Introductory material (continued 67)

Spain large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north

Spratly Islands flat

Sri Lanka mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Sudan generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Suriname mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Svalbard wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts

Swaziland mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Sweden mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Switzerland mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Syria primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west

Taiwan eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Tajikistan Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Tanzania plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Thailand central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Togo gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Tokelau low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Tonga most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Trinidad and Tobago mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Tromelin Island low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic

Tunisia mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Turkey high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Turkmenistan flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

Turks and Caicos Islands low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Tuvalu very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Uganda mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Ukraine most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

United Arab Emirates flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

United Kingdom mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

United States vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges low and nearly level sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains, which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor

Uruguay mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Uzbekistan mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Vanuatu mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Venezuela Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Vietnam low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Virgin Islands mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Wake Island atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Wallis and Futuna volcanic origin; low hills

West Bank mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east

Western Sahara mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

World the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean

Yemen narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Zambia mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Zimbabwe mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman)

Afghanistan 6.69 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Albania 2.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Algeria 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

American Samoa 3.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Andorra 1.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Angola 6.35 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Anguilla 1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Argentina 2.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Armenia 1.33 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Aruba 1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Australia 1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Austria 1.36 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan 2.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The 2.18 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bahrain 2.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bangladesh 3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Barbados 1.65 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Belarus 1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Belgium 1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Belize 3.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Benin 5.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bermuda 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bhutan 4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bolivia 2.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.22 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Botswana 2.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Brazil 1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands 1.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Brunei 2.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Bulgaria 1.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso 6.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Burma 1.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Burundi 6.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cambodia 3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cameroon 4.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Canada 1.61 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cape Verde 3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands 1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Central African Republic 4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Chad 6.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Chile 2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

China 1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Christmas Island NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA

Colombia 2.54 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Comoros 5.03 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.45 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the 6.07 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cook Islands 3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)

Costa Rica 2.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire 4.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Croatia 1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cuba 1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Cyprus 1.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Czech Republic 1.21 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Denmark 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Djibouti 5.31 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Dominica 1.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic 2.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)

East Timor 3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ecuador 2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Egypt 2.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)

El Salvador 3.12 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 4.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Eritrea 5.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Estonia 1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ethiopia 5.22 children born/woman (2006 est.)

European Union 1.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA children born/woman

Faroe Islands 2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Fiji 2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Finland 1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

France 1.84 children born/woman (2006 est.)

French Polynesia 2.01 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Gabon 4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Gambia, The 5.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip 5.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Georgia 1.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Germany 1.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ghana 3.99 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Gibraltar 1.65 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Greece 1.34 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Greenland 2.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Grenada 2.34 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guam 2.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guatemala 3.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guernsey 1.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guinea 5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau 4.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Guyana 2.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Haiti 4.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Honduras 3.59 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hong Kong 0.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hungary 1.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Iceland 1.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)

India 2.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Indonesia 2.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Iran 1.8 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Iraq 4.18 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ireland 1.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Isle of Man 1.65 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Israel 2.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Italy 1.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Jamaica 2.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Japan 1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Jersey 1.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Jordan 2.63 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Kenya 4.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Kiribati 4.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Korea, North 2.1 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Korea, South 1.27 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Kuwait 2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 2.69 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Laos 4.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Latvia 1.27 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Lebanon 1.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Lesotho 3.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Liberia 6.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Libya 3.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Lithuania 1.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Luxembourg 1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Macau 1.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Macedonia 1.57 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Madagascar 5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Malawi 5.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Malaysia 3.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Maldives 4.9 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mali 7.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Malta 1.5 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands 3.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mauritania 5.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mauritius 1.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mayotte 5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mexico 2.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 3.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Moldova 1.85 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Monaco 1.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mongolia 2.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Montserrat 1.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Morocco 2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Mozambique 4.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Namibia 3.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nauru 3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nepal 4.1 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Netherlands 1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 1.99 children born/woman (2006 est.)

New Caledonia 2.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

New Zealand 1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nicaragua 2.75 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Niger 7.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nigeria 5.49 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Niue NA

Norfolk Island NA

Northern Mariana Islands 1.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Norway 1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Oman 5.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Pakistan 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Palau 2.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Panama 2.68 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea 3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Paraguay 3.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Peru 2.51 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Philippines 3.11 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands NA

Poland 1.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Portugal 1.47 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico 1.75 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Qatar 2.81 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Romania 1.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Russia 1.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Rwanda 5.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saint Helena 1.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.31 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia 2.18 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 2.01 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.83 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Samoa 2.94 children born/woman (2006 est.)

San Marino 1.34 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe 5.62 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Senegal 4.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Serbia 1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Seychelles 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone 6.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Singapore 1.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Slovakia 1.33 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Slovenia 1.25 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands 3.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Somalia 6.76 children born/woman (2006 est.)

