The climate varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north.

The terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous

Population: 126,974,628

Population growth rate: 0.15%, or 10.03 births/1,000 population with a death rate of 8.53 deaths/1,000 population. Life expectancy is 80.91 years.

Religion: Japanese observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Literacy: 99% (Definition of Literacy: people over the age of 15 who can read and write)