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While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbed Western technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become the second most powerful economy in the world. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives...

Population:
127,214,499 (July 2003)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male:9,368,132; female:8,906,024)
15-64 years: 67% (male:42,852,204;female:42,368,109)
65 years and over: 18.6% (male:9,945,638;female:13,774,392)

Total fertility rate:
1.38 children born/woman (2003)

Religions:
Shinto and Buddhist 84% , other 16%

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99 % (1995 est.)