$NA (continued 40)

British Indian Ocean Territory flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)

British Virgin Islands coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Brunei flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Bulgaria mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Burkina Faso mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Burma central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Burundi hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Cambodia mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Cameroon diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Canada mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Cape Verde steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Cayman Islands low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Central African Republic vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Chad broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Chile low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east

China mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Christmas Island steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Clipperton Island coral atoll

Cocos (Keeling) Islands flat, low-lying coral atolls

Colombia flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Comoros volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Congo, Democratic Republic of the vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Congo, Republic of the coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Cook Islands low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Coral Sea Islands sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Costa Rica coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Cote d'Ivoire mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Croatia geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Cuba mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Cyprus central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Czech Republic Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Denmark low and flat to gently rolling plains

Djibouti coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Dominica rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Dominican Republic rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Ecuador coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Egypt vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

El Salvador mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Equatorial Guinea coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Eritrea dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Estonia marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Ethiopia high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

European Union fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Faroe Islands rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Fiji mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Finland mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

France metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

French Polynesia mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Ile Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): a volcanic island with steep coastal cliffs; the center floor of the volcano is a large plateau Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): triangular in shape, the island is the top of a volcano, rocky with steep cliffs on the eastern side; has active thermal springs Iles Crozet: a large archipelago formed from the Crozet Plateau is divided into two groups of islands Iles Kerguelen: the interior of the large island of Ile Kerguelen is composed of rugged terrain of high mountains, hills, valleys, and plains with a number of peninsulas stretching off its coasts Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and sandy Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Gabon narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Gambia, The flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Gaza Strip flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Georgia largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Germany lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Ghana mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Gibraltar a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Greece mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Greenland flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Grenada volcanic in origin with central mountains

Guam volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Guatemala mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Guernsey mostly level with low hills in southwest

Guinea generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Guinea-Bissau mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Guyana mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Haiti mostly rough and mountainous

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Holy See (Vatican City) urban; low hill

Honduras mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Hong Kong hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Hungary mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Iceland mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

India upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Indian Ocean surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge

Indonesia mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

Iran rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Iraq mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Ireland mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Isle of Man hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Israel Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Italy mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Jamaica mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Jan Mayen volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Japan mostly rugged and mountainous

Jersey gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Jordan mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

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

Kenya low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Kiribati mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Korea, North mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Korea, South mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Kosovo flat fluvial basin with an elevation of 400-700 m above sea level surrounded by several high mountain ranges with elevations of 2,000 to 2,500 m

Kuwait flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Kyrgyzstan peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Laos mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Latvia low plain

Lebanon narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Lesotho mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Liberia mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Libya mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Liechtenstein mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Lithuania lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Luxembourg mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast

Macau generally flat

Macedonia mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Madagascar narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Malawi narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Malaysia coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Maldives flat, with white sandy beaches

Mali mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Malta mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Marshall Islands low coral limestone and sand islands

Mauritania mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Mauritius small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Mayotte generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

Mexico high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Micronesia, Federated States of islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Moldova rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Monaco hilly, rugged, rocky

Mongolia vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Montenegro highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Montserrat volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Morocco northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Mozambique mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Namibia mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Nauru sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Navassa Island raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)

Nepal Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Netherlands mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Netherlands Antilles generally hilly, volcanic interiors

New Caledonia coastal plains with interior mountains

New Zealand predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Nicaragua extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes

Niger predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north

Nigeria southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Niue steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Norfolk Island volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Northern Mariana Islands southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Norway glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Oman central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Pacific Ocean surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest

Pakistan flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Palau varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Panama interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Papua New Guinea mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Paracel Islands mostly low and flat

Paraguay grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Peru western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Philippines mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Pitcairn Islands rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Poland mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Portugal mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Puerto Rico mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Qatar mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Romania central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Moldavian Plateau on the east by the Eastern Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Russia broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

