Japan's economy is the third largest gross domestic product. The country is a member of the so-called Big Seven - a club of the most developed countries in the world. Japan's GDP in 2015 amounted to 4, 123.26 billion US dollars. The state is the third largest car manufacturer. Japan is one of the most innovative countries in the world. The production in it is focused on the release of high-tech products.
Key macroeconomic indicators
- The currency is the Japanese yen.
- The fiscal period is from April 1 to March 31.
- Membership in trade organizations - APEC, WTO, OECD.
- Nominal GDP is 4.41 trillion dollars (as of April 2016).
- Gross domestic product rating: third place in the world in terms of nominal indicator, fourth in terms of purchasing power parity.
- GDP growth - -1.4% (according to data for the fourth quarter of 2015).
- Nominal gross domestic product per capita is $ 34, 870 (April 2016).
- GDP by sector: agriculture - 1.2%, industry - 27.5%, services - 71.4% (as of 2012).
- Main industries: automobiles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and non-ferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, food products.
- The unemployment rate is 3.4% (according to data for 2015).
general review
From 1960 to 1990, Japan did not invest in defense, but directed all funds to the development of the economy. In the 60s, annual GDP growth was 10%, in the 70s - 5%, in the 80s - 4%. From 1978 to 2010, Japan was the second largest economy in the world. Now she has somewhat lost to China. The Japanese economic miracle allowed the country to achieve and even surpass the level of gross domestic product per capita of the most developed countries by the beginning of the 90s. Now it exceeds the global average by 2 times.
Japan's GDP by years
Gross domestic product is a critical indicator of economic productivity. Japan's GDP in 2016 has not yet been presented on the websites of leading statistical agencies, there are only predicted data. The International Bank provides data only for 2015. Thus, Japan's GDP last year amounted to $ 4, 123.26 billion. This is about 6.65% of the global gross domestic product.
Between 1960 and 2015, Japan’s average GDP was $ 2549.58 billion. A record low was recorded in 2012. Then the GDP reached $ 5957.25 billion. The highest rate was recorded in 1960 - 44.31 billion US dollars. Between 1980 and September 2016, Japan's average GDP growth was 0.48%. A record high was recorded in the second quarter of 1990. Then the GDP growth amounted to 3.2%. A record low indicator fell in 1990 - -4.1%.
Japan: GDP per capita
For 2016, there are no statistics yet. Japan's GDP per capita at purchasing power parity in 2015 amounted to 35804.23 US dollars. This is a record high. Between 1990 and 2015, the average per capita GDP of Japan was 32, 904.69 US dollars. A record low was recorded in 1990. Then he was 29550.01 US dollars. The highest level of gross domestic product per capita came in 2015.
Industry structure
If we consider gross domestic product by sectors in which added value is created, then the picture is as follows:
- Industry - 18% of GDP.
- Real estate sector - 13.2%.
- Wholesale and retail trade - 12.5%.
- Transport and communications - 6.8%.
- Public administration - 6.2%.
- Construction industry - 6.2%.
- The financial and insurance sector - 5.8%.
- Electricity, gas and water supply - 0.7%.
- Public services - 0.7%.
- Mining industry - 0.05%.
- Another 23.5%.
Agriculture provides about 1.4% of gross domestic product. Only 12% of Japanese land is cultivable. Therefore, on small farms, a system of terraces for growing crops is often used. The agricultural sector is subsidized by the state. The advantage is given to smallholder farming.
Japan's industry is well diversified. Many leading industries are extremely successful. Industry provides about 24% of gross domestic product. The main industries are the manufacture of household appliances, automobiles, semiconductors, optical media, fax and copy machines. However, more and more Japanese companies are experiencing competition from US, South Korean and Chinese manufacturers.
The service sector provides three quarters of gross domestic product. Its most important sectors are the banking sector, insurance, real estate, retail, transportation, telecommunications. Four of the five most widely read newspapers in the world are Japanese. An important sector of the country's economy is also tourism. The government is keen to attract 20 million foreigners to the Summer Olympics, which will be held here in 2020. Also, the financial sector is widely developed in the state. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is the fourth largest market capitalization in the world.
