The world in focus; fast facts on 192 countries.Statistics look like a series of cold, hard facts. But every number tells a story. The 39 under the "Life Expectancy Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. " column for Malawi Malawi (məlä`wē), officially Republic of Malawi, republic (2005 est. pop. 12,159,000), 45,200 sq mi (117,068 sq km), E central Africa. , for instance, means that men in that African nation are dying very young. The $800 per person GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. for Afghanistan Afghanistan (ăfgăn`ĭstăn', ăfgän'ĭstän`), officially Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, republic (2005 est. pop. 29,929,000), 249,999 sq mi (647,497 sq km), S central Asia. tells you that nation is extremely poor (Compare it with the U.S. and see.) These tables describe each of the world's 192 countries with 13 kinds of data. Once you know how to Interpret To run a program one line at a time. Each line of source language is translated into machine language and then executed. them, they can offer great insight into a nation and Its challenges. The sample entry for Russia Russia, officially the Russian Federation, Rus. Rossiya, republic (2005 est. pop. 143,420,000), 6,591,100 sq mi (17,070,949 sq km). (at right) will help you figure out how to use them. Russia Area and Population: Taken together, these figures allow you to calculate population density (population divided by area), an important indicator Indicator Anything used to predict future financial or economic trends. Notes: In the context of technical analysis, an indicator is a mathematical calculation based on a securities price and/or volume. The result is used to predict future prices. of such things as crowdedness. Moscow Moscow, city, Russia Moscow (mŏs`kou, –kō), Rus. Moskva, city (1991 est. pop. 8,802,000), capital of Russia and of Moscow region and the administrative center of the Central district, W central European Russia, on the Urban Population: The percentage of the total population living in urban areas. Urbanization has skyrocketed in developing countries, as people leave rural areas in search of work. Population Growth: A high rate of population growth could signal a nation that is struggling to feed its people, while a low rate might be a sign that a nation could run short of workers. Major Languages Spoken: There are some 6,000 languages in the world, not counting local dialects. Many nations have more than one language. Form of Government and Head: Governments are classified according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. who holds power. In democracies, people elect their leaders; dictatorships keep power away from the people. Literacy literacy Ability to read and write. The term may also refer to familiarity with literature and to a basic level of education obtained through the written word. In ancient civilizations such as those of the Sumerians and Babylonians, literacy was the province of an elite Rate: The percentage of people (male/female) who can read and write. Date of Origin: The year a nation was formed, gained independence, or established its present form of government. Per Capital GDP: The Gross Domestic Product--the value of all goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. produced in one year--divided per capita [Latin, By the heads or polls.] A term used in the Descent and Distribution of the estate of one who dies without a will. It means to share and share alike according to the number of individuals. , meaning per person. It is one way to gauge gauge In manufacturing and engineering, a device used to determine whether a dimension is larger or smaller than a reference standard. A snap gauge, for example, is formed like the letter C, with outer “go” and inner “not go” jaws, and is used to a nation's wealth. Percent of Population Under Age 15: Developing countries with a high percentage of young people may have trouble providing jobs, schools, and food, thus risking political unrest Unrest is a sociological phenomenon, for instance:
Life Expectancy: The age to which a newborn newborn /new·born/ (noo´born?) 1. recently born. 2. newborn infant. new·born adj. Very recently born. n. A neonate. (male/female) can expect to live. Improvements in medicine, diet and environment have helped people live longer. HDI HDI Human Development Index (UNDP yardstick of human welfare) HDI Help Desk Institute HDI Humpty Dumpty Institute (New York, New York) HDI High Density Interconnect (Human Development Index): This number measures economic and human well-being on a scale of 0 to 1. It combines life expectancy, literacy, and purchasing power Purchasing Power 1. The value of a currency expressed in terms of the amount of goods or services that one unit of money can buy. Purchasing power is important because, all else being equal, inflation decreases the amount of goods or services you'd be able to purchase. 2. into one number. RELATED ARTICLE: Focus: statistics teach about key economic, political, and social trends. TEACHING OBJECTIVES To help students see how statistics help understanding of important social, economic, and political developments. Discussion Questions: * Suppose you were in charge of putting together a collection of data on the world's countries, What additional information, if any, would you include in your collection? * Why do you think that literacy rates are different for men and women in most countries? * Experts on developing countries say one of their greatest problems is the flow of people from rural to urban areas. Why do you think this could be a problem for such countries? CLASSROOM STRATEGIES Analyzing Data: Some students may regard statistics as a jumble of numbers. You can make a link to their frame of reference by reminding them that statistics are also a vital part of the worlds of sports and pop music. But unlike home runs and CD sales, these global statistics offer an easy way to compare the strengths and weaknesses of countries around the world. You can help students understand these comparisons by asking them to search the tables for countries with Human Development Indexes in the 0.9 range and the 0.3 range. As the key explains, this index combines different economic and social indicators to show a level of well-being. How do countries in the 0.9 range compare to those in the 0.3 range in literacy and life expectancy? What connection is there between income and heath heath, tract of open land heath, tract of open land characterized by a few scattered trees, abundant moss cover, and numerous low shrubs, principally of the heath family (see heath, in botany). and education? (With a few exceptions, there is a direct correlation Noun 1. direct correlation - a correlation in which large values of one variable are associated with large values of the other and small with small; the correlation coefficient is between 0 and +1 positive correlation between income and literacy and life expectancy.) Tell students that people with money tend to have better access to health care and nutrition nutrition, study of the materials that nourish an organism and of the manner in which the separate components are used for maintenance, repair, growth, and reproduction. Nutrition is achieved in various ways by different forms of life. . History Link: The data also provide clues to history. Look at languages in Africa. Note that French is spoken in more than 25 countries. What does this suggest about European European emanating from or pertaining to Europe. European bat lyssavirus see lyssavirus. European beech tree fagussylvaticus. European blastomycosis see cryptococcosis. colonization colonization, extension of political and economic control over an area by a state whose nationals have occupied the area and usually possess organizational or technological superiority over the native population. of Africa? Next, look at African independence dates. Ethiopia's independence is 1000 B.C., while most countries cluster cluster, in astronomy: see star cluster; galaxy. (1) Two or more systems working together. See clustering. (2) Also called an "allocation unit" or "file allocation unit," it is some number of disk sectors that are treated as a unit. in the 1960s. What does this suggest about Ethiopia's history? (Except for a period of Italian occupation, 1936-1941, Ethiopia Ethiopia (ēthēō`pēə), officially Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, republic (2005 est. pop. 73,053,000), 471,776 sq mi (1,221,900 sq km), NE Africa. resisted colonization.)