South Africa 2.2 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Spain 1.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka 1.84 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Sudan 4.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Suriname 2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Svalbard NA

Swaziland 3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Sweden 1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Switzerland 1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Syria 3.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Taiwan 1.57 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Tajikistan 4 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Tanzania 4.97 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Thailand 1.64 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Togo 4.96 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Tokelau NA

Tonga 3 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Tunisia 1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Turkey 1.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan 3.37 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 3.05 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Tuvalu 2.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Uganda 6.71 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Ukraine 1.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates 2.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)

United Kingdom 1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)

United States 2.09 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Uruguay 1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan 2.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Vanuatu 2.7 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Venezuela 2.23 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Vietnam 1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands 2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna NA children born/woman

West Bank 4.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Western Sahara NA children born/woman

World 2.59 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Yemen 6.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Zambia 5.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe 3.13 children born/woman (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@2128 Government type

Afghanistan Islamic republic

Albania emerging democracy

Algeria republic

American Samoa NA

Andorra parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Angola republic; multiparty presidential regime

Anguilla NA

Antarctica Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 28th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2005; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2005, there were 45 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 17 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Antigua and Barbuda constitutional parliamentary democracy

Argentina republic

Armenia republic

Aruba parliamentary democracy

Australia federal parliamentary democracy

Austria federal republic

Azerbaijan republic

Bahamas, The constitutional parliamentary democracy

Bahrain constitutional hereditary monarchy

Bangladesh parliamentary democracy

Barbados parliamentary democracy

Belarus republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Belgium federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Belize parliamentary democracy

Benin republic

Bermuda parliamentary; self-governing territory

Bhutan monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Bolivia republic

Bosnia and Herzegovina emerging federal democratic republic

Botswana parliamentary republic

Brazil federative republic

British Virgin Islands NA

Brunei constitutional sultanate

Bulgaria parliamentary democracy

Burkina Faso parliamentary republic

Burma military junta

Burundi republic

Cambodia multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Cameroon republic; multiparty presidential regime

Canada constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Cape Verde republic

Cayman Islands British crown colony

Central African Republic republic

Chad republic

Chile republic

China Communist state

Christmas Island NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA

Colombia republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Comoros republic

Congo, Democratic Republic of the transitional government

Congo, Republic of the republic

Cook Islands self-governing parliamentary democracy

Costa Rica democratic republic

Cote d'Ivoire republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960 note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing agreement mandated by international mediators

Croatia presidential/parliamentary democracy

Cuba Communist state

Cyprus republic note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey

Czech Republic parliamentary democracy

Denmark constitutional monarchy

Djibouti republic

Dominica parliamentary democracy

Dominican Republic representative democracy

East Timor republic

Ecuador republic

Egypt republic

El Salvador republic

Equatorial Guinea republic

Eritrea transitional government note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections had been scheduled in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)

Estonia parliamentary republic

Ethiopia federal republic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA

Faroe Islands NA

Fiji republic

Finland republic

France republic

French Polynesia NA

Gabon republic; multiparty presidential regime

Gambia, The republic

Georgia republic

Germany federal republic

Ghana constitutional democracy

Gibraltar NA

Greece parliamentary republic

Greenland parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Grenada parliamentary democracy

Guam NA

Guatemala constitutional democratic republic

Guernsey parliamentary democracy

Guinea republic

Guinea-Bissau republic

Guyana republic

Haiti elected government

Holy See (Vatican City) ecclesiastical

Honduras democratic constitutional republic

Hong Kong limited democracy

Hungary parliamentary democracy

Iceland constitutional republic

India federal republic

Indonesia republic

Iran theocratic republic

Iraq parliamentary democracy

Ireland republic, parliamentary democracy

Isle of Man parliamentary democracy

Israel parliamentary democracy

Italy republic

Jamaica constitutional parliamentary democracy

Japan constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Jersey parliamentary democracy

Jordan constitutional monarchy

Kazakhstan republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Kenya republic

Kiribati republic

Korea, North Communist state one-man dictatorship

Korea, South republic

Kuwait constitutional hereditary emirate

Kyrgyzstan republic

Laos Communist state

Latvia parliamentary democracy

Lebanon republic

Lesotho parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Liberia republic

Libya Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in practice, an authoritarian state

Liechtenstein constitutional monarchy

Lithuania parliamentary democracy

Luxembourg constitutional monarchy

Macau limited democracy

Macedonia parliamentary democracy

Madagascar republic

Malawi multiparty democracy

Malaysia constitutional monarchy note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives

Maldives republic

Mali republic

Malta republic

Marshall Islands constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Mauritania republic

Mauritius parliamentary democracy

Mayotte NA

Mexico federal republic

Micronesia, Federated States of constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Moldova republic

Monaco constitutional monarchy

Mongolia mixed parliamentary/presidential

Montenegro republic

Montserrat NA

Morocco constitutional monarchy

Mozambique republic

Namibia republic

Nauru republic

Nepal parliamentary democracy

Netherlands constitutional monarchy

Netherlands Antilles parliamentary

New Caledonia NA

New Zealand parliamentary democracy

Nicaragua republic

Niger republic

Nigeria federal republic

Niue self-governing parliamentary democracy

Norfolk Island NA

Northern Mariana Islands commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Norway constitutional monarchy

Oman monarchy

Pakistan federal republic

Palau constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Panama constitutional democracy

Papua New Guinea constitutional parliamentary democracy

Paraguay constitutional republic

Peru constitutional republic

Philippines republic

Pitcairn Islands NA

Poland republic

Portugal parliamentary democracy

Puerto Rico commonwealth

Qatar traditional emirate

Romania republic

Russia federation

Rwanda republic; presidential, multiparty system

Saint Helena NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis parliamentary democracy

Saint Lucia parliamentary democracy

Saint Pierre and Miquelon NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines parliamentary democracy

Samoa mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

San Marino independent republic

Sao Tome and Principe republic

Saudi Arabia monarchy

Senegal republic

Serbia republic

Seychelles republic

Sierra Leone constitutional democracy

Singapore parliamentary republic

Slovakia parliamentary democracy

Slovenia parliamentary republic

Solomon Islands parliamentary democracy

Somalia no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

South Africa republic

Spain parliamentary monarchy

Sri Lanka republic

Sudan Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in 1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national elections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.