Rwanda mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Saint Barthelemy hilly, almost completely surrounded by shallow-water reefs, with 20 beaches

Saint Helena the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the coastal cliffs

Saint Kitts and Nevis volcanic with mountainous interiors

Saint Lucia volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Saint Pierre and Miquelon mostly barren rock

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines volcanic, mountainous

Samoa two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

San Marino rugged mountains

Sao Tome and Principe volcanic, mountainous

Saudi Arabia mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Senegal generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Serbia extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills

Seychelles Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Sierra Leone coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Singapore lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Slovakia rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Slovenia a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Solomon Islands mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Somalia mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

South Africa vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Southern Ocean the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 m over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 m (the global mean is 133 m); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million sq km in March to about 18.8 million sq km in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers

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

Timor-Leste mountainous

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

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 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

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Field Listing :: Total fertility rate

This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years. Country Comparison to the World Country

Total fertility rate(children born/woman)

Afghanistan 6.53 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Albania 2.01 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Algeria 1.79 children born/woman (2009 est.)

American Samoa 3.29 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Andorra 1.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Angola 6.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Anguilla 1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda 2.07 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Argentina 2.35 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Armenia 1.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Aruba 1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Australia 1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Austria 1.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Azerbaijan 2.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bahamas, The 2.1 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bahrain 2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bangladesh 2.74 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Barbados 1.68 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Belarus 1.24 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Belgium 1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Belize 3.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Benin 5.49 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bermuda 1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bhutan 2.38 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bolivia 3.17 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.25 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Botswana 2.6 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Brazil 2.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)

British Virgin Islands 1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Brunei 1.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Bulgaria 1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Burkina Faso 6.28 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Burma 1.89 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Burundi 6.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cambodia 3.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cameroon 4.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Canada 1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cape Verde 3.07 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cayman Islands 1.88 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Central African Republic 4.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Chad 5.31 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Chile 1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.)

China 1.79 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Christmas Island NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA

Colombia 2.46 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Comoros 4.84 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.2 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Congo, Republic of the 5.84 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cook Islands 2.49 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Costa Rica 2.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire 4.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Croatia 1.42 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cuba 1.61 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Cyprus 1.77 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Czech Republic 1.24 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Denmark 1.74 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Djibouti 5.06 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Dominica 2.09 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Dominican Republic 2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Ecuador 2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Egypt 2.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)

El Salvador 3 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 5.08 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Eritrea 4.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Estonia 1.42 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Ethiopia 6.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)

European Union 1.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA

Faroe Islands 2.44 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Fiji 2.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Finland 1.73 children born/woman (2009 est.)

France 1.98 children born/woman (2009 est.)

French Polynesia 1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Gabon 4.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Gambia, The 5.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Gaza Strip 5.03 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Georgia 1.44 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Germany 1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Ghana 3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Gibraltar 1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Greece 1.37 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Greenland 2.19 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Grenada 2.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guam 2.54 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guatemala 3.47 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guernsey 1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guinea 5.2 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guinea-Bissau 4.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Guyana 2.03 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Haiti 3.81 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Honduras 3.27 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Hong Kong 1.02 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Hungary 1.35 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Iceland 1.9 children born/woman (2009 est.)

India 2.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Indonesia 2.31 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Iran 1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Iraq 3.86 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Ireland 1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Isle of Man 1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Israel 2.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Italy 1.31 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Jamaica 2.25 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Japan 1.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Jersey 1.57 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Jordan 2.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Kazakhstan 1.88 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Kenya 4.56 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Kiribati 4.04 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Korea, North 1.96 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Korea, South 1.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Kuwait 2.76 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 2.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Laos 4.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Latvia 1.3 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Lebanon 1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Lesotho 3.06 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Liberia 5.79 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Libya 3.08 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.52 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Lithuania 1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Luxembourg 1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Macau 0.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Macedonia 1.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Madagascar 5.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Malawi 5.59 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Malaysia 2.95 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Maldives 1.9 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mali 7.29 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Malta 1.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Marshall Islands 3.59 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mauritania 4.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mauritius 1.81 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mayotte 5.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mexico 2.34 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 2.89 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Moldova 1.27 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Monaco 1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mongolia 2.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Montserrat 1.23 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Morocco 2.51 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Mozambique 5.18 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Namibia 2.69 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Nauru 2.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Nepal 2.64 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Netherlands 1.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 1.97 children born/woman (2009 est.)

