* Latest update: Japan’s economy shrank 3.8 per cent in the first three months of this year. It is the country’s sharpest contraction since the second world war. A shrinking economy is defined as a fall in gross domestic product.

GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.348 trillion (2008 estimate)
country comparison to the world: 4
$4.365 trillion (2007)
$4.263 trillion (2006)
*data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate): $4.844 trillion (2008 estimate)

GDP – real growth rate: -0.4% (2008 estimate)
country comparison to the world: 205
2.4% (2007 estimate)
2% (2006 estimate)

GDP – per capita (PPP): $34,200 (2008 estimate)
country comparison to the world: 36
$34,300 (2007 estimate)
$33,400 (2006 estimate)
* data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 26.4%
services: 72.1% (2008 estimate)

Reuters Tankan indicates business confidence in Japanese economy is improving
TOKYO, March 21 (Reuters) - Confidence at big Japanese companies rebounded to a three-month high in March, and the service-sector mood rose to a seven-month high, a Reuters poll showed, in a sign ...
Posted: March 20, 2024, 4:00 pm
Medium term prospects for the Japanese economy
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Posted: March 19, 2024, 12:55 am
Japan brings era of negative interest rates to an end with first hike in 17 years
The Japanese economy will continue growing at a pace “above its potential ... “There are extremely high uncertainties surrounding Japan’s economic activity and prices,” the BOJ said, adding that the ...
Posted: March 18, 2024, 11:24 pm
Japanese economy recovering, but showing signs of weakness: BoJ chief
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the Japanese economy was recovering but was also showing some signs of weakness ...
Posted: March 16, 2024, 5:21 pm
BoJ Governor says Japanese economy recovering, but still weak
Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the Japanese economy was recovering but was also showing some signs of weakness ...
Posted: March 16, 2024, 2:36 am
Understanding the Paradox of Japan’s Economy
Even while Japan loses ground relative to other advanced economies, its stock market is soaring.
Posted: March 13, 2024, 4:48 pm
Japan avoids recession after Q4 GDP revised upward to 0.4% growth
Strong capital investment helped the Japanese economy grow by 0.4% in the October-December period compared with the same period the previous year, revised government figures out Monday show, but infla ...
Posted: March 11, 2024, 5:34 am
Japan Q4 GDP revised up to slight expansion, economy avoids recession
External demand contributed 0.2 percentage points to real GDP, unchanged from the preliminary reading. In the current January-March quarter, the Japanese economy could suffer contraction after ...
Posted: March 11, 2024, 12:27 am
Japan Q4 GDP Revised up to Slight Expansion, Economy Avoids Recession
External demand contributed 0.2 percentage points to real GDP, unchanged from the preliminary reading. In the current January-March quarter, the Japanese economy could suffer contraction after ...
Posted: March 10, 2024, 1:20 pm