Japan Country Fact Sheet (2009)

U.S. Ambassador to Japan: John Roos Japanese Ambassador to the United States: Ichiro Fujisaki

PROFILE

Population (2008):		127.7 million*
Capital:			Tokyo
Government:			Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary Government
Head of Government:		Yukio Hatoyama (Prime Minister)
Next Election Scheduled:	TBD

ECONOMY

2008 Nominal GDP (Current US$ billion): $4,923.8
2008 Nominal GDP Per Capita (Current US$): $38,559.1*

						2006		2007		2008

Real GDP Growth Rate (%)			2.0		2.4		-0.6
Real GDP Per Capita Growth Rate (%)		2.0*		2.4*		-0.6*
CPI (%)					        0.3		0.0		 1.4
Unemployment (%)				4.1		3.8		 4.0

Economic Mix in 2006 (World Bank Data): 21% Manufacturing; 68% Services; 1% Agriculture

FOREIGN MERCHANDISE TRADE (U.S.$ billions)

						2006		2007		2008

Japan Exports to World				646.4		714.1		782.2
Japan Imports from World			578.8		622.1		761.9
U.S. Exports to Japan				 58.5		 61.2		 65.1
U.S. Imports from Japan				148.2		145.5		139.3
U.S. Trade Balance with Japan			-89.7		-84.3		-74.1

Rank of Japan as U.S. Export Market in 2008: 4th Largest (5.1% of U.S. exports).
Rank of Japan among importers to the U.S. in 2008: 4th Largest (6.6% of U.S. imports).
Principal U.S. Exports to Japan in 2008: Optical, Medical Instruments (10%); Aircraft, Spacecraft (10%); Machinery (10%); Cereals (9%); Electrical Machinery (8%)
Principal U.S. Imports from Japan in 2008: Vehicles (38%); Machinery (21%); Electrical Machinery (15%); Optical, Medical Instruments (5%); Organic Chemicals (2%)

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (U.S.$ billions)

						2006		2007		2008

U.S. FDI in Japan			         84.4            81.9            79.2
FDI into U.S. from Japan                        204.0 	        230.5           259.6

Principal Suppliers of Foreign Investment to Japan: United States, Netherlands, Cayman Islands, France, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany.

* IMF Estimate.