The 2009 CIA World Factbook

1 United Arab Emirates 2.74 2009 est. 2 Qatar 2.46 2009 est. 3 United Arab Emirates 2.19 2009 est. 4 Qatar 2.00 2009 est. 5 Montserrat 1.95 2009 est. 6 United Arab Emirates 1.82...

1 Zimbabwe 30,000.00 NA 2 Mozambique 23,061.00 NA 3 Mozambique 22,581.00 NA 4 Vietnam 16,548.30 NA 5 Vietnam 16,119.00 NA 6 Vietnam 15,983.00 NA 7 Vietnam 15,746.00 NA 8 Sao Tom...

Hungary total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

1 Mauritania 100.00 NA 2 Pitcairn Islands 100.00 NA 3 Saudi Arabia 100.00 NA 4 Turkey 99.80 NA 5 Gaza Strip 99.30 NA 6 Algeria 99.00 NA 7 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 99.00 NA 8 Wa...

1 Laos 68.50 2008 2 Saint Lucia 68.00 2008 3 Zimbabwe 60.10 2008 4 Belarus 59.80 2008 5 Bhutan 59.50 2008 6 Greenland 59.10 2008 7 Netherlands Antilles 58.80 2008 8 Sao Tome and...

1 United States 5,174.00 2009 2 United States 2,309.00 2009 3 European Union 1,995.00 2009 4 United States 1,477.00 2009 5 United States 969.00 2009 6 Brazil 721.00 2009 7 Russi...

1 Chad 92.80 2008 2 Bhutan 89.00 2008 3 Vanuatu 83.00 2008 4 Niger 80.40 2008 5 Mexico 80.20 2008 6 Djibouti 79.90 2008 7 Canada 77.70 2008 8 Sao Tome and Principe 77.50 2008 9...

1 China 22,117.00 NA 2 Russia 20,241.50 NA 3 Brazil 16,885.00 NA 4 India 14,103.00 NA 5 European Union 12,440.80 NA 6 Kazakhstan 12,185.00 NA 7 United States 12,034.00 NA 8 Cong...

1 Lesotho 99.70 NA 2 Mozambique 99.66 NA 3 Egypt 99.60 2006 census 4 Zambia 99.50 2000 Census 5 Morocco 99.10 NA 6 Algeria 99.00 NA 7 Gambia, The 99.00 2003 census 8 Guinea-Biss...

Cuba 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 1,077,745/female 1,020,393) 15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,035,691/female 4,030,103) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 584,478/female 703,242) (2009 est.)

Serbia 0-14 years: 15.4% (male 586,806/female 549,900) 15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,503,194/female 2,502,807) 65 years and over: 16.8% (male 508,606/female 728,026) (2009 est.)

Brazil total: 8,514,877 sq km land: 8,459,417 sq km water: 55,460 sq km note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, an...

Guernsey at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)...

This entry provides the long-term average water availability for a country in cubic kilometers of precipitation, recharged ground water, and surface inflows from surrounding cou...

This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or ex...

1 Aruba 100.00 2001 2 Antigua and Barbuda 100.00 2001 3 United Arab Emirates 100.00 2001 4 Bahrain 100.00 2001 5 American Samoa 100.00 2001 6 Barbados 100.00 2001 7 Bermuda 100....

Vietnam The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnam declared independence after World War II,...

Micronesia, Federated States of total: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at...

1 Northern Mariana Islands 80.30 2009 est. 2 United Arab Emirates 78.70 2009 est. 3 Qatar 76.80 2009 est. 4 Singapore 76.70 2009 est. 5 Macau 76.20 2009 est. 6 Hong Kong 74.60 2...

This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index th...

This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data...

This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is...

This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the Internet; normally an Internet Service Provide...

Ghana cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004) note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis eq...

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropica...

Syria at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/fe...

South Africa two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of th...

Turkmenistan chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Richard M. MILES embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 744000 mailin...

World definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82% male: 87% female: 77% note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in...

Micronesia, Federated States of $238.1 million (2008 est.) $277 million (2002 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars GDP supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 milli...

Palau Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, ot...

European Union total: 12,440.8 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050 km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km, Macedonia 394 km,...

1 Macau 97.10 2007 est. 2 Jersey 97.00 2005 3 Cayman Islands 95.40 1994 est. 4 Monaco 95.10 2005 5 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 95.00 1996 6 Equatorial Guinea 93.70 2008 es...

Belize blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by t...

Congo, Democratic Republic of the definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba total population: 67.2% male: 80.9% female: 54.1% (2001 e...

This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds...

This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of lite...

1 Ashmore and Cartier Islands 100.00 2005 2 Anguilla 100.00 2005 3 Navassa Island 100.00 2005 4 Antarctica 100.00 2005 5 Bouvet Island 100.00 2005 6 Cocos (Keeling) Islands 100....

Slovakia metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ce...

Mexico total: 1,498 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 426 under 914 m: 1,005 (2009)

West Bank 500 million kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and i...

note: this number reflects the vastly overvalued official exchange rate of 30,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar; at an unofficial rate of 800,000 Zimbabwe dollars per US dollar...

Norway 18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 12-month service obli...

Iraq three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; sim...

Cyprus Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly 40% of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given the north's relative i...

Belgium 3% (31 December 2008) 5% (31 December 2007) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in th...

Philippines bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six...

1 United States 9,921.00 2009 2 United States 8,000.00 2009 3 Brazil 3,279.00 2009 4 United States 1,757.00 2009 5 Brazil 1,645.00 2009 6 Brazil 1,547.00 2009 7 Mexico 1,498.00...

Qatar US 12.1%, Germany 9%, Italy 8.9%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7.5%, France 6.2%, UAE 5.5%, UK 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6%, Turkey 4.2%, China 4.2% (2008)

Hungary unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year...