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
NORTH AMERICA
Antigua 170/ 37/
and Barbuda 100,000 1.6
Bahamas 5,359/ 84/
300,000 1.5
Barbados 166/ 38/
300,000 0.5
Belize 8,865/ 49/
300,000 1.9
Canada 3,849,670/ 78/
31,000,000 0.3
Costa Rica 19,730/ 45/
3,700,000 1.8
Cuba 42,803/ 75/
11,300,000 0.6
Dominica 290/ 71/
100,000 0.8
Dominican 18,815/ 61/
Republic 8,600,000 2.1
El Salvador 8,124/ 58/
6,400,000 2.3
Grenada 131/ 34/
100,000 1.3
Guatemala 42,042/ 39/
13,000,000 2.9
Haiti 10,714/ 35/
7,000,000 1.7
Honduras 43,278/ 46/
6,700,000 2.8
Jamaica 4,243/ 50/
2,600,000 1.5
Mexico 756,062/ 74/
99,600,000 1.9
Nicaragua 50,193/ 57/
5,200,000 3.0
Panama 29,158/ 56/
2,900,000 2.1
Saint Kitts 139/ 43/
and Nevis 40,000 0.9
Saint Lucia 239/ 30/
200,000 1.3
Saint Vincent 151/ 44/
and the 100,000 1.2
Grenadines
Trinidad 1,981/ 72/
and Tobago 1,300,000 0.7
United States 3,717,796/ 75/
284,500,000 0.6
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
NORTH AMERICA
Antigua St. John's English, local
and Barbuda dialects
Bahamas Nassau English, Creole
Barbados Bridgetown English
Belize Belmopan English, Spanish,
Mayan, Garifuna
Canada Ottawa English, French
Costa Rica San Jose Spanish, English
Cuba Havana Spanish
Dominica Roseau English,
French patois
Dominican Santo Spanish
Republic Domingo
El Salvador San Salvador Spanish, Nahua
Grenada St. George's English,
French patois
Guatemala Guatemala Spanish,
City Amerindian
dialects
Haiti Port, Creole, French
au-Prince
Honduras Tegucigalpa Spanish,
Amerindian
dialects
Jamaica Kingston English, Creole
Mexico Mexico City Spanish, Mayan,
other indigenous
languages
Nicaragua Managua Spanish, English,
Amerindian
Panama Panama City Spanish, English
Saint Kitts Basseterre English
and Nevis
Saint Lucia Castries English, French
patois
Saint Vincent Kingstown English French
and the patois
Grenadines
Trinidad Port-of-Spain English, Hindi,
and Tobago French, Spanish
United States Washington, English, Spanish,
D.C. others
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN/
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
NORTH AMERICA
Antigua Dominant party; 1981/
and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird 28
Bahamas Parliamentary democracy; 1973/
Prime Minister Hubert 31
Ingraham
Barbados Parliamentary democracy; 1966/
Prime Minister Owen Arthur 23
Belize Parliamentary democracy; 1981/
Prime Minister Said Musa 41
Canada Parliamentary democracy; 1867/
Prime Minister Jean Chretien 19
Costa Rica Presidential-legislative 1821/
democracy; President Miguel 32
Angel Rodriguez Echeveria
Cuba Communist one-party state; 1902/
President Fidel Castro Ruz 22
Dominica Parliamentary democracy; 1978/
Prime Minister Pierre Charles 33
Dominican Presidential-legislative 1844/
Republic democracy; President 35
Francisco Flores Perez
El Salvador Presidential-legislative 1821/
democracy; President 36
Hipolito Mejia
Grenada Parliamentary democracy; 1974/
Prime Minister Keith Mitchell 38
Guatemala Presidential-legislative 1821/
democracy; President Alfonso 44
Portillo Cabrera
Haiti Presidential-legislative 1804/
democracy; President 43
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Honduras Presidential-legislative 1821/
democracy; President Carlos 43
Roberto Flores Facusse
Jamaica Parliamentary democracy; 1962/
Prime Minister Percival 31
James Patterson
Mexico Presidential-legislative 1810/
democracy; President Vicente 34
Fox Quesada
Nicaragua Presidential-legislative 1821/
democracy; President Arnoldo 43
Aleman Lacayo
Panama Presidential-legislative 1903/
democracy; President Mireya 31
Moscoso
Saint Kitts Parliamentary democracy; 1983/
and Nevis Prime Minister Denzil Douglas 31
Saint Lucia Parliamentary democracy; 1979/
Prime Minister Kenny Anthony 33
Saint Vincent Parliamentary democracy; 1979/
and the Prime Minister Ralph 32
Grenadines Gonsalves
Trinidad Parliamentary democracy; 1962/
and Tobago Prime Minister Basdeo Panday 26
United States Presidential-legislative 1776/
democracy; President 21
George W. Bush
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1)/ GDP (1)/
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
NORTH AMERICA
Antigua 90/88 / $8,200/
and Barbuda 68/72 NA
Bahamas 99/98 / $15,000/
70/75 0.820
Barbados 98/97 / $14,500/
70/75 0.864
Belize 70/70 / $3,200/
70/74 0.776
Canada 89/99 / $24,800/
76/81 0.936
Costa Rica 95/95 / $6,700/
75/79 0.821
Cuba 96/95 / $1,700/
73/77 NA
Dominica 94/94 / $4,000/
70/76 NA
Dominican 82/82 / $5,700/
Republic 67/71 0.722
El Salvador 74/70 / $4,000/
67/73 0.701
Grenada 98/98 / $4,400/
63/66 NA
Guatemala 69/59 / $3,700/
63/68 0.626
Haiti 48/42 / $1,800/
47/51 0.467
Honduras 73/73 / $2,700/
64/68 0.634
Jamaica 81/99 / $3,700/
70/73 0.738
Mexico 92/87 / $9,100/
73/78 0.790
Nicaragua 65/67 / $2,700/
66/70 0.635
Panama 91/90 / $6,000/
72/76 0.784
Saint Kitts 97/98 / $7,000/
and Nevis 66/71 NA
Saint Lucia 65/69 / $4,500/
70/73 NA
Saint Vincent 96/96 / $2,800/
and the 70/73 NA
Grenadines
Trinidad 99/97 / $9,500/
and Tobago 68/73 0.798
United States 97/97 / $36,200/
74/80 0.934
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
Argentina 1,073,514/ 90/
37,500,000 1.1
Bolivia 424,162/ 63/
8,500,000 2.4
Brazil 3,300,154/ 81/
171,800,000 1.5
Chile 292,135/ 86/
15,400,000 1.3
Colombia 439,734/ 71/
43,100,000 1.8
Ecuador 109,483/ 62/
12,900,000 2.2
Guyana 83,000/ 36/
700,000 1.3
Paraguay 157,046/ 52/
5,700,000 2.7
Peru 496,224/ 72/
26,100,000 1.8
Suriname 63,039/ 69/
400,000 1.9
Uruguay 68,498/ 92/
3,400,000 0.7
Venezuela 352,143/ 87/
24,600,000 2.0
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
Argentina Buenos Aires Spanish, English,
Italian, German,
French
Bolivia La Paz Spanish, Quechua,
and Sucre Aymara
Brazil Brasilia Portuguese,
Spanish, English,
French
Chile Santiago Spanish
Colombia Bogota Spanish
Ecuador Quito Spanish,
Amerindian
dialects
Guyana Georgetown English,
Amerindian dialects
Paraguay Asuncion Spanish, Guarani
Peru Lima Spanish,
Quechua, Aymara
Suriname Paramaribo Dutch, Sranang,
Tongo, Hindustani,
English, Javanese
Uruguay Montevideo Spanish, Portunol
Brazilero
Venezuela Caracas Spanish,
Amerindian dialects
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN/
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
Argentina Presidential-legislative 1816/