Suriname constitutional democracy

Svalbard NA

Swaziland monarchy

Sweden constitutional monarchy

Switzerland formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic

Syria republic under an authoritarian, military-dominated regime

Taiwan multiparty democracy

Tajikistan republic

Tanzania republic

Thailand constitutional monarchy

Togo republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Tokelau NA

Tonga constitutional monarchy

Trinidad and Tobago parliamentary democracy

Tunisia republic

Turkey republican parliamentary democracy

Turkmenistan republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Turks and Caicos Islands NA

Tuvalu constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy

Uganda republic

Ukraine republic

United Arab Emirates federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

United Kingdom constitutional monarchy

United States Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Uruguay constitutional republic

Uzbekistan republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Vanuatu parliamentary republic

Venezuela federal republic

Vietnam Communist state

Virgin Islands NA

Wallis and Futuna NA

Western Sahara legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991

Yemen republic

Zambia republic

Zimbabwe parliamentary democracy

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@2129 Unemployment rate (%)

Afghanistan 40% (2005 est.)

Albania 14.3% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2005 est.)

Algeria 15.7% (2006 est.)

American Samoa 29.8% (2005)

Andorra 0% (1996 est.)

Angola extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)

Anguilla 8% (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda 11% (2001 est.)

Argentina 10.2% (3rd quarter)

Armenia 7.6% (2004 est.)

Aruba 6.9% (2005 est.)

Australia 4.9% (2006 est.)

Austria 4.9% (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan 1.2% official rate (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The 10.2% (2005 est.)

Bahrain 15% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh 2.5% (includes underemployment) (2006 est.)

Barbados 10.7% (2003 est.)

Belarus 1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers (2005)

Belgium 8.1% (2006 est.)

Belize 12.9% (2003)

Benin NA%

Bermuda 2.1% (2004 est.)

Bhutan

Bolivia 7.8% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)

Botswana 23.8% (2004)

Brazil 9.6% (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands 3.6% (1997)

Brunei 4.8% (2004)

Bulgaria 9.6% (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso NA%

Burma 10.2% (2006 est.)

Burundi NA%

Cambodia 2.5% (2000 est.)

Cameroon 30% (2001 est.)

Canada 6.4% (2006 est.)

Cape Verde 21% (2000 est.)

Cayman Islands 4.4% (2004)

Central African Republic 8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Chad NA%

Chile 8.3% (2006 est.)

China 4.2% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2005; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas

Cocos (Keeling) Islands 60% (2000 est.)

Colombia 11.1% (2006 est.)

Comoros 20% (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the NA%

Congo, Republic of the NA%

Cook Islands 13.1% (2005)

Costa Rica 6.6% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire 13% in urban areas (1998)

Croatia 17.2% official rate; labor force surveys indicate unemployment around 14% (2006 est.)

Cuba 1.9% (2006 est.)

Cyprus Republic of Cyprus: 5.5% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)

Czech Republic 8.4% (2006 est.)

Denmark 4.5% (2006 est.)

Djibouti 50% (2004 est.)

Dominica 23% (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic 16% (2006 est.)

East Timor 50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data do not include underemployed (2001 est.)

Ecuador 10.6% official rate; but underemployment of 47% (2006 est.)

Egypt 10.3% (2006 est.)

El Salvador 6% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 30% (1998 est.)

Eritrea NA%

Estonia 5.8% (2006 est.)

Ethiopia NA%

European Union 8.8% (2005 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) full employment; labor shortage (2001)

Faroe Islands 1% (October 2000)

Fiji 7.6% (1999)

Finland 7% (2006 est.)

France 9.1% (2006 est.)

French Polynesia 11.8%

Gabon 21% (1997 est.)

Gambia, The NA%

Gaza Strip 31% (includes West Bank) (January-September 2005 avg.)

Georgia 12.6% (2004 est.)

Germany 7.1% note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.8% (2006 est.)

Ghana 20% (1997 est.)

Gibraltar 2% (2001 est.)

Greece 9.2% (2006 est.)

Greenland 10% (2000 est.)

Grenada 12.5% (2000)

Guam 11.4% (2002 est.)

Guatemala 7.5% (2003 est.)

Guernsey 0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Guinea NA%

Guinea-Bissau NA%

Guyana 9.1% (understated) (2000)

Haiti widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)

Honduras 27.9% (2006 est.)

Hong Kong 4.9% (2006 est.)

Hungary 7.4% (2006 est.)

Iceland 1.3% (2006 est.)

India 7.8% (2006 est.)

Indonesia 12.5% (2006 est.)

Iran 11.2% (2004 est.)

Iraq 25% to 30% (2005 est.)

Ireland 4.3% (2006 est.)

Isle of Man 0.6% (2004 est.)

Israel 8.5% (2006 est.)

Italy 7% (2006 est.)

Jamaica 11% (2006 est.)

Japan 4.1% (2006 est.)

Jersey 0.9% (2004 est.)

Jordan 15% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan 7.4% (2006 est.)

Kenya 40% (2001 est.)

Kiribati 2% official rate; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Korea, North NA%

Korea, South 3.6% (2006 est.)

Kuwait 2.2% (2004 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 18% (2004 est.)

Laos 2.4% (2005 est.)

Latvia 6.7% (2006 est.)

Lebanon 20% (2006 est.)

