the Bank of Japan’s aggressive monetary easing, Japan is making progress in ending deflation, but demographics - low birthrate and an aging, shrinking population - pose major long-term challenges for the economy.

$4.658 trillion (2015 est.)

$4.631 trillion (2014 est.)

$4.613 trillion (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

$4.127 trillion (2015 est.)

0.6% (2015 est.)

1.6% (2014 est.)

0.8% (2013 est.)

$38,200 (2015 est.)

$36,400 (2014 est.)

$36,200 (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

24.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

22.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

22% of GDP (2013 est.)

household consumption: 59.6%

government consumption: 20.4%

investment in fixed capital: 21.2%

investment in inventories: -0.3%

exports of goods and services: 18.5%

imports of goods and services: -19.4%

(2015 est.)

agriculture: 1.2%

industry: 26.6%

services: 72.2% (2015 est.)

vegetables, rice, fish, poultry, fruit, dairy products, pork, beef, flowers, potatoes/taros/yams, sugar cane, tea, legumes, wheat and barley

among world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

0.7% (2015 est.)

64.32 million (2015 est.)

agriculture: 2.9%

industry: 26.2%

services: 70.9% (February 2015 est.)

3.3% (2015 est.)

3.6% (2014 est.)

16.1% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%: 2.7%

highest 10%: 24.8% (2008)

37.9 (2011)

24.9 (1993)

revenues: $1.439 trillion

expenditures: $1.705 trillion (2015 est.)

35% of GDP (2015 est.)

-6.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

227.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

226% of GDP (2014 est.)

1 April - 31 March

0.7% (2015 est.)

2.7% (2014 est.)

0.3% (31 December 2014)

0.3% (31 December 2013)

1.48% (31 December 2015 est.)

1.48% (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.902 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$4.896 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.073 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.035 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

$10.81 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$10.9 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.782 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.584 trillion (31 December 2013)

$3.715 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

$124.3 billion (2015 est.)

$24.4 billion (2014 est.)

$624 billion (2015 est.)

$699.5 billion (2014 est.)

motor vehicles 14.9%; iron and steel products 5.4%; semiconductors 5%; auto parts 4.8%; power generating machinery 3.5%; plastic materials 3.3% (2014 est.)

US 20%, China 17%, South Korea 7%, Taiwan 6%, Hong Kong 6%, Thailand 5% (2015)

$625.4 billion (2015 est.)

$798.6 billion (2014 est.)

petroleum 16.1%; liquid natural gas 9.1%; clothing 3.8%; semiconductors 3.3%; coal 2.4%; audio and visual apparatus 1.4% (2014 est.)

China 25%, US 10%, Australia 5%, South Korea 4%, Saudi Arabia 4%, UAE 4%, Taiwan 4% (2014)

$1.261 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.267 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

$5.18 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

$4.026 trillion (31 December 2012)

$217.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$193.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.313 trillion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.193 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

yen (JPY) per US dollar -

122.1 (2015 est.)

105.86 (2014 est.)

97.44 (2013 est.)

79.79 (2012 est.)

79.81 (2011 est.)

966.4 billion kWh (2012 est.)

921 billion kWh (2012 est.)

0 kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2014 est.)

293.3 million kW (2012 est.)

64.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

15.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

7.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

3.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

4,666 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

3.441 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

541.6 million bbl (March, 2015 est.)

3.294 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

4.297 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

324,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

1.103 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

4.728 billion cu m (2014 est.)

134.3 billion cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2014 est.)

128.3 billion cu m (2014 est.)

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

1.276 billion Mt (2012 est.)

total subscriptions: 63.61 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2014 est.)

total: 152.7 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2014 est.)

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service

domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind

international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 2 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2012)

a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations; 6 national terrestrial TV networks including 1 public broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services provide access to international channels (2012)

AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001)

211; note - in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

.jp

64.453 million (2012)

total: 109.3 million

percent of population: 86.0% (2014 est.)

175 (2013)

total: 142

over 3,047 m: 6

2,438 to 3,047 m: 45

1,524 to 2,437 m: 38

914 to 1,523 m: 28

under 914 m: 25 (2013)

total: 33

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 28 (2013)

16 (2013)

gas 4,456 km; oil 174 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2013)

total: 27,155 km

standard gauge: 4,343 km 1.435-m gauge (4,343 km electrified)

dual gauge: 132 km 1.435-1.067-m gauge (132 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified); 22,536 km 1.067-m gauge (13,253 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km electrified) (2012)

total: 1,217,128 km

paved: 988,536 km (includes 7,803 km of expressways)

unpaved: 228,592 km (2013)

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)

total: 684

by type: bulk carrier 168, cargo 34, carrier 3, chemical tanker 29, container 2, liquefied gas 58, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52, vehicle carrier 54

registered in other countries: 3,122 (Bahamas 88, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 23, China 2, Cyprus 16, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 79, Indonesia 8, Isle of Man 19, Liberia 110, Luxembourg 3, Malaysia 2, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 59, Mongolia 2, Netherlands 1, Panama 2372, Philippines 77, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 4, Singapore 164, South Korea 14, Tanzania 1, UK 5, Vanuatu 39, unknown 7) (2010)

major seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama

container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,725,304), Nagoya (2,471,821), Osaka (2,172,797), Tokyo (4,416,119), Yokohama (2,992,517)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi; Okinawa - Nakagusuku

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou Jieitai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jieitai, MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koukuu Jieitai, ASDF) (2011)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers (2012)

0.97% of GDP (2012)

1.01% of GDP (2011)

0.99% of GDP (2010)

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan

stateless persons: 635 (2014)