democracy; President Fernando 28
de la Rua
Bolivia Presidential legislative 1825/
democracy; President Jorge 40
Quiroga Ramirez
Brazil Presidential-legislative 1822/
democracy; President 30
Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Chile Presidential-legislative 1810/
democracy; President Ricardo 28
Lagos Escobar
Colombia Presidential-legislative 1810/
democracy; President Andres 32
Pastrana Arango
Ecuador Presidential-legislative 1822/
democracy; President Gustavo 34
Noboa
Guyana Parliamentary democracy; 1966/
President Bharrat Jagdeo 31
Paraguay Presidential-legislative 1811/
democracy; President Luis 40
Gonzalez Macchi
Peru President-authoritarian; 1821/
President Alejandro Toledo 34
Suriname Presidential-parliamentary 1975/
democracy; President Ronald 33
Venetiaan
Uruguay Presidential-legislative 1825/
democracy; President Jorge 24
Batle
Venezuela Presidential-legislative 1811/
democracy; President Hugo 34
Chavez Frias
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1)/ GDP (1)/
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
Argentina 96/96 / $12,900/
70/77 0.842
Bolivia 91/76 / $2,600/
60/64 0.648
Brazil 83/83 / $6,500/
65/72 0.750
Chile 95/95 / $10,100/
72/78 0.825
Colombia 91/91 / $6,200/
68/74 0.765
Ecuador 92/88 / $2,900/
68/73 0.726
Guyana 99/98 / $4,800/
62/68 0.704
Paraguay 94/91 / $4,750/
71/76 0.738
Peru 95/83 / $4,550/
66/71 0.743
Suriname 95/91 / $3,400/
68/74 0.758
Uruguay 97/98 / $9,300/
70/78 0.828
Venezuela 92/90 / $6,200/
70/76 0.765
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
AFRICA
Algeria 919,591/ 49/
3,100,000 1.9
Angola 481,351/ 32/
12,300,000 2.4
Benin 43,483/ 38/
6,600,000 3.0
Botswana 224,606/ 49/
1,600,000 1.0
Burkina Faso 105,792/ 15/
12,300,000 3.0
Burundi 10,745/ 8/
6,200,000 2.5
Cameroon 183,568/ 48/
15,8OO,OOO 2.7
Cape Verde 1,556/ 53/
400,000 3.0
Central 240,533/ 39/
African 3,600,000 2.0
Republic
Chad 495,753/ 21/
8,700,000 3.3
Comoros 861/ 29/
600,000 3.5
Congo 950,351/ 29/
(formerly 53,600,000 3.1
Zaire)
Congo 132,046/ 41/
Republic 3,100,000 3.0
Cote d'Ivoire 124,502/ 46/
16,400,000 3.0
Djibouti 8,958/ 83/
600,000 2.7
Egypt 386,660/ 43/
69,800,000 2.1
Equatorial 10,830/ 37/
Guinea 500,000 3.1
Eritrea 45,405/ 16/
4,300,000 3.0
Ethiopia 426,371/ 15/
65,400,000 2.9
Gabon 103,347/ 73/
1,200,000 1.6
Gambia 4,363/ 37/
1,400,000 3.0
Ghana 92,100/ 37/
19,900,000 2.2
Guinea 94,927/ 26/
7,600,000 2.3
Guinea-Bissau 13,946/ 22/
1,200,000 2.2
Kenya 224,081/ 20/
29,800,000 2.0
Lesotho 11,718/ 16/
2,200,000 2.0
Liberia 43,000/ 45/
3,200,000 3.1
Libya 679,359/ 86/
5,200,000 2.4
Madagascar 226,656/ 22/
16,400,000 3.0
Malawi 45,745/ 20/
10,500,000 2.3
Mali 478,838/ 26/
11,000,000 3.0
Mauritania 395,954/ 54/
2,700,000 2.8
Mauritius 788/ 43/
1,200,000 1.0
Morocco 172,413/ 55/
29,200,000 2.0
Mozambique 309,494/ 28/
19,400,000 2.1
Namibia 318,259/ 27/
1,800,000 1.9
Niger 489,189/ 17/
10,400,000 2.9
Nigeria 356,668/ 36/
126,600,000 2.8
Rwanda 10,170/ 5/
7,300,000 1.8
Sao Tome 371/ 44/
and Principe 200,000 3.5
Senegal 75,954/ 43/
9,700,000 2.8
Seychelles 174/ 63/
100,000 1.1
Sierra Leone 27,699/ 37/
5,400,000 2.6
Somalia 246,201/ 28/
7,500,000 3.0
South Africa 471,444/ 54/
43,600,000 1.2
Sudan 967,494/ 27/
31,800,000 2.4
Swaziland 6,703/ 25/
1,100,000 2.0
Tanzania 364,900/ 22/
36,200,000 2.8
Togo 21,927/ 31/
5,200,O00 2.9
Tunisia 63,170/ 62/
9,700,000 1.3
Uganda 93,066/ 15/
24,000,000 2.9
Zambia 290,583/ 38/
9,800,O00 2.3
Zimbabwe 150,873/ 32/
11,400,000 0.9
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
AFRICA
Algeria Algiers Arabic, French,
Berber dialects
Angola Luanda Portuguese,
Bantu, others
Benin Porto-Novo French, Fon,
and Cotonou Yoruba, others
Botswana Gaborne English,
Setswana
Burkina Faso Ouagadougou French, Sudanic
languages
Burundi Bujumbrua Kirundi, French
Swahili
Cameroon Yaounde English, French,
African languages
Cape Verde Praia Portuguese,
Crioulo
Central Bangui French, Sangho,
African Arabic, Hunsa
Republic Swahili
Chad N'Djamena French, Arabic,
Sara, Sango,
others
Comoros Moroni Arabic, French,
Comoran
Congo Kinshasa French, Lingala,
(formerly Kinguana,
Zaire) Kikongo, Tshiluba
Congo Brazzaville French, Lingala,
Republic Monokutuba,
Kikongo, others
Cote d'Ivoire Abidjian and French, Dioula,
Yamoussoukro others
Djibouti Djibouti French, Arabic,
Somali, Afar
Egypt Cairo Arabic, English,
French
Equatorial Malabo Spanish, French,
Guinea pidgin English,
Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Eritrea Asmara Amharic, Arabic
Afar, Tigrinya,
Tigre many others
Ethiopia Addis Ababa Amharic, Tigrinya
Orominga, Arabic
English, others
Gabon Libreville French, Fang,
Myene, Bateke,
others
Gambia Banjul English, Mandinka,
Wolof, Fula, others
Ghana Accra English, Akan
others
Guinea Conakry French, various
African languages
Guinea-Bissau Bissau Portuguese,
Criolo, others
Kenya Nairobi English, Swahili,
many others
Lesotho Maseru Sesotho, English
Zulu, Xhosa
Liberia Monrovia English,
Niger-Congo
languages
Libya Tripoli Arabic, Italian,
English
Madagascar Antananarivo French
Malagasy
Malawi Lilongwe English, Chichewa,
others
Mali Bamako French, Bambara,
many others
Mauritania Nouakchott Hasaniya Arabic,
Pular, Soninke,
Wolof, French
Mauritius Port Louis English, Creole
French, Hindi,
Urdu, Hakka,
Bojpoori
Morocco Rabat Arabic, Berber
dialects, French
Mozambique Maputo Portuguese,
African languages
Namibia Windhoek English, local
African languages
Niger Niamey French, Hausa,
Djerma
Nigeria Abuja English, Hausa,
Yoruba, Ibo,
Fulani
Rwanda Kigali Kinyarwanda,
French, English,
Kiswahili
Sao Tome Sao Tome Portuguese
and Principe
Senegal Dakar French, Wolof,
Pulaar, Diola,
Mandingo
Seychelles Victoria English, French,
Creole
Sierra Leone Freetown English, Mende,
Temne, Krio
Somalia Mogadishu Somali, Arabic,
Italian, English
South Africa Cape Town, English, Afrikaans
Pretoria, and Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi,
Bloemfontein Sotho, others
Sudan Khartoum Arabic, Nubian,
Ta Bedawie
English, others
Swaziland Mbabane English, siSwati
and
Lobamba
Tanzania Dar es Kiswahili, English,
Salaam Arabic, many
others
Togo Lome French, Ewe,
Mina, Dagomba,
Kabye
Tunisia Tunis Arabic, French
Uganda Kampala English, Luganda
Swahili, others
Zambia Lusaka English, Bemba,
Tonga, others