New Caledonia 2.18 children born/woman (2009 est.)

New Zealand 2.1 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Nicaragua 2.57 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Niger 7.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Nigeria 4.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Niue NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island NA

Northern Mariana Islands 1.15 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Norway 1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Oman 5.53 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Pakistan 3.6 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Palau 1.82 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Panama 2.53 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Papua New Guinea 3.62 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Paraguay 3.75 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Peru 2.37 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Philippines 3.27 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Pitcairn Islands NA (2008 est.)

Poland 1.28 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Portugal 1.49 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Puerto Rico 1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Qatar 2.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Romania 1.39 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Russia 1.41 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Rwanda 5.25 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saint Helena 1.56 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.26 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saint Lucia 1.84 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1.97 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.98 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Samoa 4.16 children born/woman (2009 est.)

San Marino 1.36 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe 5.33 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Saudi Arabia 3.83 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Senegal 4.95 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Serbia 1.38 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Seychelles 1.93 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Sierra Leone 5.88 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Singapore 1.09 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Slovakia 1.35 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Slovenia 1.28 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Solomon Islands 3.52 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Somalia 6.52 children born/woman (2009 est.)

South Africa 2.38 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Spain 1.31 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Sri Lanka 1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Sudan 4.48 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Suriname 1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Svalbard NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland 3.24 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Sweden 1.67 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Switzerland 1.45 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Syria 3.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Taiwan 1.14 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Tajikistan 2.99 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Tanzania 4.46 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Thailand 1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Timor-Leste 3.28 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Togo 4.79 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Tokelau NA (2008 est.)

Tonga 2.25 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Tunisia 1.72 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Turkey 2.21 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Turkmenistan 2.22 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 2.95 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Tuvalu 2.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Uganda 6.77 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Ukraine 1.26 children born/woman (2009 est.)

United Arab Emirates 2.42 children born/woman (2009 est.)

United Kingdom 1.66 children born/woman (2009 est.)

United States 2.05 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Uruguay 1.92 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Uzbekistan 1.95 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Vanuatu 2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Venezuela 2.48 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Vietnam 1.83 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Virgin Islands 1.85 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Wallis and Futuna 1.87 children born/woman (2009 est.)

West Bank 3.22 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Western Sahara NA 5.61 children born/woman (2009 est.)

World 2.58 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Yemen 6.32 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Zambia 5.15 children born/woman (2009 est.)

Zimbabwe 3.69 children born/woman (2009 est.)

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@2128

Field Listing :: Government type

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority. Authoritarian - a form of government in which state authority is imposed onto many aspects of citizens' lives. Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good. Communist - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society). Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government. Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government. Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution. Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom. Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed. Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them. Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws). Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church. Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority. Federal (Federation) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units. Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives. Islamic republic - a particular form of government adopted by some Muslim states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam. Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people. Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - Communism. Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries. Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority. Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power. Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament. Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function. Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament). Presidential - a system of government where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature (to which it is generally not accountable). Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation. Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite. Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority. Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority. Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population. Country

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 32nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Baltimore, MD, USA in April 2009; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; by May 2009, there were 47 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 19 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), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Monaco (2008), 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 monarchy with a parliamentary system of government and a Commonwealth realm

Argentina republic

Armenia republic

Aruba parliamentary democracy

Australia federal parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Austria federal republic

Azerbaijan republic

Bahamas, The constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Bahrain constitutional monarchy

Bangladesh parliamentary democracy

Barbados parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Belarus republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Belgium federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Belize parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Benin republic

