Japan is a sovereign country in Eastern Asia, in the wider region of Asia. Unlike most entries, its formal name adds nothing to the short one. Its seat of government is Tokyo.
The land area is 377,930 km², which ranks it 63rd of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Zimbabwe and just ahead of Germany. That makes it a little larger than Germany.
The population is about 124.0 million, placing it 12th of 250 by population — between Mexico above it and Egypt below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 3rd of 8 in size and 2nd in population.
Japan on the map
Plotted on a globe it falls at 36.0° north, 138.0° east, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 4,008 km from the equator, in what geographers would call temperate latitudes.
Follow that same latitude east or west and you reach the United States, Syria and Tunisia — places that share its distance from the equator but little else.
There is no land frontier at all — every boundary it has is a coastline. That puts it among the 85 entries of 250 here with no land neighbours, a group made up mostly of islands and island groups.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
The people of Japan
Spread across 377,930 km², that works out at about 328 people per square kilometre, which makes it densely populated. Half the entries in this dataset fall below roughly 90 per square kilometre.
Someone from Japan is a Japanese.
The one official language is Japanese. No other entry in this dataset lists Japanese, so on this list it stands alone.
Against Asia as a whole it is the 6th most populous of 50 entries, and it accounts for 7.5% of everyone living in Eastern Asia.
The practical details for Japan
The currency is the Japanese yen (Â¥, JPY). It is issued for Japan alone.
Tokyo is the seat of government and the answer most quizzes are looking for.
Its internet country code is .jp. The international dialling code is +81. Standard country codes: jp and JPN.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Fun facts about Japan
- Population density works out at roughly 328 people per square kilometre.
- Ranked by land area, Japan is 63rd out of the 250 countries and territories on this site.
- It has no land border with any other country — one of 85 such entries in this dataset.
- Websites based there use the .jp domain.
- It is 12th of 250 by population, with about 124.0 million residents.
- In land area it is a little larger than Germany.
Japan — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Japan?
- The capital of Japan is Tokyo.
- What currency does Japan use?
- Japan uses the Japanese yen, written ¥ (currency code JPY). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- What language is spoken in Japan?
- The official language of Japan is Japanese. No other entry on this list gives it official status.
- Is Japan a country?
- Yes. Japan is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- Where is Japan located?
- Japan is in Eastern Asia, part of Asia. Its reference coordinates are 36.0° north and 138.0° east, roughly 4,008 km from the equator in temperate latitudes.
- How big is Japan?
- Japan covers 377,930 km², ranking 63rd of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Germany.
- What is the population of Japan?
- Japan has a population of about 124.0 million, which makes it the 12th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Mexico sits just above it and Egypt just below.
- Does Japan border any other country?
- No. Japan has no land border with any other country, so every route in or out is by sea or air. 85 of the 250 entries on this site are in the same position.