Zimbabwe Harare English, Shona,
Sindebele, others
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN/
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
AFRICA
Algeria Dominant party; 1962/
President Abdelaziz 39
Bouteflika
Angola Presidential-legislative 1975/
(transitional); President 48
Jose Eduardo dos Santos
Benin Presidentaial-parliamentary 1960/
democracy; President 48
Mathieu Kerekou
Botswana Parliamentary democracy and 1966/
traditional chiefs; 41
President Festus Mogae
Burkina Faso Dominant party; President 1960/
Blaise Compaore 48
Burundi Dictatorship President 1962/
(military-dominated 48
Pierre Buyoya
Cameroon Dominant party; President 1960/
Paul Biya 43
Cape Verde Presidential-parliamentary 1975/
democracy; Prime Minister 43
Jose Maria Neves
Central Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
African democracy; President 44
Republic Ange-Felix Patasse
Chad Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
(military-dominated); 48
President Idriss Deby
Comoros Dominant party; 1975/
Col. Assoumani Azali 46
Congo Military-backed dictatorship; 1960/
(formerly President Joseph Kabila 48
Zaire)
Congo Military-backed dictatorship; 1960/
Republic President Denis 43
Sassou-Nguesso
Cote d'Ivoire Military (transitional); 1960/
President Laurent Gbagbo 42
Djibouti Dominant party; 1977/
President Ismail Omar Guelleh 43
Egypt Dominant party; 1922/
President Hosni Mubarak 36
Equatorial Dominant party (military- 1968/
Guinea dominated); President Teodoro 44
Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Eritrea One-party; 1993/
President Isaias Afwerki 43
Ethiopia Dominant party; 1000 B.C./
Prime Minister Meles Zenawi 44
Gabon Dominant party; 1960/
President Omar Bongo 40
Gambia Military; 1965/
president Yahya Jammeh 46
Ghana Presidential-parliamentary 1957/
democracy; President John 43
Agyekum Kufour
Guinea Dominant party; 1958/
President Lansana Conte 44
Guinea-Bissau Presidential-legislative 1973/
(transitional); President 44
Kumba lala
Kenya Dominant party; 1963/
President Daniel arap Moi 44
Lesotho Parliamentary (transitional); 1966/
Prime Minister Pakalitha 40
Mosisili
Liberia Presidential-parliamentary 1847/
democracy; President Charles 43
Taylor
Libya One-party dictatorship; 1951/
Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi 37
Madagascar Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
democracy; President Didier 45
Ratsiraka
Malawi Presidential-parliamentary 1964/
democracy; President Bakili 47
Muluzi
Mali Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
democracy; President Alpha 47
Oumar Konare
Mauritania Dominant party; President 1960/
Maaouya Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya 44
Mauritius Parliamentary democracy; 1968/
Prime Minister Sir anerood 26
Jugnauth
Morocco Constitutional monarchy; 1956/
King Muhammad VI 33
Mozambique Prestdential-legislative 1975/
democracy; President Joaquim 44
Chissano
Namibia Presidential-legislative 1990/
democracy; President Sam 43
Nujoma
Niger Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
democracy (transitional); 50
President Tandja Mamadou
Nigeria Presidential-parliamentary 1960/
democracy (transitional); 44
President Olusegun Obasanjo
Rwanda Dominant party; 1962/
President Paul Kageme 44
Sao Tome Presidential-padiamentary 1975/
and Principe democracy; President 48
Miguel Trovoada
Senegal Dominant party; 1960/
President Abdoulaye Wade 44
Seychelles Presidential-legislative 1976/
democracy; President 29
France-Albert Rene
Sierra Leone Presidential legislative 1961/
democracy; President Ahmad 45
Tejan Kabbah (rebel factions
waging civil war)
Somalia Transitional democracy 1960/
disputed by warlords; 44
President Abdikassim Salad
South Africa Presidential-legislative 1910/
democracy; President Thabo 34
Mbkei
Sudan Presidential-parliamentary 1956/
(military-dominated); 43
President Omar Hassan
Ahmad al-Bashir
Swaziland Monarchy; 1968/
King Mswati III 46
Tanzania Dominant party; 1964/
President Benjamin Mkapa 45
Togo Dominant party; President 1960/
General Gnassingbe Eyadema 47
Tunisia Dominant party; 1956/
President Zine el Abidine 31
Ben Ali
Uganda Dominant party; 1962/
President Yoweri Kaguta 51
Museveni
Zambia Dominant party; 1964/
President Frederick Chiluba 45
Zimbabwe Dominant party; 1980/
President Robert Mugabe 44
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1)/ GDP (1)/
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
AFRICA
Algeria 74/49 / $5,500/
68/70 0.693
Angola 56/28 / $1,000/
37/39 0.422
Benin 52/74 / $1,030/
49/51 0.420
Botswana 81/60 / $6,600/
41/42 0.577
Burkina Faso 30/9 / $1,000/
47/47 0.320
Burundi 49/23 / $720/
46/47 0.309
Cameroon 75/52 / $1,700/
55/56 0.506
Cape Verde 81/64 / $1,700/
65/72 0.708
Central 69/52 / $1,700/
African 43/46 0.372
Republic
Chad 62/35 / $1,000/
48/52 0.359
Comoros 64/50 / $720/
54/59 0.510
Congo 87/88 / $600/
(formerly 45/50 0.429
Zaire)
Congo 83/67 / $1,100/
Republic 47/52 0.502
Cote d'Ivoire 57/40 / $1,600/
45/47 0.426
Djibouti 60/63 / $1,300/
44/48 0.447
Egypt 64/39 / $3,600/
65/68 0.635
Equatorial 90/68 / $2,000/
Guinea 48/52 0.610
Eritrea 66/38 / $710/
53/57 0.416
Ethiopia 46/25 / $600/
51/53 0.321
Gabon 74/53 / $6,300/
51/54 0.617
Gambia 58/37 / $1,100/
51/54 0.398
Ghana 76/54 / $1,900/
56/59 0.542
Guinea 50/22 / $1,300/
43/47 0.397
Guinea-Bissau 67/41 / $850/
44/46 0.339
Kenya 86/70 / $1,500/
48/49 0.514
Lesotho 72/93 / $2,400/
52/55 0.541
Liberia 54/22 / $1,100/
49/52 NA
Libya 88/63 / $8,900/
73/77 0.770
Madagascar 88/73 / $800/
52/56 0.462
Malawi 73/43 / $900/
39/40 0.397
Mali 39/23 / $850/
45/47 0.378
Mauritania 53/40 / $2,000/
49/52 0.437
Mauritius 87/79 / $10,400/
67/64 0.765
Morocco 57/31 / $3,500/
67/71 0.596
Mozambique 58/27 / $1,000/
69/76 0.323
Namibia 45/31 / $4,300/
47/45 0.601
Niger 21/7 / $1,000/
41/41 0.274
Nigeria 67/47 / $950/
52/53 0.455
Rwanda 52/45 / $900/
39/40 0.395
Sao Tome 85/62 / $1,100/
and Principe 63/66 NA
Senegal 43/23 / $1,600/
51/54 0.423
Seychelles 56/60 / $7,700/
67/73 NA
Sierra Leone 45/18 / $510/
42/47 0.258
Somalia 36/14 / $600/
45/48 NA
South Africa 82/82 / $8,500/
52/54 0.702
Sudan 58/35 / $1,000/
55/57 0.439
Swaziland 78/76 / $4,000/
40/41 0.583
Tanzania 79/57 / $710/
52/54 0.436
Togo 67/37 / $1,500/
53/58 0.489
Tunisia 79/55 / $6,500/
70/74 0.714