Lesotho 45% (2002)

Liberia 85% (2003 est.)

Libya 30% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.3% (September 2002)

Lithuania 4.5% (2006 est.)

Luxembourg 4.1% (2006 est.)

Macau 4.1% (2005)

Macedonia 35% (2006 est.)

Malawi NA%

Malaysia 3.5% (2006 est.)

Maldives NEGL% (2003 est.)

Mali 14.6% (2001 est.)

Malta 7.8% (2005 est.)

Marshall Islands 30.9% (2000 est.)

Mauritania 20% (2004 est.)

Mauritius 9.4% (2006 est.)

Mayotte 32.8% (2003)

Mexico 3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 22% (2000 est.)

Moldova 8%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2002 est.)

Monaco 22% (1999)

Mongolia 6.7% (2003)

Montenegro 27.7% (2005)

Montserrat 6% (1998 est.)

Morocco 7.7% (2006 est.)

Mozambique 21% (1997 est.)

Namibia 5.3% (2006 est.)

Nauru 90% (2004 est.)

Nepal 42% (2004 est.)

Netherlands 5.5% (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 17% (2002 est.)

New Caledonia 17.1% (2004)

New Zealand 8.3% (2006 est.)

Nicaragua 3.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2006 est.)

Niger NA%

Nigeria 5.8% (2006 est.)

Niue 12% (2001)

Norfolk Island 0%

Northern Mariana Islands 3.9% (2001)

Norway 3.5% (2006 est.)

Oman 15% (2004 est.)

Pakistan 6.5% plus substantial underemployment (2006 est.)

Palau 4.2% (2005 est.)

Panama 8.8% (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea 2% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Paraguay 9.4% (2005 est.)

Peru 7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 est.)

Philippines 8.4% (2006 est.)

Poland 14.9% (November 2006 est.)

Portugal 7.5% (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico 12% (2002)

Qatar 3.2% (2006 est.)

Romania 6.1% (2006 est.)

Russia 6.6% plus considerable underemployment (2006 est.)

Rwanda NA%

Saint Helena 14% (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.5% (1997)

Saint Lucia 20% (2003 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 10.3% (1999)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 15% (2001 est.)

Samoa NA%

San Marino 2.6% (2001)

Sao Tome and Principe NA%

Saudi Arabia 13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Senegal 48%; note - urban youth 40% (2001 est.)

Serbia 31.6% note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2005 est.)

Seychelles NA%

Sierra Leone NA%

Singapore 3.1% (2006 est.)

Slovakia 10.2% (2006 est.)

Slovenia 9.6% (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands NA%

Somalia NA%

South Africa 25.5% (2006 est.)

Spain 8.7% (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka 7.6% (2006 est.)

Sudan 18.7% (2002 est.)

Suriname 9.5% (2004)

Swaziland 40% (2005 est.)

Sweden 5.6% (2006 est.)

Switzerland 3.3% (2006 est.)

Syria 8% (2005 est.)

Taiwan 3.9% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan 12% (2004 est.)

Tanzania NA%

Thailand 2.1% (2006 est.)

Togo NA%

Tokelau NA%

Tonga 13% (FY03/04 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 7% (2006 est.)

Tunisia 13.9% (2006 est.)

Turkey 10.2% plus underemployment of 4% (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan 60% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 10% (1997 est.)

Tuvalu NA%

Uganda NA%

Ukraine 2.9% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is around 9-10% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates 2.4% (2001)

United Kingdom 5.4% (2006 est.)

United States 4.6% (2006)

Uruguay 10.5% (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan 0.8% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2006 est.)

Vanuatu 1.7% (1999)

Venezuela 8.9% (October 2006 est.)

Vietnam 2% (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands 6.2% (2004)

Wallis and Futuna 15.2% (2003)

West Bank 20.3% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Western Sahara NA%

World 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment

Yemen 35% (2003 est.)

Zambia 50% (2000 est.)

Zimbabwe 80% (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@2137 Military - note

Akrotiri Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

American Samoa defense is the responsibility of the US

Andorra defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Anguilla defense is the responsibility of the UK

Antarctica the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

Argentina the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing "Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2005)

Aruba defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Ashmore and Cartier Islands defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Baker Island defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Barbados the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005)

Bassas da India defense is the responsibility of France

Bermuda defense is the responsibility of the UK

Bouvet Island defense is the responsibility of Norway

British Indian Ocean Territory defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016

British Virgin Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Cayman Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Christmas Island defense is the responsibility of Australia

Clipperton Island defense is the responsibility of France

Cocos (Keeling) Islands defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a five-person police force

Cook Islands defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Coral Sea Islands defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

Cuba Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Dhekelia includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

Europa Island defense is the responsibility of France

European Union In November 2004, the European Union heads of government signed a "Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" that offers possibilities - with some limits - for increased defense and security cooperation. If ratified, in a process that may take some two years, this treaty will in effect make operational the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) approved in the 2000 Nice Treaty. Despite limits of cooperation for some EU members, development of a European military planning unit is likely to continue. So is creation of a rapid-reaction military force and a humanitarian aid system, which the planning unit will support. France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy continue to press for wider coordination. The five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has already deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2004. Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR, which took over from SFOR in Bosnia in December 2004. Other troop contributions are under national command - commitments to provide 67,100 troops were made at the Helsinki EU session in 2000. Some 56,000 EU troops were actually deployed in 2003. In August 2004, the new European Defense Agency, tasked with promoting cooperative European defense capabilities, began operations. In November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating thirteen 1,500-man "battle groups" by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis. Twenty-two of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops. France, Italy, and the UK are to form the first three battle groups in 2005, with Spain to follow. In May 2005, Norway, Sweden, and Finland agreed to establish one of the battle groups, possibly to include Estonian forces. The remaining groups are to be formed by 2007. (2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) defense is the responsibility of the UK

