Japan is one of the most densely populated nations in the world, with some 330 persons per square kilometer (almost 860 persons per square mile). For 1997, the population growth rate was about 0.25 percent. Japan's growth rate in recent years has raised concerns about the social implications of an aging population.

Ethnically, the Japanese are a Mongoloid people, closely related to the major groups of East Asia. At the same time, some evidence suggests that there are also admixtures with Malayan and Caucasoid strains. About 750,000 Koreans and much smaller groups of Chinese and Caucasians reside in Japan.

Buddhism is important in Japan's religious life and has strongly influenced fine arts, social institutions, and philosophy. Most Japanese consider themselves members of one of the major Buddhist sects. Shintoism is an indigenous guiding belief system founded on myths, legends, and ritual practices of the early Japanese. This ideology was taken up by the Japanese government during World War II and advocated as part of the fascist orientation. While it is no longer explicitly aligned with fascism, it continues to be nationalistic in nature.

Neither Buddhism nor Shintoism is an exclusive religion. Most Japanese observe both Buddhist and Shinto rituals: the former for funerals and the latter for births, marriages, and other occasions. Confucianism, primarily an ethical system, profoundly influences Japanese thought as well. About 1.3 million people in Japan are Christians, of whom 60 percent are Protestant and 40 percent Roman Catholic.

Japan provides free public schooling for all children through junior high school. Ninety-four percent of students go on to three-year senior high schools, and competition is stiff for entry into the best universities. Japan enjoys one of the world's highest literacy rates (99 percent), and nearly 90 percent of Japanese students complete high school.

The population of Japan has a life expectancy that places it on top of the World Health Organization figures for all 191 countries. According to figures released June 2000, Japan has a life expectancy of 74.5 years (71.9 for males, and 77.2 for females). It has an infant mortality rate of 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births.

Last updated: 7/5/00

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