Uganda 74/50 / $1,100/
42/43 0.435
Zambia 86/71 / $880/
37/38 0.427
Zimbabwe 90/80 / $2,500/
41/39 0.554
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
EUROPE
Albania 11,100/ 46/
3,400,000 1.2
Andorra 174/ 93/
100,000 0.9
Austria 32,378/ 65/
8,100,000 0.0
Belarus 80,154/ 70/
10,000,000 -0.4
Belgium 11,787/ 97/
10,300,000 O.1
Bosnia and 19,741/ 40/
Herzegovina 3,400,000 0.4
Bulgaria 42,822/ 68/
8,100,000 -0.5
Croatia 21,830/ 54/
4,700,000 -0.2
Czech Republic 30,448/ 77/
10,300,000 -0.2
Denmark 16,637/ 72/
5,400,000 0.2
Estonia 17,413/ 69/
1,400,000 -0.4
Finland 130,560/ 60/
5,200,000 0.2
France 212,934/ 74/
59,200,000 0.4
Germany 137,830/ 86/
82,200,000 -0.1
Greece 50,950/ 59/
10,900,000 -0.0
Hungary 35,919/ 64/
10,000,000 -0.4
Iceland 39,768/ 93/
300,000 0.8
Ireland 27,135/ 58/
3,800,000 0.6
Italy 116,320/ 90/
57,800,000 -0.0
Latvia 24,942/ 69/
2,400,000 -0.6
Liechtenstein 62/ 23/
30,000 0.6
Lithuania 25,174/ 68/
3,700,000 -0.1
Luxembourg 999/ 88/
400,000 0.4
Macedonia 9,927/ 60/
2,000,000 0.5
Malta 124/ 91/
400,000 0.3
Moldova 13,012/ 46/
4,300,000 -0.1
Monaco 1/ 100/
30,000 0.3
Netherlands 15,768/ 62/
16,000,000 0.4
Norway 125,050/ 74/
4,500,000 0.3
Poland 124,807/ 62/
38,600,000 0.0
Portugal 35,514/ 48/
10,000,000 0.1
Romania 92,042/ 55/
22,400,000 -0.1
Russia 6,592,819/ 73/
144,400,000 -0.7
San Marino 23/ 89/
30,000 0.4
Slovakia 18,923/ 57/
5,400,000 0.0
Slovenia 7,819/ 50/
2,000,000 -0.1
Spain 195,363/ 64/
39,800,000 0.0
Sweden 173,730/ 84/
8,900,000 -0.0
Switzerland 15,942/ 68/
7,200,000 0.2
Ukraine 233,089/ 68/
49,100,000 -0.7
United Kingdom 94,548/ 90/
(Great Britain) 60,000,000 0.1
Vatican City 109 acres/ NA/
870 1.2
Yugoslavia (3) 39,448/ 52/
(Serbia and 10,700,000 0.1
Montenegro)
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
EUROPE
Albania Tirana Albanian, Greek
Andorra Andorra Catalan, French,
la Vella Castilian
Austria Vienna German
Belarus Minsk Byelorussian,
Russian, others
Belgium Brussels Flemish, French,
German
Bosnia and Sarajevo Serbo-Croatian
Herzegovina
Bulgaria Sofia Bulgarian,
others
Croatia Zagreb Serbo-Croatian
others
Czech Republic Prague Czech, Slovak
Denmark Copenhagen Danish,
Greenlandic,
Faroese, German
Estonia Tallinn Estonian,
Ukrainian,
Russian, others
Finland Helsinki Finnish, Swedish
Lapp, Russian
France Paris French,
regional dialects
Germany Berlin German
Greece Athens Greek, English
French
Hungary Budapest Hungarian,
others
Iceland Reykjavik Icelandic
Ireland Dublin English, Gaelic
Italy Rome Italian, German,
French, Slovene
Latvia Riga Lettish,
Lithuanian,
Russian, others
Liechtenstein Vaduz German,
Alemannic dialect
Lithuania Vinius Lithuanian,
Polish, Russian
Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourgan,
German, French,
English
Macedonia Skopje Macedonian,
Albanian, others
Malta Valletta Maltese, English
Moldova Chisinau Moldovan, Russian,
(Kishinev) Gagauz
Monaco Monaco French, English,
Italian,
Monegasque
Netherlands Amsterdam Dutch
and the Hague
Norway Oslo Norwegian, Lapp,
Finnish
Poland Warsaw Polish
Portugal Lisbon Portuguese
Romania Bucharest Romanian,
Hungarian,
German
Russia Moscow Russian, other
languages
San Marino San Marino Italian
Slovakia Bratislava Slovak,
Hungarian
Slovenia Ljubljana Slovenian,
Serbo-Croatian,
others
Spain Madrid Spanish, Catalan,
Galician, Basque
Sweden Stockholm Swedish, Lapp,
Finnish
Switzerland Bern German, French,
Italian, Romansch,
others
Ukraine Klev Ukrainian,
Russian, Romanian,
Polish, Hungarian
United Kingdom London English, Welsh,
(Great Britain) Scottish, Gaelic
Vatican City Vatican City Italian, Latin,
others
Yugoslavia (3) Belgrade and Serbo-Croatian,
(Serbia and Podgoricar Albanian
Montenegro)
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
EUROPE
Albania Presidential-parliamentary 1912/
democracy; Prime Minister 33
Ilir Meta
Andorra Parliamentary democracy; 1278/
Executive Council President 15
Marc Forne Molne
Austria Parliamentary democracy; 1156/
Chancellor Wolfgang Schussel 17
Belarus Presidential dictatorship; 1991/
President Aleksandr 19
Lukashenko
Belgium Parliamentary democracy: 1830/
Prime Minister Guy 18
Verhofstadt
Bosnia and Presidential-parliamentary 1992/
Herzegovina in transition; rotating 20
Chairman of the
Presidency (2)
Bulgaria Parliamentary democracy; 1908/
Prime Minister Simeon 16
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Croatia Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Stipe 20
Mesic
Czech Republic Parliamentary democracy; 1993/
Prime Minister Milos Zeman 17
Denmark Parliamentary democracy; 900s/
Prime Minister Poul Nyrup 18
Rasmussen
Estonia Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; Prime Minister 18
Mart Laar
Finland Presidential-parliamentary 1917/
democracy; President Tarja 18
Halonen
France Presidential-parliamentary 486/
democracy; President Jacques 19
Chirac
Germany Parliamentary democracy: 1871/
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder 16
Greece Parliamentary democracy; 1829/
Prime Minister Konstandinos 15
Simitis
Hungary Parliamentary democracy; 1001/
Prime Minister Viktor Orban 17
Iceland Parliamentary democracy; 1944/
Prime Minister David Oddsson 23
Ireland Parliamentary democracy 1921/
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern 22
Italy Parliamentary democracy; 1861/
Prime Minister Silvio 14
Berlusconi
Latvia Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Vaira 18
Vike-Freiberga
Liechtenstein Constitutional monarchy; 1719/
Prince Hans Adam II 19
Lithuania Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Valdas 20
Adamkus
Luxembourg Parliamentary democracy; 1839/
Prime Minister Jean-Claude 19
Juncker
Macedonia Parliamentary democracy; 1991/
Prime Minister Ljubco 23
Georgievski
Malta Parliamentary democracy; 1964/
Prime Minister Eddie Fenech 21
Adami
Moldova Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President 24
Vladimir Voronin
Monaco Constitutional monarchy; 1419/
Prince Rainier III 15
Netherlands Parliamentary democracy; 1579/
Prime Minister Wire Kok 19
Norway Parliamentary democracy; 1905/
Prime Minister Jens 20
Stoltenberg
Poland Presidential-parliamentary 1918/
democracy; President 20
Aleksander Kwasniewski
Portugal Presidential-parliamentary 1140/
democracy; Prime Minister 17
Antonio Guterres