Faroe Islands defense is the responsibility of Denmark

French Polynesia defense is the responsibility of France

French Southern and Antarctic Lands defense is the responsibility of France

Georgia a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia

Gibraltar defense is the responsibility of the UK; the last British regular infantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Glorioso Islands defense is the responsibility of France

Greenland defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Guam defense is the responsibility of the US

Guernsey defense is the responsibility of the UK

Heard Island and McDonald Islands defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols

Holy See (Vatican City) defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Hong Kong defense is the responsibility of China

Howland Island defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Iceland under a 1951 bilateral agreement, Iceland's defense was provided by a US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered in Keflavik; in October 2006, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn; nonetheless, the US and Iceland signed a Joint Understanding to strengthen their bilateral defense relationship, including regular security consultations, military communications in the event of national emergencies, annual bilateral exercises on Icelandic territory, and future bilateral and NATO support to four Iceland Air Defense System (IADS) radar sites

Iles Eparses defense is the responsibility of France

Isle of Man defense is the responsibility of the UK

Jan Mayen defense is the responsibility of Norway

Jarvis Island defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Jersey defense is the responsibility of the UK

Johnston Atoll defense is the responsibility of the US

Juan de Nova Island defense is the responsibility of France

Kingman Reef defense is the responsibility of the US

Kiribati Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Laos Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005)

Lesotho the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs

Liechtenstein defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Macau defense is the responsiblity of China

Marshall Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Mayotte defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island

Micronesia, Federated States of defense is the responsibility of the US

Midway Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Monaco defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties (2003)

Montenegro Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully professional armed forces

Montserrat defense is the responsibility of the UK

Nauru Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Navassa Island defense is the responsibility of the US

Netherlands Antilles defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

New Caledonia defense is the responsibility of France

Niue defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Norfolk Island defense is the responsibility of Australia

Northern Mariana Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Palau defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2005)

Palmyra Atoll defense is the responsibility of the US

Panama on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"

Paracel Islands occupied by China

Pitcairn Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Puerto Rico defense is the responsibility of the US

Saint Helena defense is the responsibility of the UK

Saint Pierre and Miquelon defense is the responsibility of France

Samoa 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 1962 Treaty of Friendship

San Marino defense is the responsibility of Italy

Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay and conditions have been a problem in the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance as initial steps towards the improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

South Africa with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Spratly Islands Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Svalbard demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920

Tokelau defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Tromelin Island defense is the responsibility of France

Turkey in the early 1990s, the Turkish Land Force was a large but badly equipped infantry force; there were 14 infantry divisions, but only one was mechanized, and out of 16 infantry brigades, only six were mechanized; the overhaul that has taken place since has produced highly mobile forces with greatly enhanced firepower in accordance with NATO's new strategic concept (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges defense is the responsibility of the US

Virgin Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Wake Island 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 the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Wallis and Futuna defense is the responsibility of France

Yemen a Coast Guard was established in 2002

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@2138 Communications - note

Afghanistan in March 2003, 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name; Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2002)

Bouvet Island automatic meteorological station

Coral Sea Islands there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Europa Island 1 meteorological station

Glorioso Islands 1 meteorological station

Iles Eparses Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island: 1 meteorological station on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island is important for forecasting cyclones

Juan de Nova Island 1 meteorological station

Saint Helena South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

Tromelin Island important meteorological station

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@2140 Government - note

French Polynesia under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice, monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after those of the French prime minister

Malawi the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

New Zealand while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless bird, represents New Zealand

Solomon Islands June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the intervention of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003; by 2006, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been scaled back to 259 police officers and 20 military, in addition to civilian technical advisers; in response to rioting that broke out in mid-April 2006, Australia dispatched an addtional 220 troops and 70 police officers to help restore order

Somalia although an interim government was created in 2004, other regional and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia, the semi-autonomous State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia, and traditional clan and faction strongholds

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@2142 Country name

Afghanistan conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan local short form: Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan

Akrotiri conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area conventional short form: Akrotiri

Albania conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Algeria conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria conventional short form: Algeria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah local short form: Al Jaza'ir

American Samoa conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa conventional short form: American Samoa abbreviation: AS

Andorra conventional long form: Principality of Andorra conventional short form: Andorra local long form: Principat d'Andorra local short form: Andorra

Angola conventional long form: Republic of Angola conventional short form: Angola local long form: Republica de Angola local short form: Angola former: People's Republic of Angola

Anguilla conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla

Antarctica conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina conventional long form: Argentine Republic conventional short form: Argentina local long form: Republica Argentina local short form: Argentina

Armenia conventional long form: Republic of Armenia conventional short form: Armenia local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun local short form: Hayastan former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

Aruba conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Australia conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia conventional short form: Australia

Austria conventional long form: Republic of Austria conventional short form: Austria local long form: Republik Oesterreich local short form: Oesterreich

Azerbaijan conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Bahamas, The conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas

Bahrain conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun

Baker Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island

Bangladesh conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh conventional short form: Bangladesh local long form: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh local short form: Banladesh former: East Bengal, East Pakistan