Hong Kong total: 1,114 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 525, cargo 142, carrier 3, chemical tanker 68, combination ore/oil 2, container 205, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6,...

This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income...

383 million (2009); note - the US Internet total host count includes the following top level domain host addresses: .us, .com, .edu, .gov, .mil, .net, and .org country compariso...

Sweden unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on...

Belgium NA (31 December 2008) NA (31 December 2007) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary p...

Denmark unicameral People's Assembly or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of propor...

Vietnam ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, O...

4,798,491 country comparison to the world: 115 note: estimate is based on the results of the 2005 census that included a significantly higher estimate of net inmigration of non-...

Bhutan bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan National Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20 electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms an...

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining t...

This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of...

European Union $5.631 trillion (31 December 2008) $5.18 trillion (31 December 2007) note: this is the quantity of quasi money, M2-M1, for the euro area, converted into US dollar...

Canada 10.8%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an...

Ethiopia -0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and Eritr...

Slovakia Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)...

This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator...

Zambia chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); note - President BANDA was acting president since the...

Mali unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 1 and 22 July 2007 (next t...

general assessment: the telecommunications network has improved steadily since the mid-1990s; the number of fixed telephone lines holding steady at about 40 per 100 persons; the...

election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscript...

Korea, North AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central Broadcasting Station; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable radio station wired throughout the country that is...

21,669,278 country comparison to the world: 52 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowe...

1 European Union 13,655.00 NA 2 United States 8,961.00 2006 3 United States 4,789.00 2006 4 Italy 4,600.00 1998 5 France 3,500.00 1998 6 Russia 1,500.00 2004 7 Brazil 1,365.00 1...

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, De...

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue backgro...

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Du...

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines total: 525 by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17...

Comoros has endured more than 20 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared independence from C...

149,229,090 country comparison to the world: 8 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowe...

New Zealand ADB, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,...

Cuba 1.45 million note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in larg...

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4...

Mali is among the 25 poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largel...

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former...

Belarus name: Minsk geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins las...

26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranh...

chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir App...

World developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to 20% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from declining prices in Japan...

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges Baker Island: one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and unusable Howland Island: airstrip constructe...

general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; access to the fixed-line telephone network...

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mob...

Dutch traders landed at the southern tip of modern day South Africa in 1652 and established a stopover point on the spice route between the Netherlands and the East, founding th...

general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service; state-run monopoly provider is struggling with the de...

Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER; includes Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT)), Revolu...

international: country code - 33; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - more than 3 (2...

domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchange...

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority...

domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; number of fixed-line connections is gradually increasing and fixed-line teledensity now exceeds 20 per 100 persons; mo...

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a Court of Appeal and a High Court; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Kitts and Nevis); member...

two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the colors represent Islam (green)...

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing D...

elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; p...

Aruba member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government respon...

Fiji Christian 64.5% (Methodist 34.6%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, Anglican 0.8%, other 10.4%), Hindu 27.9%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, o...

26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Ra...

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Org...

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato...

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetar...

Catholic 25.8%, Anglican 18.7%, Uniting Church 5.7%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3%, Eastern Orthodox 2.7%, other Christian 7.9%, Buddhist 2.1%, Muslim 1.7%, other 2.4%, unspecifi...

international: country code - 253; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable with links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth...

Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A...

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in...

international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 subm...

16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wurttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania),...

26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah (El Beheira), Al Fayyum (El Faiyum), Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Ale...

registered in other countries: 85 (Antigua and Barbuda 23, Belize 6, Cyprus 5, Dominica 7, Finland 2, Latvia 2, Liberia 1, Malta 11, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3,...

Decreasing insurgent attacks and an improving security environment in many parts of the country are helping to spur economic activity. Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sec...

elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election las...

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizo...

current situation: Central African Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exp...

note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and b...

unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; up to three losing opposi...

32,369,558 country comparison to the world: 38 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowe...

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision but, neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the...

Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (offi...

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India h...

total: 688 country comparison to the world: 15 by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 141, carrier 3, chemical tanker 137, combination ore/oil 12, container 4, liquefied gas 65, passen...

France ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,...

Timor-Leste Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half...

11 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Comarca Kuna Yala, Comarca Ngobe-Bugle, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los...

Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades fol...

chief of state: President Seretse Khama Ian KHAMA (since 1 April 2008); Vice President Mompati MERAFHE (since 1 April 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and...

elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed pr...

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Org...

Albanian Christian Democratic Party of Kosovo or PShDK [Tome MARKU]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Alliance for a New Kosovo or AKR [Behgjet PACOL...

defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by t...

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator...

elections: kings are elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held on 3 November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime...

general assessment: an extensive but antiquated telecommunications network inherited from the Soviet era; quality has improved; the Bulgaria Telecommunications Company's fixed-l...

chief of state: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006); note - the president is both chief of state...

election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire KAURA 5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3...

white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish...

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an inde...

international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and U...

28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ne...

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross...

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically...

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GD...

Alternative Democratic Reform Party or ADR [Robert MEHLEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Franc...

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 wa...

elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term (no term...

Economy - overview: The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly 40% of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given the north's relative isolatio...

Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%, Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God 6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church...

total: 1,438 country comparison to the world: 4 by type: bulk carrier 459, cargo 411, carrier 2, chemical tanker 171, container 80, liquefied gas 25, passenger 29, passenger/car...

total: 240 country comparison to the world: 32 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (ab...

Senegal based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; accepts co...

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 28 October 2007 (next ele...

general assessment: services only fair; in 2006 the government sold a 51 percent stake in the national telephone company and ultimately plans to retain only a 23 percent stake i...

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Ko...

planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modif...

general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments in fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile-cellular subs...

