The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency (ebook reader 8 inch .txt) 📕

PIF
(partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Flag description:

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

Economy
Japan

Economy - overview:

Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most technologically powerful economy in the world after the US and the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. One notable characteristic of the economy has been how manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have worked together in closely-knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have now eroded. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 55% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - 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 after effects of overinvestment and an asset price bubble during the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. From 2000 to 2001, government efforts to revive economic growth proved short lived and were hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In 2002-07, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened, leading the central bank to raise interest rates to 0.25% in July 2006, up from the near 0% rate of the six years prior, and to 0.50% in February 2007. In addition, the 10-year privatization of Japan Post, which has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but also, through its banking and insurance facilities as Japan's largest financial institution, was completed in October 2007, marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform. Nevertheless, Japan's huge government debt, which totals 182% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes could endanger the current economic recovery. Debate also continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy, particularly with respect to increasing income disparities.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.272 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.384 trillion (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$33,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4% industry: 26.5% services: 72% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

66.69 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

3.8% (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.1 (2002)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.462 trillion expenditures: $1.567 trillion (2007 est.)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Public debt:

170% of GDP (2007 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.1% (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

0.75% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

1.88% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:

$4.37 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:

$4.783 trillion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:

$9.653 trillion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

1.3% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.082 trillion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

982.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8% other: 1.8% (2001)

Oil - production:

129,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5.007 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports:

168,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:

5.47 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

44.12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production:

3.729 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

95.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Current account balance:

$210.5 billion (2007 est.)

Exports:

$678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 20.4%, China 15.3%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.4% (2007)

Imports:

$573.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials

Imports - partners:

China 20.5%, US 11.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, Australia 5%,
South Korea 4.4%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $11.19 billion (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$954.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.492 trillion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:

$110.8 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:

$533.1 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$4.737 trillion (2005)

Currency (code):

yen (JPY)

Currency code:

JPY

Exchange rates:

yen (JPY) per US dollar - 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)

Communications
Japan

Telephones - main lines in use:

51.232 million (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

107.339 million (2007)

Telephone system:

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 - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions

Radio broadcast stations:

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

Radios:

120.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

211 (plus 7,341 repeaters); in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

Televisions:

86.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.jp

Internet hosts:

39.909 million (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

73 (2000)

Internet users:

88.11 million (2007)

Transportation
Japan

Airports:

176 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 29 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 27 (2007)

Heliports:

14 (2007)

Pipelines:

gas 3,939 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2007)

Railways:

total: 23,474 km standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified) narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,182 km 1.067-m gauge (13,334 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways:

total: 1,196,999 km paved: 949,101 km (includes 7,383 km of expressways) unpaved: 247,898 km (2006)

Waterways:

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 683 by type: bulk carrier 136, cargo 30, carrier 3, chemical tanker 27, container 11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 135, petroleum tanker 156, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 51, vehicle carrier 61 registered in other countries: 3,074 (Australia 1, Bahamas 87, Belize 8, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 13, China 2, Cyprus 21, France 1, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 111, Indonesia 6, Isle of Man 6, Italy 1, South Korea 20, Liberia 116, Malaysia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 17, Nigeria 1, Norway 29, Panama 2335, Philippines 81, Portugal 15, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 131, Thailand 4, UK 4, US 7, Vanuatu 29, Vietnam 1, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Tomakomai, Yohohama

Military
Japan

Military branches:

Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 27,819,804 females age 16-49: 26,863,794 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 22.963 million females age 16-49: 22,134,127 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 622,168 female: 590,153 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2006)

Transnational Issues
Japan

Disputes - international:

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; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

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@Jersey

Introduction
Jersey

Background:

Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.

Geography
Jersey

Location:

Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

70 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain:

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

largest and southernmost of