Geography
and other facts
Here are the basic facts:
Geography
Size: Total 377,835 square kilometers; land area 374,744
square kilometers. 1
Topography: Mountainous islands with numerous dormant
and active volcanoes. Four main islands (Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku,
and Kyushu) and numerous smaller islands to north and south, all
prone to earthquakes. Highest point Mount Fuji (3,776 meters).
Numerous, rapidly flowing rivers largely unnavigable but provide
water for irrigation and hydroelectric-power generation. 1
Climate: Generally rainy; high humidity. Diverse climatic
range: warm summers and long cold winters in north; hot humid
summers and short winters in center; and long, hot, humid summers,
and mild winters in southwest. 1
Land use: Arable land: 11%; permanent crops: 1%; permanent
pastures: 2%' forests and woodland: 67%; other: 19% (1993 est.)2
Population
Age structure (1999 est.)2
|
0-14 years |
15% |
male 9,697,851; female 9,242,027 |
|
15-64 years |
68% |
male 43,405,024; female 43,023,885 |
|
65 years and over |
17% |
male 8,686,347; female 12,126,943 |
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1999 est.) 2
Birth rate: 10.48 births/1,000 population
(1999 est.2)
Death rate: 8.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.2)
Sex ratio: (1999 est2.)
|
at birth |
1.05 male(s)/female |
|
under 15 years |
1.05 male(s)/female |
|
15-64 years |
1.01 male(s)/female |
|
65 years and over |
0.72 male(s)/femals |
|
total population |
0.96 male(s)/female |
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