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an impo...

note: unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by yearend 2005, the unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar;...

24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Mo...

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,...

registered in other countries: 178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6...

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 1, independents 2; House of Representatives - p...

Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 196...

2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Fed...

limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from...

chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is bo...

international: country code - 45; a series of fiber-optic submarine cables link Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden...

chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995 while his father was in exile

World $60.96 trillion (31 December 2008 est.) $60.26 trillion (31 December 2007 est.) note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt, both public and private

domestic: no recent growth in fixed-line infrastructure and the sole provider, Telkom Kenya, is slated for privatization; multiple providers in the mobile-cellular segment of th...

note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan...

general assessment: inadequate for a modern country; fixed-line telephone density remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasi...

domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have...

general assessment: primitive system; telephone density one of the lowest in the world; fixed-line connections stand at well less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular usage i...

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 capital city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Ma...

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negoti...

Vietnam southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along b...

yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the em...

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, an...

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's a...

white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer...

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border in 1992 with final settlement by the parties...

key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking...

general assessment: currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing t...

German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch (official) 0.5...

international: country code - 962; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe; satel...

current situation: The Gambia is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation...

Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Macroeconomic growth has averaged around 5% over the last f...

air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreate...

elections: president, a largely ceremonial post, is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 28 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2012)...

general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war and transition to a competitive market-based s...

a blue field, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a crest w...

total: 117 country comparison to the world: 48 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9,...

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknot...

Alliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosin...

over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of...

current situation: Fiji is a source country for children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation and a destination country for a small number of women from...

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces as well as islanders); cable tel...

domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system i...

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/contine...

Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national exped...

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, a...

Maps accompanying each entry now present more detail. Flags also introduced for nearly all entities. Various new entries appear under Geography and Communications. Factbook abbr...

elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority par...

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-May...

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic U...

total: 626 country comparison to the world: 17 by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 530, carrier 3, chemical tanker 10, container 8, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 11, refrigera...

18-30 years of age for compulsory and 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women age 18-30 may be subject to compulsory military service; conscription suspended in...

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavk...

CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP...

election results: percent of vote by party - SBA 72.2%, Action-Equilibre-Transparence 9.9%, Ensemble pour Saint-Barthelemy 7.9%, Tous Unis pour Saint-Barthelemy 9.9%; seats by p...

current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and children trafficked internally for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; Sudan is also a transit...

For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanis...

Muslim 59.7% (Shia, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armeni...

general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile...

31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila d...

the indigenous population of Papua New Guinea is one of the most heterogeneous in the world; PNG has several thousand separate communities, most with only a few hundred people;...

Timor-Leste The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually...

Zambia Zambia's economy has experienced strong growth in recent years, with real GDP growth in 2005-08 about 6% per year. Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1...

Kyrgyzstan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km o...

China 14.2%, South Africa 8.5%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 7.9%, South Korea 7.9%, Egypt 7.7%, Italy 6.9%, Belgium 4.1% (2008)

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France...

elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minist...

northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January...

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknot...

France arable land: 33.46% permanent crops: 2.03% other: 64.51% note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%, other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe...

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a...

domestic: individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provide...

registered in other countries: 2,357 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas 209, Barbados 12, Belize 1, Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Cambodia 3, Cayman Islands 16, China 2, Comoros 6, Cyprus 2...

Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3...

chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (si...

German (official nationwide) 88.6%, Turkish 2.3%, Serbian 2.2%, Croatian (official in Burgenland) 1.6%, other (includes Slovene, official in Carinthia, and Hungarian, official i...

Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 cen...

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February 2008 (next to be held February 2013); prime minist...

memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territo...

In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis we...

chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of stat...

European Union Following the two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century, a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became convinced that the only way...

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining t...

Chuukese 48.8%, Pohnpeian 24.2%, Kosraean 6.2%, Yapese 5.2%, Yap outer islands 4.5%, Asian 1.8%, Polynesian 1.5%, other 6.4%, unknown 1.4% (2000 census)

Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009, S.I. 2009/701 - effective 14 August 2009 - suspended Ministerial government, the House of Assembly, and the...

domestic: termination of monopoly over mobile-cellular telephone services in 2001 spurred sharp increase in subscriptions with mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 180 per 10...

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March 2005); Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and h...

This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administra...

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of Timor-Leste was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias. Three hundred thousand people fled west...

Poland Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengt...

Thailand a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts ha...

chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batac, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Cal...

bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of an upper house, the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (168 seats; as of July 2000, members appointed by the...

Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen (Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hambur...

Afghanistan ADB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE...

elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 March 2008 (next to be...

This entry gives the number of males and females entering the military manpower pool (i.e., reaching age 16) in any given year and is a measure of the availability of military-a...

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 Februar...

Kazakhstan vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of C...

United Kingdom chief of mission: Ambassador Sir Nigel E. SHEINWALD chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 588-...

Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support); Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association); Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM]...

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Con...

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the presiden...

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir QARAQULOV]; Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005); Rahmatullo VALIYEV, deputy]; Islamic Revival Part...

chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (...

This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high as compared to the United States. Th...

total: 137 country comparison to the world: 44 by type: bulk carrier 23, chemical tanker 3, container 22, liquefied gas 33, passenger 24, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 18,...

Nepal chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (as of 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (as of 23 July 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL (...

The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C. probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civi...

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Africa is on the Tier 2 Watch List for a fourth consecutive year for its failure to show increasing efforts to address trafficking; the go...

This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention...

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag...

note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the US Government; portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and...

chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 9 April 2009, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il chairman of the National Defense Commiss...

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species...

Brazil chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA da Silva (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of...

domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system; coverage provided by existing network has been expanded by use of over...

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A four-decade long conflict between gover...

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tou...