Romania Presidential-padiamentary 1878/
democracy; Prime Minister 18
Adrian Nastase
Russia Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Vladimir 18
Putin
San Marino Parliamentary democracy; 301/
Co-Captains Regent elected 15
every six months from the
Great and General Council
Slovakia Parliamentary democracy; 1993/
Prime Minister Mikulas 20
Dzurinda
Slovenia Presidential-Parliamentary 1991/
democracry; Prime Minister 16
Janez Drnovsek
Spain Parliamentary democracy; 1492/
Prime Minister Jose Maria 15
Aznar Lopez
Sweden Parliamentary democracy; 1523/
Prime Minister Goran Persson 19
Switzerland Parliamentary democracy; 1291/
President Moritz Leuenberger 18
Ukraine Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Leonid 18
Kuchma
United Kingdom Parliamentary democracy; 900s/
(Great Britain) Prime Minister Tony Blair 19
Vatican City No political parties; papal 1929/
state; Pope John Paul II -
Yugoslavia (3) Presidential-parliamentary; 1992/
(Serbia and President Vojislav 21
Montenegro) Kostunica (3)
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1)/ GDP (1)/
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
EUROPE
Albania 90/76 / $3,000/
69/75 0.725
Andorra NA / $18,000/
NA NA
Austria 99/99 / $25,000/
75/81 0.921
Belarus 99/97 / $7,500/
62/74 0.782
Belgium 99/99 / $25,300/
75/81 0.935
Bosnia and NA / $1,700/
Herzegovina 67/72 NA
Bulgaria 99/98 / $6,000/
68/75 0.772
Croatia 99/95 / $5,800/
70/77 0.803
Czech Republic 99/99 / $12,900/
71/78 0.844
Denmark 99/99 / $25,500/
74/79 0.921
Estonia 99/99 / $10,000/
65/76 $0.812
Finland 99/99 / $22,900/
74/81 0.925
France 99/99 / $24,400/
75/83 0.924
Germany 99/99 / $23,400/
74/81 0.921
Greece 98/93 / $17,200/
76/81 0.881
Hungary 99/98 / $11,200/
66/75 0.829
Iceland 99/99 / $24,800/
78/81 0.932
Ireland 99/99 / $21,600/
74/79 0.916
Italy 99/98 / $22,100/
76/82 0.909
Latvia 99/99 / $7,200/
65/76 0.791
Liechtenstein 99/99 / $23,000/
NA NA
Lithuania 99/98 / $7,300/
67/77 0.803
Luxembourg 99/99 / $36,400/
75/81 0.924
Macedonia NA / $4,400/
70/75 0.766
Malta 87/90 / $14,300/
74/80 0.866
Moldova 99/94 / $2,500/
64/72 0.699
Monaco 99/99 / $27,000/
NA NA
Netherlands 99/99 / $24,400/
75/81 0.931
Norway 99/99 / $27,700/
76/81 0.939
Poland 99/98 / $8,500/
68/77 0.828
Portugal 94/89 / $15,800/
72/79 0.874
Romania 98/95 / $5,900/
67/74 0.772
Russia 99/97 / $7,700/
59/72 0.775
San Marino 97/95 / $32,000/
76/83 NA
Slovakia 99/99 / $10,200/
69/77 0.831
Slovenia 99/99 / $12,000/
72/79 0.874
Spain 98/97 / $18,000/
74/82 0.908
Sweden 99/99 / $22,200/
77/82 0.936
Switzerland 99/99 / $28,600/
77/83 0.924
Ukraine 99/97 / $3,850/
63/74 0.742
United Kingdom 99/99 / $22,800/
(Great Britain) 75/80 0.923
Vatican City 100 / NA/
NA NA
Yugoslavia (3) 97/89 / $2,300/
(Serbia and 70/75 NA
Montenegro)
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
ASIA
Afghanistan 251,772/ 22/
26,800,000 2.4
Armenia 11,506/ 67/
3,800,000 0.3
Azerbaijan 33,436/ 51/
8,100,000 0.9
Bahrain 266/ 88/
700,000 1.9
Bangladesh 55,598/ 21/
133,500,000 2.0
Bhutan 18,147/ 15/
900,000 3.1
Brunei 2,228/ 67/
300,000 2.0
Cambodia 69,900/ 16/
13,100,000 1.7
China 3,696,100/ 36/
1,273,300,000 0.9
Cyprus 3,571/ 66/
900,000 0.6
Georgia 26,911/ 56/
5,500,000 0.0
India 1,269,340/ 28/
1,033,000,000 1.7
Indonesia 735,355/ 39/
206,100,000 1.7
Iran 630,575/ 64/
66,100,000 1.2
Iraq 169,236/ 68/
23,600,000 2.7
Israel(6) 8,131/ 91/
6,400,000 1.6
Japan 145,869/ 78/
127,100,000 0.2
Jordan 34,444/ 79/
5,200,000 2.2
Kazakhstan 1,049,151/ 56/
14,800,000 0.5
Korea, North 46,541/ 59/
22,000,000 1.5
Korea, South 38,324/ 79/
48,800,000 0.9
Kuwait 6,880/ 100/
2,300,000 1.8
Kyrgyzstan 76,641/ 35/
5,000,000 1.3
Laos 91,429/ 17/
5,400,000 2.5
Lebanon 4,015/ 88/
4,300,000 1.7
Malaysia 127,317/ 57/
22,700,000 2.0
Maldives 116/ 25/
300,000 3.2
Mongolia 604,826/ 57/
2,400,000 1.4
Myanmar 261,228/ 27/
(Burma) 47,800,000 1.6
Nepal 56,826/ 11/
23,500,000 2.4
Oman 82,031/ 72/
2,400,000 3.5
Pakistan 307,375/ 33/
145,000,000 2.8
Philippines 115,830/ 47/
77,200,000 2.2
Qatar 4,247/ 91/
600,000 2.7
Saudi Arabia 829,996/ 83/
21,100,000 2.9
Singapore 239 100/
4,100,000 0.9
Sri Lanka 25,332/ 22/
19,500,000 1.2
Syria 71,498/ 50/
17,100,000 2.6
Taiwan 13,969/ 77/
22,500,000 0.8
Tajikistan 55,251/ 27/
6,200,000 1.4
Thailand 198,116/ 30/
62,400,000 0.8
Turkey 299,158/ 66/
66,300,000 1.5
Turkmenistan 188,456/ 44/
5,500,000 1.3
United Arab 32,278/ 84/
Emirates 3,300,000 1.4
Uzbekistan 172,741/ 38/
25,100,000 1.7
Vietnam 128,066/ 24/
78,700,000 1.4
Yemen 203,849/ 26/
18,000,000 3.3
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
ASIA
Afghanistan Kabul Pashtu, Afghan
Persian, Turkic,
others
Armenia Yerevan Amenian
Russuan, others
Azerbaijan Baku Azeri, Russian,
Armenian, others
Bahrain Manama Arabic, English
Farsi, Urdu
Bangladesh Dhaka Bangla, English
Bhutan Thimphu Dzongkha, Tibetan
and Nepalese
dialects
Brunei Bandar Seri Malay, English
Begawan Chinese
Cambodia Phnom Penh Khmer, French
China Beijing Mandarin, other
Chinese dialects,
other languages
Cyprus Nicosia Greek, Turkish,
English
Georgia Tbilisi Georgian, Russian,
Armenian, Azeri,
Ossetian, others
India New Delhi Hindi, English,
many others
Indonesia Jakarta Bahasa Indonesian,
English,
Dutch, others
Iran Tehran Persian, Turkic,
Kurdish, Luri,
others
Iraq Baghdad Arabic, Kurdish,
Assyrian, Armenian
Israel(6) Jerusalem Hebrew, Arabic,
English
Japan Tokyo Japanese
Jorda Amman Arabic, English
Kazakhstan Astana Kazakh, Russian,
Ukranian, others
Korea, North Pyongyang Korean
Korea, South Seoul Korean, English
Kuwait Kuwait Arabic, English
Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Kighiz, Russian
Laos Vientiane Lao, French,
Armenian, English
Lebanon Beirut Arabic, French,
Armenian, English
Malaysia Kuala Malay, English,
Lumpur Chinese dialects,
many others
Maldives Male Maldivian Divehi,
English
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Khalkha Mongol,
(Ulan Bator) Turkic, Russian,
Chinese
Myanmar Yangon Burmese,
(Burma) (Rangoon) others
Nepal Kathmandu Nepali, others
Oman Muscat Arabic, English,
Baluchi, Urdu,
others
Pakistan Islamabad Punjabi, Sindhi,
Siraiki, Urdu,
English, others
Philippines Manila Pilipino, English
Qatar Doha Arabic, English
Saudi Arabia Riyadh Arabic
Singapore Singapore Chinese, Malay,
Tamil, English
Sri Lanka Colombo Sinhala, Tamil,