Bermuda parliamentary; self-governing territory

Bhutan constitutional monarchy

Bolivia republic; note - the new constitution defines Bolivia as a "Social Unitarian State"

Bosnia and Herzegovina emerging federal democratic republic

Botswana parliamentary republic

Brazil federal 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 a parliamentary democracy, a federation, and a Commonwealth realm

Cape Verde republic

Cayman Islands parliamentary democracy

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 republic

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 democratic 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 were 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 and a Commonwealth realm

Guam NA

Guatemala constitutional democratic republic

Guernsey parliamentary democracy

Guinea republic

Guinea-Bissau republic

Guyana republic

Haiti republic

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 and a Commonwealth realm

Japan a parliamentary government with a constitutional monarchy

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

Kosovo republic

Kuwait constitutional 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 (commonly referred to as the King) and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers (commonly referred to as sultans) 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)

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 military junta

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 parliamentary

Montenegro republic

Montserrat NA

Morocco constitutional monarchy

Mozambique republic

Namibia republic

Nauru republic

Nepal federal democratic republic

Netherlands constitutional monarchy

Netherlands Antilles parliamentary

New Caledonia NA

New Zealand parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

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 and a Commonwealth realm

Paraguay constitutional republic

Peru constitutional republic

Philippines republic

Pitcairn Islands NA

Poland republic

Portugal republic; parliamentary democracy

Puerto Rico commonwealth

Qatar emirate

Romania republic

Russia federation

Rwanda republic; presidential, multiparty system

Saint Helena NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Saint Lucia parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Saint Pierre and Miquelon NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Samoa parliamentary democracy

San Marino 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 and a Commonwealth realm

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 in 2009

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

Timor-Leste republic

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 a parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

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 and Commonwealth realm

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 when Spain withdrew, 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 on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara or MINURSO

Yemen republic

Zambia republic

Zimbabwe parliamentary democracy

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@2129

Field Listing :: Unemployment rate

This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted. Country Comparison to the World Country

Unemployment rate(%)

Afghanistan 40% (2008 est.) 40% (2005 est.)

Albania 12.5% (2008 est.) 13.2% (2007 est.) note: these are official rates, but actual rates may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming

Algeria 12.8% (2008 est.) 11.8% (2007 est.)

American Samoa 29.8% (2005)

Andorra 0% (2007) 0% (2006)

Angola NA

Anguilla 8% (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda 11% (2001 est.)

Argentina 7.9% (2008 est.) 8.5% (2007 est.)

Armenia 7.1% (2007 est.)

Aruba 6.9% (2005 est.)

Australia 4.2% (2008 est.) 4.4% (2007 est.)

Austria 3.9% (2008 est.) 4.4% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan 0.9% (2008 est.) 1% (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The 7.6% (2006 est.)

Bahrain 15% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh 2.5% (2008 est.) 2.5% (2007 est.)

Barbados 10.7% (2003 est.)

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

Belgium 7% (2008 est.) 7.5% (2007 est.)

Belize 8.1% (2008) 9.4% (2006)

Benin NA%

Bermuda 2.1% (2004 est.)

Bhutan 2.5% (2004)

Bolivia 7.5% (2008 est.) 7.5% (2007 est.) note: data are for urban areas; widespread underemployment

Bosnia and Herzegovina 29% (2007 est.) 45.5% (31 December 2004 est.) note: official rate; gray economy may reduce actual unemployment to 25-30%

Botswana 7.5% (2007 est.)

Brazil 7.9% (2008 est.) 9.3% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands 3.6% (1997)

Brunei 3.7% (2008) 4% (2006)

Bulgaria 6.3% (2008 est.) 7.7% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso 77% (2004)

Burma 5% (2008 est.) 5.2% (2007 est.)

Burundi NA%

Cambodia 3.5% (2007 est.) 2.5% (2000 est.)

Cameroon 30% (2001 est.)