Barbados conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

Bassas da India conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India

Belarus conventional long form: Republic of Belarus conventional short form: Belarus local long form: Respublika Byelarus' local short form: Byelarus' former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Belgium conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium conventional short form: Belgium local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie local short form: Belgique/Belgie

Belize conventional long form: none conventional short form: Belize former: British Honduras

Benin conventional long form: Republic of Benin conventional short form: Benin local long form: Republique du Benin local short form: Benin former: Dahomey

Bermuda conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bermuda former: Somers Islands

Bhutan conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul

Bolivia conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Republica de Bolivia local short form: Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina local long form: none local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana conventional long form: Republic of Botswana conventional short form: Botswana local long form: Republic of Botswana local short form: Botswana former: Bechuanaland

Bouvet Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Brazil conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil conventional short form: Brazil local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil local short form: Brasil

British Indian Ocean Territory conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT

British Virgin Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI

Brunei conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam local short form: Brunei

Bulgaria conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria conventional short form: Bulgaria local long form: Republika Balgariya local short form: Balgariya

Burkina Faso conventional long form: none conventional short form: Burkina Faso local long form: none local short form: Burkina Faso former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Burma conventional long form: Union of Burma conventional short form: Burma local long form: Pyidaungzu Myanma Naingngandaw (translated by the US Government as Union of Myanma and by the Burmese as Union of Myanmar) local short form: Myanma Naingngandaw former: Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Burundi conventional long form: Republic of Burundi conventional short form: Burundi local long form: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi local short form: Burundi former: Urundi

Cambodia conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia conventional short form: Cambodia local long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation) local short form: Kampuchea former: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Cameroon conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon conventional short form: Cameroon local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Canada conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

Cape Verde conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde conventional short form: Cape Verde local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde local short form: Cabo Verde

Cayman Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Central African Republic conventional long form: Central African Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Centrafricaine local short form: none former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire abbreviation: CAR

Chad conventional long form: Republic of Chad conventional short form: Chad local long form: Republique du Tchad/Jumhuriyat Tshad local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Chile conventional long form: Republic of Chile conventional short form: Chile local long form: Republica de Chile local short form: Chile

China conventional long form: People's Republic of China conventional short form: China local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo local short form: Zhongguo abbreviation: PRC

Christmas Island conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island

Clipperton Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion

Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Colombia conventional long form: Republic of Colombia conventional short form: Colombia local long form: Republica de Colombia local short form: Colombia

Comoros conventional long form: Union of the Comoros conventional short form: Comoros local long form: Union des Comores local short form: Comores

Congo, Democratic Republic of the conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: none local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: none former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire abbreviation: DRC

Congo, Republic of the conventional long form: Republic of the Congo conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville) local long form: Republique du Congo local short form: none former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Cook Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cook Islands former: Harvey Islands

Coral Sea Islands conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Costa Rica conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica conventional short form: Costa Rica local long form: Republica de Costa Rica local short form: Costa Rica

Cote d'Ivoire conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast

Croatia conventional long form: Republic of Croatia conventional short form: Croatia local long form: Republika Hrvatska local short form: Hrvatska former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Cuba conventional long form: Republic of Cuba conventional short form: Cuba local long form: Republica de Cuba local short form: Cuba

Cyprus conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti local short form: Kypros/Kibris note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Czech Republic conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Cesko

Denmark conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark

Dhekelia conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area conventional short form: Dhekelia

Djibouti conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Dominica conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica

Dominican Republic conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana

East Timor conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste conventional short form: East Timor local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese] local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese] former: Portuguese Timor

Ecuador conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador

Egypt conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)

El Salvador conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale former: Spanish Guinea

Eritrea conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Estonia conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Ethiopia conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: Ityop'iya former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa abbreviation: FDRE

Europa Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Faroe Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar

Fiji conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti local short form: Fiji/Viti

Finland conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland local short form: Suomi/Finland

France conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique francaise local short form: France

French Polynesia conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise former: French Colony of Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises abbreviation: TAAF

Gabon conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique gabonaise local short form: Gabon

Gambia, The conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia

Gaza Strip conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Georgia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Germany conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Ghana conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast

Gibraltar conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

Glorioso Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Glorioso Islands local long form: none local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Greece conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional short form: Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of Greece

Greenland conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Grenada conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada

Guam conventional long form: Territory of Guam conventional short form: Guam local long form: Guahan local short form: Guahan

Guatemala conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala

Guernsey conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey conventional short form: Guernsey

Guinea conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea

Guinea-Bissau conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea

Guyana conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Haiti conventional long form: Republic of Haiti conventional short form: Haiti local long form: Republique d'Haiti/Repiblik d' Ayiti local short form: Haiti/Ayiti

Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands abbreviation: HIMI

Holy See (Vatican City) conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Honduras conventional long form: Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras

Hong Kong conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Hong Kong local long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqu local short form: Xianggang abbreviation: HK

Howland Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island

Hungary conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag

Iceland conventional long form: Republic of Iceland conventional short form: Iceland local long form: Lydveldid Island local short form: Island

Iles Eparses conventional long form: none conventional short form: Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Bassas da India, Ile Europa, Iles Glorieuses, Ile Juan de Nova, Ile Tromelin

India conventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya local short form: India/Bharat

Indonesia conventional long form: Republic of Indonesia conventional short form: Indonesia local long form: Republik Indonesia local short form: Indonesia former: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies

Iran conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form: Iran local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran local short form: Iran former: Persia

Iraq conventional long form: Republic of Iraq conventional short form: Iraq local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah local short form: Al Iraq