English
Syria Damascus Arabic, Kurdish,
Armenian, French,
others
Taiwan Taipei Mandarin Chinese,
Taiwanese, others
Tajikistan Dushanbe Tajik, Russian
Thailand Bankok Thai, Enlish,
regional dialects
Turkey Ankara Turkish, Kurdish,
Arabic
Turkmenistan Ashgabat Turkmen, Uzbek,
Russian, others
United Arab Abu Dhabi Arabic, Persian,
Emirates English, Hindi,
Urdu
Uzbekistan Tashkent Uzbek, Russian,
Tajik, others
Vietnam Hanoi Vietnamese, French,
Chinese, English,
Khmer, others
Yemen Sana'a Arabic
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
ASIA
Afghanistan Rule by exremist religious 1919/
regime; competing wardlords 43
Armenia Presidential-parliamentary 1918/
democracy; President Robert 24
Kocharyan
Azerbaijan Dominant party; 1991/
President Heydar Aliyev 32
Bahrain Monarchy; Emir 1971/
Hamad ibn `Isa Al Khalifan 31
Bangladesh Parliamentary democracy 1971/
(transitional)(4) 40
Bhutan Monarchy; 1949/
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck 42
Brunei Monarchy; Sultan and Prime 1984/
Minister Sir Muda Hassanal 32
Bolkiah Mu'izzadin Waddaulah
Cambodia Dominant party; 1949/
Prime Minister Hun Sen 43
China Communist one-party state; 1912/
President Jiang Zemin 23
Cyprus Presidential-legislative 1960/
democracy; President Glafcos 23
Clerides
Georgia Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Eduard 20
Shevardnadze
India Parliamentary democracy; 1947/
Prime Minister Atal Bihari 36
Vajpayee
Indonesia Presidential-parliamentary 1945/
democracy; President 31
Megawati Sukarnoputri
Iran Presidential-parliamentary 1502/
under Islamic religious 36
control President Mohammad
Khatami
Iraq One-party presidential 1932/
dictatorship; President 42
Saddam Hussein
Israel (6) Parliamentary democracy; 1948/
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon 29
Japan Parliamentary democracy; 660 B.C./
Prime Minister Junichiro 15
Koizumi
Jordan Constitutional monarchy; 1946/
King Abdullah II 40
Kazakhstan Dominant party; 1991/
Prisedent Nursultan 28
Nazarbayev
Korea, North Communist one-party state; 1945/
General Secretary Kim Jong II 26
Korea, South Presidential-parliamentary 1945/
democracy; President Kim 22
Dae Jung
Kuwait Constitutional monarchy; Emir 1961/
and Prime Minister Saad 26
Al-Salim Al Sabah
Kyrgyzstan Presidential-parliamentary 1991/
democracy; President Askar 35
Akayev
Laos Communist one-party state; 1949/
President Khamtai Siphandon 44
Lebanon Presidential-parliamentary, 1943/
with heavy foreign influence; 29
President Emile Lahoud
Malaysia Dominant party; Prime 1957/
Minister Datuk Seri Mahathir 33
ibn Mohamad
Maldives Presidential-legislative; 1965/
President Maumoon abdul 46
Gayoom
Mongolia Presidential-parliamentary 1921/
democracy; Prime Minister 34
Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Myanmar Military; 1948/
(Burma) Prime Minister General Than 33
Shwe
Nepal Parliamentary democracy; 1768/
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur 41
Deuba
Oman Monarchy; Prime Minister and 1650/
Sultan Qabus ibn Sa'id 41
Al Sa'id
Pakistan Military; Chief Executive 1947/
Pervez Musharraf 42
Philippines Presidential-legislative 1946/
democracy; President Gloria 37
Macapagal-Arroyo
Qatar Monarchy; Emir Hamad ibn 1971/
Khalifah Al Thani 27
Saudi Arabia Monarchy; King and Prime 1932/
Minister Fahd ibn Abd al-Aziz 43
Al Sa'ud
Singapore Dominant party; 1965/
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong 17
Sri Lanka Presidential-parliamentary 1948/
democracy; President 28
Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga
Syria Dominant party 1946/
(military-dominated); 41
President Bashar al-Assad
Taiwan Presidential-legislative 1947/
democracy; President Chen 21
Shui-bian
Tajikistan Presidential (transitional); 1991/
President Imomali Rakhmonov 42
Thailand Parliamentary democracy; 1238/
Prime Minister Thaksin 24
Shinawatra
Turkey Presidential-parliamentary 1923/
democracy; Prime Minster 30
Bulent Ecevit
Turkmenistan Presidential dictatorship; 1991/
President Saparmurad Niyazov 38
United Arab Federation of traditional 1971/
Emirates monarchies; President Sheikh 26
Zaid ibn Sultan Al Nahayan
Uzbekistan Dominant party; 1991/
President Islam Karimov 38
Vietnam Communist one-party state; 1945/
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai 33
Yemen Dominant coalition; 1990/
President Ali Abdullah Saleh 48
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1) GDP (1)
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
ASIA
Afghanistan 47/15 / $800/
46/44 NA
Armenia 99/98 / 3,000/
71/76 0.745
Azerbaijan 99/96 / $3,000/
68/75 0.738
Bahrain 89/79 / $15,900/
70/75 0.824
Bangladesh 63/49 / $1,570/
59/59 0.470
Bhutan 56/28 / $1,100/
66/66 0.477
Brunei 93/83 / $17,600/
71/76 0.857
Cambodia 48/22 / $1,300/
54/58 0.541
China 90/73 / $3,600/
69/73 0.718
Cyprus 98/91 / $16/5.3 (5)
75/79 0.877
Georgia 99/98 / $4,600/
69/77 0.742
India 66/38 / $2,200/
60/61 0.571
Indonesia 90/78 / $2,900/
65/70 0.677
Iran 78/66 / $6,300/
69/71 0.714
Iraq 71/45 / $2,500/
58/60 NA
Israel(6) 97/93 / $18,900/
76/80 0.893
Japan 99/99 / $24,900/
77/84 0.928
Jordan 93/79 / $3,500/
69/71 0.714
Kazakhstan 99/96 / $5,000/
60/71 0.742
Korea, North 99/99 / $1,000/
67/73 NA
Korea, South 99/97 / $16,100/
71/78 0.875
Kuwait 82/75 / 15,000/
72/73 0.818
Kyrgyzstan 99/96 / $2,700/
65/72 0.707
Laos 70/44 / $1,700/
51/54 0.476
Lebanon 91/82 / $5,000/
68/73 0.758
Malaysia 89/78 / $10,300/
70/75 0.774
Maldives 93/93 / $2,000/
60/63 0.739
Mongolia 98/98 / $1,780/
61/65 0.569
Myanmar 89/78 / $1,500/
(Burma) 54/57 0.551
Nepal 41/14 / $1,360/
58/57 0.480
Oman 78/58 / $7,700/
69/73 0.747
Pakistan 55/29 / $2,000/
60/61 0.498
Philippines 95/94 / $3,800/
64/70 0.749
Qatar 79/80 / $20,300/
69/74 0.801
Saudi Arabia 72/50 / $10,500/
66/69 0.754
Singapore 97/90 / $26,500/
76/80 0.876
Sri Lanka 93/87 / $3,250/
70/74 0.735
Syria 85/56 / $3,100/
70/70 0.700
Taiwan 93/79 / $17,400/
72/78 NA
Tajikistan 99/97 / $1,140/
66/71 0.660
Thailand 96/92 / $6,700/
70/75 0.757
Turkey 94/77 / $6,800/
67/71 0.735
Turkmenistan 99/97 / $4,300/
63/70 0.730
United Arab 79/80 / $22,800/
Emirates 71/76 0.809
Uzbekistan 99/99 / $2,400/
68/73 0.698
Vietnam 97/91 / $1,950/
63/69 0.682
Yemen 53/26 / $820/
57/61 0.468
COUNTRY AREA (SQ. MI) (1)/ URBAN
POPULATION (1) POP. (%) (1)/
POP.