Canada 6.2% (2008 est.) 6% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde 21% (2000 est.)

Cayman Islands 4.4% (2004)

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

Chad NA%

Chile 7.8% (2008 est.) 7% (2007 est.)

China 4% (2008 est.) 4% (2007 est.) note: official data for urban areas only; including migrants may boost total unemployment to 9%; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas

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

Colombia 11.3% (2008 est.) 11.2% (2007 est.)

Comoros 20% (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the NA%

Congo, Republic of the NA%

Cook Islands 13.1% (2005)

Costa Rica 4.9% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire

note: unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the civil war

Croatia 13.7% (2008 est.) 11.8% (2007 est.)

Cuba 1.6% (2008 est.) 1.8% (2007 est.)

Cyprus 3.6% (2008 est.) 3.9% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic 5.4% (2008 est.) 6.6% (2007 est.)

Denmark 1.8% (2008 est.) 2.8% (2007 est.)

Djibouti 59% (2007 est.) note: data are for urban areas, 83% in rural areas

Dominica 23% (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic 14.1% (2008 est.) 15.6% (2007 est.)

Ecuador 7.3% (2008 est.) 8.8% (2007 est.)

Egypt 8.7% (2008 est.) 9.1% (2007 est.)

El Salvador 6.9% (2008 est.) 6.2% (2007 est.) note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment

Equatorial Guinea 30% (1998 est.)

Eritrea NA%

Estonia 5.7% (2008 est.) 4.7% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia NA%

European Union 7.2% (2008 est.) 8.5% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Faroe Islands 1.4% (2007) 2.1% (2006)

Fiji 7.6% (1999)

Finland 6.4% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2007 est.)

France 7.4% (2008 est.) 7.9% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia 11.7% (2005)

Gabon 21% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The NA%

Gaza Strip 41.3% (June 2008) 34.8% (2006)

Georgia 13.6% (2006 est.)

Germany 7.8% (2008 est.) 9% (2007 est.) note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 10.8%

Ghana 11% (2000 est.)

Gibraltar 3% (2005 est.)

Greece 7.7% (2008 est.) 8.3% (2007 est.)

Greenland 9.3% (2005 est.)

Grenada 12.5% (2000)

Guam 11.4% (2002 est.)

Guatemala 3.2% (2005 est.)

Guernsey 0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Guinea NA%

Guinea-Bissau NA%

Guyana 11% (2007)

Haiti NA% note: widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs

Honduras 3.5% (2008 est.) note: high level of underemployment with up to a third of the labor force seeking more work.

Hong Kong 3.5% (2008 est.) 4% (2007 est.)

Hungary 7.8% (2008 est.) 7.3% (2007 est.)

Iceland 1.6% (2008 est.) 1% (2007 est.) note: this figure climbed to 9.4% as of February 2009

India 9.1% (2008 est.) 7.2% (2007 est.)

Indonesia 8.4% (2008 est.) 9.1% (2007 est.)

Iran 12.5% (2008 est.) 12% (2007 est.) note: data are according to the Iranian Government

Iraq 18.2% (2008 est.) 18% (2006 est.) note: official data; unofficial estimates as high as 30%

Ireland 6.3% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man 1.5% (December 2006 est.)

Israel 6.1% (2008 est.) 7.3% (2007 est.)

Italy 6.8% (2008 est.) 6.2% (2007 est.)

Jamaica 11% (2008 est.) 9.9% (2007 est.)

Japan 4% (2008 est.) 3.8% (2007 est.)

Jersey 2.2% (2006 est.)

Jordan 12.6% (2008 est.) 13.5% (2007 est.) note: official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30%

Kazakhstan 6.6% (2008 est.) 7.3% (2007 est.)

Kenya 40% (2008 est.) 40% (2001 est.)

Kiribati 2% (1992 est.)

Korea, North NA%

Korea, South 3.2% (2008 est.) 3.3% (2007 est.)

Kosovo 40% (2007 est.)