Ireland conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland local long form: none local short form: Eire

Isle of Man conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man

Israel conventional long form: State of Israel conventional short form: Israel local long form: Medinat Yisra'el local short form: Yisra'el

Italy conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy

Jamaica conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

Jan Mayen conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Japan conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon

Jarvis Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island

Jersey conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey

Johnston Atoll conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll

Jordan conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan

Juan de Nova Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Juan de Nova

Kazakhstan conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan conventional short form: Kazakhstan local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy local short form: Qazaqstan former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Kenya conventional long form: Republic of Kenya conventional short form: Kenya local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri y Kenya local short form: Kenya former: British East Africa

Kingman Reef conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef

Kiribati conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati local long form: Republic of Kiribati local short form: Kiribati note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss former: Gilbert Islands

Korea, North conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: Choson abbreviation: DPRK

Korea, South conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: Han'guk abbreviation: ROK

Kuwait conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt

Kyrgyzstan conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: Kyrgyzstan former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Laos conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none

Latvia conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Lebanon conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan former: Greater Lebanon

Lesotho conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho local short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland

Liberia conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia

Libya conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma local short form: none

Liechtenstein conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein

Lithuania conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Luxembourg conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form: Luxembourg local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg

Macau conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region conventional short form: Macau local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese) local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Macedonia conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia conventional short form: Macedonia local long form: Republika Makedonija local short form: Makedonija note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia

Madagascar conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar conventional short form: Madagascar local long form: Republique de Madagascar/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara former: Malagasy Republic

Malawi conventional long form: Republic of Malawi conventional short form: Malawi local long form: Dziko la Malawi local short form: Malawi former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Malaysia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Malaysia local long form: none local short form: Malaysia former: Federation of Malaysia

Maldives conventional long form: Republic of Maldives conventional short form: Maldives local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Mali conventional long form: Republic of Mali conventional short form: Mali local long form: Republique de Mali local short form: Mali former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Malta conventional long form: Republic of Malta conventional short form: Malta local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta local short form: Malta

Marshall Islands conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands conventional short form: Marshall Islands local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands local short form: Marshall Islands abbreviation: RMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District

Mauritania conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania conventional short form: Mauritania local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah local short form: Muritaniyah

Mauritius conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius conventional short form: Mauritius local long form: Republic of Mauritius local short form: Mauritius

Mayotte conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte conventional short form: Mayotte

Mexico conventional long form: United Mexican States conventional short form: Mexico local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos local short form: Mexico

Micronesia, Federated States of conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia conventional short form: none local long form: Federated States of Micronesia local short form: none former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts abbreviation: FSM

Midway Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Midway Islands

Moldova conventional long form: Republic of Moldova conventional short form: Moldova local long form: Republica Moldova local short form: Moldova former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Monaco conventional long form: Principality of Monaco conventional short form: Monaco local long form: Principaute de Monaco local short form: Monaco

Mongolia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Mongolia local long form: none local short form: Mongol Uls former: Outer Mongolia

Montenegro conventional long form: Republic of Montenegro conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: Republika Crna Gora local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro

Montserrat conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

Morocco conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Mozambique conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique conventional short form: Mozambique local long form: Republica de Mocambique local short form: Mocambique former: Portuguese East Africa

Namibia conventional long form: Republic of Namibia conventional short form: Namibia local long form: Republic of Namibia local short form: Namibia former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Nauru conventional long form: Republic of Nauru conventional short form: Nauru local long form: Republic of Nauru local short form: Nauru former: Pleasant Island

Navassa Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island

Nepal conventional long and short form: Nepal local long and short form: Nepal

Netherlands conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands conventional short form: Netherlands local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden local short form: Nederland

Netherlands Antilles conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen former: Curacao and Dependencies

New Caledonia conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

New Zealand conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ

Nicaragua conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua

Niger conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger

Nigeria conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria

Niue conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue former: Savage Island

Norfolk Island conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Northern Mariana Islands conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands abbreviation: CNMI former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands District

Norway conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge

Oman conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman former: Muscat and Oman

Pakistan conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan local short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan

Palau conventional long form: Republic of Palau conventional short form: Palau local long form: Beluu er a Belau local short form: Belau former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Palmyra Atoll conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Panama conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama

Papua New Guinea conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea local short form: Papuaniugini former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea abbreviation: PNG

Paracel Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Paraguay conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay

Peru conventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru

Philippines conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas

Pitcairn Islands conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Poland conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska

Portugal conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal

Puerto Rico conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Qatar conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar

Romania conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local long form: none local short form: Romania

Russia conventional long form: Russian Federation conventional short form: Russia local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya local short form: Rossiya former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Rwanda conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda conventional short form: Rwanda local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda local short form: Rwanda former: Ruanda, German East Africa

Saint Helena conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena

Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Saint Lucia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa conventional short form: Samoa local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa local short form: Samoa former: Western Samoa

San Marino conventional long form: Republic of San Marino conventional short form: San Marino local long form: Repubblica di San Marino local short form: San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Saudi Arabia conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Senegal conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia); Mali Federation

Serbia conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

Seychelles conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles

Sierra Leone conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone local short form: Sierra Leone

Singapore conventional long form: Republic of Singapore conventional short form: Singapore local long form: Republic of Singapore local short form: Singapore

Slovakia conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local long form: Slovenska Republika local short form: Slovensko