With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and generally pro-investment policies, Thailand was one of East Asia's best performers from 2002-04, averaging m...

Saint Helena chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Andrew GURR (since 11 November 2007) cabinet: Executi...

since 2003, RAMSI, consisting of police, military, and civilian advisors drawn from 15 countries, has assisted in reestablishing and maintaining civil and political order while...

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most cr...

Saint Helena lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Hele...

Portugal agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, cl...

This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban are...

white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars d...

elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2007 (next to be held in December 2012); prime minister appointed by pre...

Taiwan chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008); Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008) head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan)...

This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and b...

1 United States $ 2,978,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 United States $ 2,524,000,000,000 2008 est. 3 Japan $ 1,788,000,000,000 2008 est. 4 Japan $ 1,720,000,000,000 2008 est. 5 Germany...

Belize territorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize...

China 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China...

two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, cent...

general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT...

Morocco In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particu...

note: suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; constitutional government ousted in a military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991 military gove...

note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknot...

Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%...

Lesotho Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exile...

Panama current situation: Panama is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; the majority...

1 China 314,459,083.00 2009 est. 2 China 296,763,134.00 2009 est. 3 India 243,276,310.00 2009 est. 4 India 237,042,868.00 2009 est. 5 United States 59,764,677.00 2009 est. 6 Uni...

1 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) 95.00 1996 2 Burundi 93.60 2002 est. 3 Malawi 90.00 2003 est. 4 Rwanda 90.00 2000 5 Norfolk Island 90.00 NA 6 Niger 90.00 1995 7 Timor-Leste...

member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible...

Mexico name: Mexico City (Distrito Federal) geographic coordinates: 19 26 N, 99 08 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving t...

Ethiopia landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by wat...

Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF (a coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Camb...

1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seve...

In deciding on the number of digits to present,The Factbook staff assesses the accuracy of the original data and the needs of US Government officials. All of the economic data a...

Greenland Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th cent...

Netherlands Antilles US 19%, Guatemala 10.6%, Dominican Republic 9.3%, Haiti 7.4%, Singapore 6.7%, Bahamas, The 5.9%, Italy 4.5%, Honduras 4.4%, Mexico 4.1% (2008)

Macedonia adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 and in 2005 note: amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments streng...

Ukraine After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next...

Laos chief of state: President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8 June 2006); Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006) head of government: Prime Minister BOUASO...

United States about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than C...

chief of state: President Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ (since 5 August 2009) note - AZIZ, who deposed democratically elected President Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDELLAHI in a coup and instal...

Saint Helena total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 3...

Dhekelia chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Major General Jamie GORDON (since October 2008); note - reports to the Brit...

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by politica...

Guinea chief of state: Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA, President of the National Council for Democracy and Development, who led a military coup following the death of President Lansa...

Haiti Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depen...

Slovenia party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Chan...

France France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market...

Algeria After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National...

This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functi...

Malaysia constitutional monarchy note: nominally headed by paramount ruler (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house a...

This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout...

New Zealand Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized,...

Singapore Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. Singapore s...

Cyprus current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe, the Philippines, and the Dominican Re...

Cote d'Ivoire Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicia...

NAME ENTRY IN LATITUDE LONGITUD THE WORLD FACTBOOK (DEG E MIN) (DEG MIN) Cabinda (province) Angola 5 33 S 12 12 E Cabo Verde (local name Cape Verde 16 00 N 24 00 W for Cape Verd...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 19...

Pacific Ocean surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in so...

Italy Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliam...

Congo, Democratic Republic of the heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledged in 2004 to abate tribal, rebel, and militia fighting in the region, including northeast Congo, w...

European Union 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,...

Yemen conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman former: Yemen Arab Republic...

Chile Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade and a reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it t...

world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation decreased 22% to 157,000 hectares in 2008 but remains at a historically high level; less favorable growing conditions in 200...

Mauritania Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by...

Switzerland Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP among the highest i...

Israel West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further...

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Abso...

Bolivia Bolivia is one of the poorest and least developed countries in Latin America. Following a disastrous economic crisis during the early 1980s, reforms spurred private inve...

Serbia MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of international economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the...

Albania the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some et...

Portugal Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments...

Ghana Asante 14.8%, Ewe 12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English...

Hong Kong direct election - 18 years of age for half the legislature and a majority of seats in 18 district councils; universal for permanent residents living in the territory o...

Jordan chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. BEECROFT embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, DPO AE 09892-0200 telephone:...

Afghanistan revenues: $890 million expenditures: $2.7 billion note: Afghanistan has also received $2.6 billion from the Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law an...

Rwanda fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burund...

Andorra the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's offic...

Lebanon Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The government does not restrict foreign investment; however, the investment climate s...

Cambodia primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legis...

Armenia Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia has made progress in implementing many economic reforms including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal...

Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. The International Labor Organization (IL...

Japan In the years following World War II, government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of...

Turks and Caicos Islands general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available in...

Denmark This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, an equitable...

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces), and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile fo...

Somalia 9,832,017 note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numb...

World total: 510.072 million sq km land: 148.94 million sq km water: 361.132 million sq km note: 70.9% of the world's surface is water, 29.1% is land

of Information 1 India 11,795,000.00 2009 est. 2 India 10,820,590.00 2009 est. 3 China 10,621,373.00 2009 est. 4 China 9,533,880.00 2009 est. 5 Indonesia 2,197,323.00 2009 est....

Kazakhstan chief of mission: Ambassador Yerlan IDRISOV chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488 FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845 consulate(s) gen...

Ecuador Alianza PAIS Movement [Rafael Vicente CORREA Delgado]; Christian Democratic Union or UDC [Diego ORDONEZ Guerrero]; Democratic Left or ID [Andres PAEZ Benalcazar]; Ethica...

Congo, Democratic Republic of the tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equ...

