East Asia
Living in Japan
Photo: Himeji Castle with cherry blossoms · Seattleite7, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
An island country of very large, efficient cities, mountains and four strong seasons, with world-class trains and low crime. Editorial
The numbers
Main city climate5° to 27°CColdest and warmest month averages, Tokyo · 2020
Average temperature15.6°CTokyo (whole country 11.8°C) · 2020
Price level69%Of US prices for everyday goods and services · 2025
Average spending$2,288Per person per month (international $, PPP) · 2024
Income per person$55,400GDP per person a year (international $, PPP) · 2025
Unemployment2.5%Of the labour force · 2025
Homicides0.2Per 100,000 people a year · 2023
Life expectancy84.0 yearsAt birth · 2024
Clean air11 µg/m³Average fine-particle pollution (WHO guideline: 5) · 2023
Forest68%Of the land area · 2024
City dwellers92%Of people live in cities and towns · 2025
Tax revenueUnknownOf GDP
Language and getting around Editorial
- Languages: Japanese. Limited English in daily life.
- Public transport: Extensive: most people can live without a car in the big cities.
- Geography: Has a coastline, with mountain areas. Capital: Tokyo.
Moving to Japan
Visa and residence rules depend on your nationality, job, studies and family, and they change often. Start with the government's own website: www.isa.go.jp.
Sources
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per person (PPP) | 55,421.88 international $ | 2025 | World Bank WDI |
| Unemployment | 2.45 % of labour force | 2025 | World Bank WDI (ILO estimate) |
| Intentional homicides | 0.23 per 100,000 people | 2023 | World Bank WDI (UNODC) |
| Political stability and absence of violence | 1.26 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Government effectiveness (public services) | 2.04 score, -2.5 to 2.5 | 2025 | Worldwide Governance Indicators |
| Life expectancy at birth | 84.04 years | 2024 | World Bank WDI |
| Health spending per person | 3,638.19 US$ per person | 2023 | World Bank WDI (WHO) |
| Tax revenue | Unknown | – | World Bank WDI (IMF) |
| People living in cities and towns | 92.3 % of population | 2025 | World Bank WDI (UN) |
| Forest area | 68.34 % of land | 2024 | World Bank WDI (FAO) |
| Fine-particle air pollution (PM2.5) | 11.45 µg/m³, annual mean | 2023 | World Bank WDI |
| Price level of household goods and services | 0.69 ratio, United States = 1 | 2025 | Calculated: PPP conversion factor (private consumption) / official exchange rate, World Bank WDI |
| Average household spending per person | 2,287.7 international $ per person per month | 2024 | Calculated: household consumption (PPP) / population / 12, World Bank WDI |
| Average temperature, whole country 1991-2020 | 11.8 °C | 2020 | World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CRU TS 4.08, 1991-2020) |
| Average temperature, main city | 15.6 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Coldest month average, main city | 4.7 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Warmest month average, main city | 26.9 °C | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
| Rainfall, main city | 1,694 mm per year | 2020 | NASA POWER climatology, main city |
Data checked 2 November 2026. National averages hide differences between cities and regions. Climate figures for Tokyo are 2001–2020 averages.
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