ANNUAL
RISE (%) (1)
OCEANIA
Australia 2,988,888/ 85/
19,400,000 0.6
Fiji 7 054/ 46/
800,000 1.9
Kiribati 282/ 37/
100,000 2.4
Marshall 69/ 65/
Islands 100,000 2.2
Micronesia 270/ 27/
100,000 2.5
Nauru 9/ 100/
10,000 1.4
New Zealand 104,462/ 77/
3,900,000 0.8
Palau 178/ 71/
20,000 1.0
Papua New 178,703/ 15/
Guinea 5,000,000 2.3
Samoa (7) 1,097/ 33/
200,000 2.4
Solomon 11,158/ 13/
Islands 500,000 3.4
Tonga 290/ 32/
100,000 2.1
Tuvalu 10/ 18/
10,000 2.1
Vanuatu 4,707/ 21/
200,000 3
COUNTRY CAPITAL MAJOR
LANGUAGES (1)
OCEANIA
Australia Canberra English, Aboriginal
languages
Fiji Suva English, Fijian,
Hindustani
Kiribati Tarawa English,
Gilbertese
Marshall Majuro English,
Islands Marshallese
dialects, Japanese
Micronesia Palikir English, Trukese
Pohnpein, Yapese,
Kosraean
Nauru Yaren Nauruan, English
New Zealand Wellington English, Maori
Palau Koror English,
Sonsorol'ese,
Palauan, others
Papua New Port Moresby English, pidgin
Guinea English, Motu,
many others
Samoa (7) Apia Samoan, English
Solomon Honiara Melanesian pidgin,
Islands English, others
Tonga Nuku'alofa Tongan, English
Tuvalu Funafuti Tuvaluan, English
Vanuatu Port-Vila English, French
Bislama
COUNTRY FORM OF GOVERNMENT DATE OF
AND HEAD (1) ORIGIN/
% POP.
UNDER
15 YEARS (1)
OCEANIA
Australia Parliamentary democracy; 1901/
Prime Minister John Howard 20
Fiji Parliamentary democracy and 1970/
traditional chieftains; 33
Prime Minister Laisenia
Qarase
Kiribati Parliamentary democracy 1979/
President Teburoro Tito 40
Marshall Parliamentary democracy; 1986/
Islands President Kessai H. Note 49
Micronesia Parliamentary democracy; 1986/
President Leo A. Falcam 44
Nauru Parliamentary democracy; 1968/
President Rene Harris 43
New Zealand Parliamentary democracy; 1907/
Prime Minister Helen Clark 23
Palau President-legislative 1994/
democracy; Presiddent 28
Tommy Remengesau
Papua New Parliamentary democracy; 1975/
Guinea Prime minister Sir Mekere 39
Morauta
Samoa (7) Parliamentary democracy and; 1962/
traditional chieftains; 32
Prime Minister Tuilaepa
Sailele Malielegaoi
Solomon Parliamentary democracy; 1978/
Islands Prime Minister Manasseh 43
Sogavare
Tonga Constitutional monarchy; 1970/
King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV 41
Tuvalu Parliamentary democracy; 1978/
Prime Minister Faimalaga Luka 34
Vanuatu Parliamentary democracy; 1980/
Prime Minister Edward Natapei 42
COUNTRY LITERACY PER CAPITA
RATE (%) (1) GDP (1)
LIFE HDI (1)
EXPECTANCY (1)
OCEANIA
Australia 99/99 / 23,200/
76/82 0.936
Fiji 94/89 / $7,300/
65/69 0.757
Kiribati NA / $850/
59/65 NA
Marshall 99/88 / $1,670/
Islands 63/67 NA
Micronesia 91/88 / $2,000/
65/67 NA
Nauru NA / $5,000/
57/65 NA
New Zealand 99/99 / 17,700/
74/80 0.913
Palau 93/90 / $7,100/
64/71 NA
Papua New 81/63 / $2,500/
Guinea 56/55 0.534
Samoa (7) 97/97 / $3,200/
65/72 0.701
Solomon NA / $2,000/
Islands 67/68 NA
Tonga 98/99 / $2,200/
70/72 NA
Tuvalu NA / $1,100/
64/70 NA
Vanuatu 57/48 / $1,300/
64/67 NA
(1) For definitions of these terms, see the explanatory boxes with
pointers to the Russia example above.
(2) Bosnia has a three-member collective presidency (one Croat, one
Muslim, and one Serb). Chairman rotates approximately every 8 months.
(3) Yugoslavia, headed by President Vojislav Kostunica, consists of
the republics of Serbia and Montenegro.
(4) Under caretaker governments; elections scheduled Oct. 1, 2001.
(5) Figures are broken down into Greek and Turkish populations,
respectively; in thousands of dollars.
(6) Israel's area and population do not include the Occupied
Territories of Gaza and the West Bank, which are in tradition to
Palestinian control.
SOURCES: For area, population, urban population, population annual
rise, percent of population under 15 years, and life expectancy: 2001
World Population Data Sheet (Population Reference Bureau) * For
capital, major languages, date of origin, literacy rate, and per
capita GDP: The World factbook 2001 and 2000 editions (CIA) * For form
of government: Based on information from Freedom in the World:
1999-2000, a publication of Freedom House (a nonprofit human-rights
organization), and the U.S. Department of state * For head of
government: Based on information from the GeoCities "Rulers"
Web site (rulers.org), the U.S. Department of State, the CIA Web site
(www.odci.gov/cia/publication/chiefs), and freedom House.
* For HDI: Human Development Report 2001 (United Nation Development
Program).
The information on form and head of government is up-to-date as of
September 14, 2001.
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