Morocco Action Party or PA [Mohammed EL IDRISSI]; Al Ahd (The Covenant) Party [Najib EL OUAZZANI]; Alliance des Libert'es (Alliance of Liberty) or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; An-Nahj Ad-D...

Bangladesh Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ...

Laos serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border...

Israel Balad [Azmi BISHARA]; Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKEH]; Kadima [Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI]; Labor Party [Ehud BARAK]; Likud [Binyamin NETAN...

Svalbard northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Sv...

Ecuador significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precur...

Croatia Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia (Oruzane Snage Republike Hrvatske, OSRH), consists of five major commands directly subordinate to a General Staff: Ground Forces...

Finland agriculture and forestry 4.5%, industry 18.3%, construction 7.3%, commerce 16%, finance, insurance, and business services 14.5%, transport and communications 7%, public...

Recent elections and governmental changes recorded for Afghanistan, Aruba, Fiji, Germany, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Tunisia, and Uruguay. In the Economy category, some...

South Africa Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; So...

established - 7 November 1989 aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Sou...

Australia bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum note: Australia is the world...

Honduras general assessment: the number of fixed-line connections are increasing but still limited; competition among multiple providers of mobile-cellular services is contribut...

Brazil deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife tra...

Cook Islands general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex domestic: individual islands are connected by a combin...

a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the...

NAME ENTRY IN LATITUDE LONGITUD THE WORLD FACTBOOK (DEG E MIN) (DEG MIN) Macao Macau 22 10 N 113 33 E Macau (special China 22 10 N 113 33 E administrative region) Macquarie Isla...

This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conven...

1 China 8,850.00 NA 2 Nepal 8,850.00 NA 3 Pakistan 8,611.00 NA 4 India 8,598.00 NA 5 Bhutan 7,553.00 NA 6 Tajikistan 7,495.00 NA 7 Afghanistan 7,485.00 NA 8 Kyrgyzstan 7,439.00...

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Abso...

Slovakia parties in the Parliament:: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalitio...

Australia general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system; significant use of radiotelephone in areas of low population dens...

established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 1981 aim - to promote political, economic, and defense cooperation members - (9) Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Isl...

Not all Country Comparisons include the same number of entries because information for a particular field is not available for all countries. In addition, not all data fields ar...

Malaysia general assessment: modern system; international service excellent domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; ade...

Nigeria soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills;...

Libya conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jamahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah...

New Zealand Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of t...

Cameroon degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow f...

note - merged with Central Asian Cooperation Organization (CACO) in 2005 established - May 2001 aim - to create a common economic and energy policy members - (6) Belarus, Kazakh...

Peru asparagus, coffee, cocoa, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, pineapples, guavas, bananas, apples, lemons, pears, coca, tomatoes, mango, ba...

established - August 1964 aim - to act as a watchdog over Intelsat, Ltd., a private company, to make sure it provides on a global and non- discriminatory basis public telecommun...

Ghana Christian Aid (water rights); Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform); National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights); Oxfam (wat...

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 94 opened for signature - 26 January 1994 entered into force - 1 January 1997 objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropic...

note - succeeded General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995 aim - to provide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between...

DIAM 65-18: Geopolitical Data Elements and Related Features, Data Standard No. 4, Defense Intelligence Agency Manual 65-18, December 1994, published by the Defense Intelligence...

This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soi...

Romania general assessment: the telecommunications sector is being expanded and modernized; domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially mobile-cellular serv...

1 China 375,009,345.00 2008 est. 2 China 354,314,328.00 2008 est. 3 India 301,094,084.00 2008 est. 4 India 283,047,141.00 2008 est. 5 United States 72,715,332.00 2008 est. 6 Uni...

Slovenia 182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina ) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotl...

established on 22 October 1999; aim was to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to...

Portugal agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, cl...

1 China $ 1,955,000,000,000 31 December 2008 est. 2 Japan $ 1,011,000,000,000 31 December 2008 est. 3 Russia $ 427,100,000,000 31 December 2008 est. 4 Taiwan $ 296,400,000,000 3...

established - September 1923 set up as the International Criminal Police Commission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted aim - to promote international c...

Bolivia party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer...

1 Australia 21.00 2006 2 Australia 20.00 2006 3 New Zealand 20.00 2006 4 Australia 20.00 2006 5 Iceland 19.00 2006 6 British Virgin Islands 19.00 2005 7 New Zealand 19.00 2006 8...

Japan party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protoc...

Croatia 20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska, Brodsko-Posavska, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska...

Macedonia 84 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje),...

China mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; con...

Brazil total: 28,857 km broad gauge: 5,709 km 1.600-m gauge (459 km electrified) standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge narrow gauge: 22,954 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

STANAG 1059: Letter Codes for Geographical Entities (8th edition, 2004) is a Standardization Agreement (STANAG) established and maintained by the North Atlantic Treaty Organizat...

acres ares 40.468 564 224 acres hectares 0.404 685 642 24 acres square feet 43,560 acres square kilometers 0.004 046 856 422 4 acres square meters 4,046.856 422 4 acres square m...

1 Antigua and Barbuda 200.00 NA 2 Antigua and Barbuda 200.00 NA 3 United Arab Emirates 200.00 NA 4 Angola 200.00 NA 5 American Samoa 200.00 NA 6 Argentina 200.00 NA 7 Australia...

NAME ENTRY IN LATITUDE LONGITUD THE WORLD FACTBOOK (DEG E MIN) (DEG MIN) Rabat (capital) Morocco 34 02 N 6 51 W Ralik Chain (island Marshall Islands 8 00 N 167 00 E group) Rango...

NAME ENTRY IN LATITUDE LONGITUD THE WORLD FACTBOOK (DEG E MIN) (DEG MIN) Ha'apai Group (island Tonga 19 42 S 174 29 W group) Habomai Islands Russia (de facto) 43 30 N 146 10 E H...

This entry comprises the total quantity of time and savings deposits denominated in the national currency, held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, n...

1 Anguilla 100.00 NA 2 Bermuda 100.00 NA 3 Gibraltar 100.00 NA 4 Cayman Islands 100.00 NA 5 Hong Kong 100.00 NA 6 Holy See (Vatican City) 100.00 NA 7 Singapore 100.00 NA 8 Macau...

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Abso...

NAME ENTRY IN LATITUDE LONGITUD THE WORLD FACTBOOK (DEG E MIN) (DEG MIN) T'bilisi (capital) Georgia 41 43 N 44 49 E Tadzhikistan (former Tajikistan 39 00 N 71 00 E name for Taji...

This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soi...

This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and b...

1 Zimbabwe 578.96 31 December 2007 2 Haiti 46.99 31 December 2007 3 Madagascar 45.00 31 December 2007 4 Brazil 43.72 31 December 2007 5 Sao Tome and Principe 32.40 31 December 2...

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining t...

1 Bolivia 21.00 NA 2 Solomon Islands 21.00 NA 3 Fiji 21.00 NA 4 Central African Republic 21.00 NA 5 Gabon 21.00 NA 6 Oman 21.00 NA 7 Malaysia 21.00 NA 8 Saudi Arabia 21.00 NA 9...

1 European Union $ 18,140,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 United States $ 14,440,000,000,000 2008 est. 3 Japan $ 4,911,000,000,000 2008 est. 4 China $ 4,327,000,000,000 2008 est. 5 Germ...

1 France 100.00 NA 2 Greece 99.00 NA 3 Marshall Islands 98.20 NA 4 Poland 97.80 2002 census 5 Armenia 97.70 2001 census 6 Nicaragua 97.50 NA 7 Croatia 96.10 2001 census 8 Cambod...

1 United States $ 19,950,000,000,000 31 December 2007 2 European Union $ 15,570,000,000,000 31 December 2008 3 China $ 6,226,000,000,000 31 December 2007 4 Japan $ 4,453,000,000...

This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functi...

1 European Union $ 14,940,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 United States $ 14,440,000,000,000 2008 est. 3 China $ 7,992,000,000,000 2008 est. 4 Japan $ 4,340,000,000,000 2008 est. 5 Indi...

1 United States $ 13,750,000,000,000 31 December 2008 2 United Kingdom $ 9,041,000,000,000 31 December 2008 3 Germany $ 5,158,000,000,000 31 December 2008 4 France $ 4,935,000,0...

1 Russia 47,570,000,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 2 Iran 28,080,000,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 3 Qatar 25,260,000,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 4 Saudi Arabia 7,319,000,000,000 1 J...

Information 1 United States $ 2,367,000,000,000 31 December 2008 est. 2 United Kingdom $ 1,445,000,000,000 31 December 2008 est. 3 Hong Kong $ 1,241,000,000,000 31 December 2008...

1 United States $ 2,117,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 European Union $ 1,690,000,000,000 2007 3 Germany $ 1,232,000,000,000 2008 est. 4 China $ 1,074,000,000,000 2008 est. 5 Japan $ 7...

1 Vietnam 41.90 2008 est. 2 Cape Verde 41.60 2008 est. 3 Lesotho 40.80 2008 est. 4 China 40.50 2008 est. 5 Armenia 39.00 2008 est. 6 India 39.00 2008 est. 7 Sao Tome and Princip...

1 United States 548,665.00 2006 2 United States 244,620.00 2006 3 Russia 158,767.00 2008 4 Canada 74,980.00 2006 5 Russia 74,285.00 2008 6 Ukraine 33,327.00 2008 7 Argentina 28,...

This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washin...

1 Saudi Arabia 266,700,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 2 Canada 178,100,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 3 Iran 136,200,000,000 1 January 2009 est. 4 Iraq 115,000,000,000 1 January 2009...

1 Swaziland 30.83 July 2009 est. 2 Angola 24.08 July 2009 est. 3 Lesotho 22.20 July 2009 est. 4 Sierra Leone 21.91 July 2009 est. 5 Zambia 21.34 July 2009 est. 6 Liberia 20.73 J...

1 United States 23,530,000,000.00 2006 2 United Kingdom 12,460,000,000.00 2006 3 Japan 11,190,000,000.00 2006 4 France 10,600,000,000.00 2006 5 Germany 10,440,000,000.00 2006 6...

1 Turkmenistan 5,104.00 2000 2 Kazakhstan 2,360.00 2000 3 Uzbekistan 2,194.00 2000 4 Guyana 2,187.00 2000 5 Hungary 2,082.00 2001 6 Azerbaijan 2,051.00 2000 7 Kyrgyzstan 1,916.0...

This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of the elec...

1 United States 4,110,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 European Union 3,044,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 China 3,041,000,000,000 2007 est. 4 Japan 1,058,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 Russia 958,000...

1 United States 3,873,000,000,000 2008 est. 2 European Union 2,884,000,000,000 2007 est. 3 China 2,835,000,000,000 2007 est. 4 Japan 1,007,000,000,000 2007 est. 5 Russia 840,400...

1 United States 6,465,799 2007 2 India 3,316,452 2006 3 China 1,930,544 2005 4 Brazil 1,751,868 2004 5 Japan 1,196,999 2006 6 Canada 1,042,300 2006 7 France 951,500 2006 8 Russi...

1 Liechtenstein $ 118,000 2007 est. 2 Qatar $ 111,000 2008 est. 3 Luxembourg $ 81,200 2008 est. 4 Bermuda $ 69,900 2004 est. 5 Norway $ 59,500 2008 est. 6 Kuwait $ 57,500 2008 e...