Slovenia conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia conventional short form: Slovenia local long form: Republika Slovenija local short form: Slovenija former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Solomon Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands local long form: none local short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands

Somalia conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed local short form: Soomaaliya former: Somali Republic; Somali Democratic Republic

South Africa conventional long form: Republic of South Africa conventional short form: South Africa former: Union of South Africa abbreviation: RSA

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands conventional short form: none abbreviation: SGSSI

Spain conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana

Spratly Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Sri Lanka conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka conventional short form: Sri Lanka local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai former: Serendib, Ceylon

Sudan conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Suriname conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Svalbard conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Swaziland conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland local long form: Umbuso weSwatini local short form: eSwatini

Sweden conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige

Switzerland conventional long form: Swiss Confederation conventional short form: Switzerland local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian)

Syria conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic conventional short form: Syria local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah local short form: Suriyah former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Taiwan conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan former: Formosa

Tajikistan conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan conventional short form: Tajikistan local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston local short form: Tojikiston former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Tanzania conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania conventional short form: Tanzania local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania local short form: Tanzania former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Thailand conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand conventional short form: Thailand local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai local short form: Prathet Thai former: Siam

Togo conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique togolaise local short form: none former: French Togoland

Tokelau conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

Tonga conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga local long form: Pule'anga Tonga local short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands

Trinidad and Tobago conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Tromelin Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin

Tunisia conventional long form: Tunisian Republic conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis

Turkey conventional long form: Republic of Turkey conventional short form: Turkey local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti local short form: Turkiye

Turkmenistan conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turkmenistan local long form: none local short form: Turkmenistan former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Turks and Caicos Islands conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands abbreviation: TCI

Tuvalu conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tuvalu local long form: none local short form: Tuvalu former: Ellice Islands note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Uganda conventional long form: Republic of Uganda conventional short form: Uganda

Ukraine conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukrayina former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

United Arab Emirates conventional long form: United Arab Emirates conventional short form: none local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah local short form: none former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States abbreviation: UAE

United Kingdom conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales conventional short form: United Kingdom abbreviation: UK

United States conventional long form: United States of America conventional short form: United States abbreviation: US or USA

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges conventional long form: none conventional short form: Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Palmyra Atoll

Uruguay conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay conventional short form: Uruguay local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay local short form: Uruguay former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Uzbekistan conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan conventional short form: Uzbekistan local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi local short form: Ozbekiston former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Vanuatu conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu conventional short form: Vanuatu local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu local short form: Vanuatu former: New Hebrides

Venezuela conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela

Vietnam conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV

Virgin Islands conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies abbreviation: USVI

Wake Island conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island

Wallis and Futuna conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna

West Bank conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank

Western Sahara conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara

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 [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

Zambia conventional long form: Republic of Zambia conventional short form: Zambia former: Northern Rhodesia

Zimbabwe conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe conventional short form: Zimbabwe former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

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@2144 Location

Afghanistan Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Akrotiri peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Albania Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Algeria Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

American Samoa Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Andorra Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Angola Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Anguilla Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Antarctica continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Antigua and Barbuda Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Arctic Ocean body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle

Argentina Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Armenia Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Aruba Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Ashmore and Cartier Islands Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

Atlantic Ocean body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere

Australia Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Austria Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Azerbaijan Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Bahamas, The Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Bahrain Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Baker Island Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Bangladesh Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Barbados Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Bassas da India Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Belarus Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Belgium Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Belize Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Benin Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Bermuda North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)

Bhutan Southern Asia, between China and India

Bolivia Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Bosnia and Herzegovina Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Botswana Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Bouvet Island island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Brazil Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

British Indian Ocean Territory archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

British Virgin Islands Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Brunei Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Bulgaria Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Burkina Faso Western Africa, north of Ghana

Burma Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Burundi Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cambodia Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Cameroon Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Canada Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Cape Verde Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Cayman Islands Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman) group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of Jamaica

Central African Republic Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chad Central Africa, south of Libya

Chile Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

China Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Christmas Island Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Clipperton Island Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka

Colombia Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Comoros Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Congo, Republic of the Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Cook Islands Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Coral Sea Islands Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Costa Rica Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Cote d'Ivoire Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Croatia Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Cuba Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Cyprus Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Czech Republic Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Denmark Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

Dhekelia on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Djibouti Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Dominica Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Dominican Republic Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

East Timor Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Ecuador Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Egypt Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

El Salvador Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Equatorial Guinea Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Eritrea Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Estonia Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Ethiopia Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Europa Island Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique

European Union Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Faroe Islands Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Fiji Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Finland Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

France Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

French Polynesia Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about one-half of the way from South America to Australia

French Southern and Antarctic Lands southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Gabon Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Gambia, The Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Gaza Strip Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Georgia Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Germany Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Ghana Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Gibraltar Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Glorioso Islands Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

Greece Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Greenland Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Grenada Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Guam Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Guatemala Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Guernsey Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Guinea Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Guinea-Bissau Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Guyana Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Haiti Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Heard Island and McDonald Islands islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Holy See (Vatican City) Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Honduras Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Hong Kong Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Howland Island Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Hungary Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Iceland Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Iles Eparses Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean Bassas da India: atoll in the southern Mozambique Channel, about half way from Madagascar to Mozambique Europa Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique Glorioso Islands: group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar Juan de Nova Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique Tromelin Island: island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

India Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Indian Ocean body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia

Indonesia Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Iran Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Iraq Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Ireland Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Isle of Man Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

Israel Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Italy Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Jamaica Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Jan Mayen Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Japan Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Jarvis Island Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands

Jersey Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Johnston Atoll Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1328 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Jordan Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Juan de Nova Island Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Kazakhstan Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe

Kenya Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Kingman Reef Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa