Table talk.

These definitions will help you understand terms used in our World in Focus tables.

Communist one-party state: A government based on government ownership of land and businesses. The Communist party and its leader typically allow no opposition.

Constitutional monarchy: A king or queen is head of state but has little power. An elected parliament chooses the Prime Minister, who leads the government.

Dominant party: A system in which one political party rules. Other parties exist but have little power.

Military rule: The leader of a country's armed forces controls the government.

One-party dictatorship: A government in which a single political party and its leader have all the power.

Parliamentary democracy: Voters elect the legislature (parliament). A Prime Minister, usually leader of the party with the most seats in parliament, heads the government.

Presidential dictatorship: A government in which the President has almost complete power.

Presidential-legislative democracy: An elected President leads the government, sharing power with an elected legislature (lawmaking body), and with the courts.

Presidential-parliamentary democracy: An elected President is chief executive, and appoints a Prime Minister who leads the government.

Traditional chiefs: A body of tribal leaders continues to play a role in constitutional government.

Notes to World in Focus

Date of origin: The year in which a country won control of its internal and external affairs, or when smaller areas joined to form a larger nation.

Political system and head of government: Most countries have both a head of government and a head of state. These tables list only the more powerful of the two. For example, Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state in the United Kingdom, but Tony Blair, the head of government, is listed in the table.

Human Development Index (HDI): A number from 0 to 1, based on how a country's people fare in terms of life expectancy, adult literacy, and purchasing power (a person's ability to buy food, clothing, and other necessities). The higher the number, the better the rating. Literacy rate: Experts doubt some estimates. NA: Means that the figure was not available. Per capita gross domestic product: This figure is given in U.S. dollars.