1 United States 57,020,000,000.00 2008 est. 2 Italy 43,000,000,000.00 2008 est. 3 Brazil 42,060,000,000.00 2008 est. 4 Germany 41,670,000,000.00 2008 est. 5 Switzerland 31,600,0...

This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according t...

1 China $ 426,100,000,000 2008 est. 2 Germany $ 243,600,000,000 2008 est. 3 Japan $ 156,600,000,000 2008 est. 4 Saudi Arabia $ 132,600,000,000 2008 est. 5 Russia $ 102,400,000,0...

1 Germany 61,700,000,000.00 2008 est. 2 France 58,690,000,000.00 2008 est. 3 Canada 55,730,000,000.00 2008 est. 4 Paraguay 45,140,000,000.00 2007 est. 5 Switzerland 32,740,000,0...

1 China 807,300,000 2008 est. 2 India 523,500,000 2008 est. 3 European Union 224,400,000 2008 est. 4 United States 154,300,000 2008 est. 5 Indonesia 112,000,000 2008 est. 6 Braz...

1 United States 575,000,000.00 1997 2 China 417,000,000.00 1997 3 Japan 120,500,000.00 1997 4 India 116,000,000.00 1997 5 United Kingdom 84,500,000.00 1997 6 Germany 77,800,000....

1 United Arab Emirates 3.69 2009 est. 2 Niger 3.68 2009 est. 3 Kuwait 3.55 2009 est. 4 Yemen 3.45 2009 est. 5 Gaza Strip 3.35 2009 est. 6 Mayotte 3.32 2009 est. 7 Burundi 3.28 2...

1 Monaco 45.70 2009 est. 2 Japan 44.20 2009 est. 3 Germany 43.80 2009 est. 4 Italy 43.30 2009 est. 5 Jersey 42.90 2009 est. 6 Guernsey 42.50 2009 est. 7 Hong Kong 42.30 2009 est...

1 Niger 51.60 2009 est. 2 Mali 49.15 2009 est. 3 Uganda 47.84 2009 est. 4 Afghanistan 45.46 2009 est. 5 Sierra Leone 44.73 2009 est. 6 Burkina Faso 44.33 2009 est. 7 Somalia 43....

1 Angola 180.21 2009 est. 2 Sierra Leone 154.43 2009 est. 3 Afghanistan 151.95 2009 est. 4 Liberia 138.24 2009 est. 5 Niger 116.66 2009 est. 6 Somalia 109.19 2009 est. 7 Mozambi...

1 United States 657,200,000,000 2008 est. 2 European Union 516,900,000,000 2007 est. 3 Russia 475,700,000,000 2008 est. 4 Iran 119,000,000,000 2008 est. 5 Japan 101,100,000,000...

This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conven...

1 San Marino -3.50 2008 2 Northern Mariana Islands -0.80 2000 3 Niger 0.10 2007 est. 4 Kiribati 0.20 2007 est. 5 Brunei 0.30 2007 est. 6 Central African Republic 0.90 2007 est....

1 Russia 662,200,000,000 2008 est. 2 United States 582,200,000,000 2008 est. 3 European Union 201,900,000,000 2007 est. 4 Canada 170,900,000,000 2008 est. 5 Iran 116,300,000,000...

World urban population: 48.6% of total population (2005) rate of urbanization: 1.98% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) ten largest urban agglomerations: Tokyo (Japan) - 35,67...

1 Bhutan 21.40 2008 est. 2 Macau 15.00 2008 3 Qatar 13.40 2008 est. 4 Timor-Leste 12.80 2008 est. 5 Angola 12.30 2008 est. 6 Ethiopia 11.60 2008 est. 7 Rwanda 11.20 2008 est. 8...

1 Russia 17,098,242 NA 2 Canada 9,984,670 NA 3 United States 9,826,675 NA 4 China 9,596,961 NA 5 Brazil 8,514,877 NA 6 Australia 7,741,220 NA 7 India 3,287,263 NA 8 Argentina 2,...

1 Andorra 100.00 NA 2 Finland 100.00 2000 est. 3 Greenland 100.00 2001 est. 4 Georgia 100.00 2004 est. 5 Norway 100.00 NA 6 Holy See (Vatican City) 100.00 NA 7 Luxembourg 100.00...

This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention...

1 Namibia 64.50 2003 2 Haiti 47.70 2001 3 Colombia 45.90 2006 4 South Africa 44.70 2000 5 Bolivia 44.10 2005 6 Ecuador 43.30 2007 7 Brazil 43.00 2007 8 Guatemala 42.40 2006 9 Pa...

1 United States 19,500,000 2008 est. 2 European Union 14,440,000 2007 est. 3 China 7,850,000 2008 est. 4 Japan 4,785,000 2008 est. 5 India 2,940,000 2008 est. 6 Russia 2,900,000...

1 Saudi Arabia 8,728,000 2007 est. 2 Russia 6,845,000 2007 est. 3 Iran 2,719,000 2007 est. 4 United Arab Emirates 2,700,000 2007 est. 5 Canada 2,421,000 2008 est. 6 Norway 2,383...

1 China 365,600,000 2007 2 United States 150,000,000 2008 3 Germany 51,500,000 2008 4 Japan 47,579,000 2008 5 Russia 44,200,000 2008 6 Brazil 41,141,000 2008 7 India 37,540,000...

1 China 298,000,000 2008 2 United States 231,000,000 2008 3 Japan 90,910,000 2008 4 India 81,000,000 2008 5 Brazil 64,948,000 2008 6 Germany 61,973,000 2008 7 United Kingdom 48,...

1 United States 13,470,000 2008 est. 2 European Union 8,613,000 2007 est. 3 Japan 5,263,000 2008 est. 4 China 4,210,000 2007 5 Korea, South 2,982,000 2008 est. 6 Germany 2,777,0...

1 China 634,000,000 2008 2 India 427,300,000 2009 3 United States 270,000,000 2008 4 Russia 187,500,000 2008 5 Brazil 150,641,000 2008 6 Indonesia 140,578,000 2008 7 Japan 110,3...

1 United Arab Emirates 22.98 2009 est. 2 Afghanistan 21.00 2009 est. 3 Cayman Islands 16.48 2009 est. 4 Kuwait 16.02 2009 est. 5 Macau 14.56 2009 est. 6 Anguilla 14.06 2009 est....

1 China 400,000,000 1997 2 United States 219,000,000 1997 3 Japan 86,500,000 1997 4 India 63,000,000 1997 5 Russia 60,500,000 1997 6 Germany 51,400,000 1998 7 Brazil 36,500,000...

1 United States 112,700,000,000 2008 est. 2 Japan 95,390,000,000 2008 est. 3 Germany 91,990,000,000 2008 est. 4 Italy 76,860,000,000 2008 est. 5 Ukraine 64,200,000,000 2008 est....

1 Saudi Arabia 10,780,000 2008 est. 2 Russia 9,790,000 2008 est. 3 United States 8,514,000 2008 est. 4 Iran 4,174,000 2008 est. 5 China 3,973,000 2008 est. 6 Canada 3,350,000 20...

1 United States 383,000,000 NA 2 Japan 47,249,000 2009 3 Germany 23,796,000 2009 4 Italy 22,152,000 2009 5 Brazil 15,929,000 2009 6 France 14,327,000 2009 7 China 14,156,000 200...

This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been...

1 Russia 7,306.00 1998 2 China 3,240.00 1997 3 European Union 2,700.00 NA 4 United States 2,218.00 2006 5 United Kingdom 940.00 2008 6 Ukraine 647.00 2006 7 Turkey 635.00 1995 8...

1 United States 7,000.00 2002 est. 2 Canada 760.00 2000 est. 3 Australia 571.00 2002 4 Russia 300.00 June 2000 5 Ukraine 260.00 2001 6 Bulgaria 200.00 2001 7 Germany 200.00 2001...

Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vesse...

1 Angola 14.30 2008 est. 2 Panama 14.20 2008 est. 3 Qatar 13.00 2008 est. 4 Uzbekistan 12.70 2008 est. 5 Belarus 12.00 2008 est. 6 Bosnia and Herzegovina 11.60 2008 est. 7 Equat...

1 Russia 243,400,000,000 2008 2 Canada 102,800,000,000 2008 3 Norway 95,230,000,000 2008 4 Netherlands 61,720,000,000 2008 5 Algeria 59,670,000,000 2008 6 Qatar 56,780,000,000 2...

1 South Africa 350,000 2007 est. 2 India 310,000 2001 est. 3 Nigeria 170,000 2007 est. 4 Kenya 150,000 2003 est. 5 Zimbabwe 140,000 2007 est. 6 Congo, Democratic Republic of the...

1 Swaziland 26.10 2007 est. 2 Botswana 23.90 2007 est. 3 Lesotho 23.20 2007 est. 4 South Africa 18.10 2007 est. 5 Namibia 15.30 2007 est. 6 Zimbabwe 15.30 2007 est. 7 Zambia 15....

1 World 33,000,000 2007 est. 2 South Africa 5,700,000 2007 est. 3 Nigeria 2,600,000 2007 est. 4 India 2,400,000 2007 est. 5 Mozambique 1,500,000 2007 est. 6 Tanzania 1,400,000 2...

1 Zimbabwe 975.00 31 December 2007 2 Venezuela 28.50 31 December 2007 3 Sao Tome and Principe 28.00 31 December 2007 4 Turkey 25.00 31 December 2007 5 Guinea 22.25 31 December 2...

1 Kiribati 17.80 2002 2 Lesotho 13.00 2006 3 Marshall Islands 11.80 2004 4 Palau 10.30 2002 5 Yemen 9.60 2001 6 Vanuatu 9.50 2003 7 Uzbekistan 9.40 1991 8 Saint Kitts and Nevis...

1 Zambia 86.00 1993 2 Chad 80.00 2001 est. 3 Gaza Strip 80.00 2007 est. 4 Liberia 80.00 2000 est. 5 Haiti 80.00 2003 est. 6 Sierra Leone 70.20 2004 7 Mozambique 70.00 2001 est....

Information 1 Namibia 70.7 2003 2 South Africa 65.0 2005 3 Lesotho 63.2 1995 4 Botswana 63.0 1993 5 Sierra Leone 62.9 1989 6 Central African Republic 61.3 1993 7 Bolivia 59.2 20...

1 United States 226,427 2007 2 Russia 87,157 2006 3 China 77,834 2008 4 India 63,327 2007 5 Canada 46,688 2008 6 Germany 41,896 2008 7 Australia 37,855 2008 8 Argentina 31,409 2...

This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full...

This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have su...

1 China 110,000 2008 2 Russia 102,000 2007 3 Brazil 50,000 2008 4 United States 41,009 2008 5 Indonesia 21,579 2008 6 Colombia 18,000 2008 7 Vietnam 17,702 2008 8 Congo, Democra...

tons, long avoirdupois ounces 35,840 (deadweight) tons, long avoirdupois pounds 2,240 (deadweight) tons, long kilograms 1,016.046 909 8 (deadweight) tons, long long hundredweigh...

This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 re...

This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is inc...

education) School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his...

This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest ru...

(domestic/industrial/agricultural) This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic kilometers removed from available sources for use in any purpose. Water drawn-off is...

This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are...

This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the locations provided in th...

This entry provides the official value of a country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as...

annually This entry gives the number of males and females entering the military manpower pool (i.e., reaching age 16) in any given year and is a measure of the availability of m...