Kuwait 2.2% (2004 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 18% (2004 est.)

Laos 2.4% (2005 est.)

Latvia 7.5% (2008 est.) 5.7% (2007 est.)

Lebanon 9.2% (2007 est.)

Lesotho 45% (2002)

Liberia 85% (2003 est.)

Libya 30% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.5% (31 December 2007) 1.3% (September 2002)

Lithuania 5.8% (2008 est.) 3.5% (2007 est.) note: based on survey data, official registered unemployment of 5.7%

Luxembourg 4.4% (2008 est.) 4.4% (2007 est.)

Macau 3% (2008) 3.1% (2006)

Macedonia 33.8% (2008 est.) 34.9% (2007 est.)

Malawi NA%

Malaysia 3.3% (2008 est.) 3.2% (2007 est.)

Maldives 14.4% (2006 est.)

Mali 30% (2004 est.)

Malta 6% (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands 36% (2006 est.) 30.9% (2000 est.)

Mauritania 30% (2008 est.) 20% (2004 est.)

Mauritius 7.2% (2008 est.) 8.8% (2007 est.)

Mayotte 25.4% (2005)

Mexico 4% (2008 est.) 3.7% (2007 est.) note: underemployment is perhaps 25%

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

Moldova 1.5% (2008 est.)

Monaco 0% (2005)

Mongolia 2.8% (2008) 3% (2007)

Montenegro 14.7% (2007 est.)

Montserrat 6% (1998 est.)

Morocco 9.5% (2008 est.) 9.8% (2007 est.)

Mozambique 21% (1997 est.)

Namibia 5% (2008 est.)

Nauru 90% (2004 est.)

Nepal 46% (2008 est.) 42% (2004 est.)

Netherlands 4% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 15.5% (2002 est.)

New Caledonia 17.1% (2004)

New Zealand 4.2% (2008 est.) 3.6% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua 5.6% (2008 est.) 4.9% (2007 est.) note: underemployment was 46.5% in 2008

Niger NA%

Nigeria 4.9% (2007 est.)

Niue 12% (2001)

Northern Mariana Islands 8% (2005 est.) 3.9% (2001)

Norway 2.6% (2008 est.) 2.5% (2007 est.)

Oman 15% (2004 est.)

Pakistan 13.6% (2008 est.) 5.6% (2007 est.) note: substantial underemployment exists

Palau 4.2% (2005 est.)

Panama 5.6% (2008 est.) 6.4% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea 1.9% (2004)

Paraguay 5.4% (2008 est.) 5.6% (2007 est.)

Peru 8.1% (2008 est.) 6.9% (2007 est.) note: data are for metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment

Philippines 7.4% (2008 est.) 7.3% (2007 est.)

Poland 9.8% (2008 est.) 12.8% (2007 est.)

Portugal 7.6% (2008 est.) 8% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico 12% (2002)

Qatar 0.4% (2008 est.) 0.7% (2007 est.)

Romania 4.4% (2008 est.) 4.1% (2007 est.)

Russia 6.4% (2008 est.) 6.2% (2007 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 3.1% (2008)

Sao Tome and Principe NA%

Saudi Arabia 11.8% (2008 est.) 13% (2004 est.) note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)

Senegal 48% (2007 est.)

Serbia 18.8% (2007 est.)

Seychelles 2% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone NA%

Singapore 2.2% (2008 est.) 2.1% (2007 est.)

Slovakia 7.7% (2008 est.) 8.4% (2007 est.)

Slovenia 6.7% (2008 est.) 7.7% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands NA%

Somalia NA%

South Africa 22.9% (2008 est.) 24.3% (2007 est.)

Spain 11.3% (2008 est.) 8.3% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka 5.2% (2008 est.) 6% (2007 est.)

Sudan 18.7% (2002 est.)

Suriname 9.5% (2004)

Swaziland 40% (2006 est.)

Sweden 6.2% (2008 est.) 6.1% (2007 est.)

Switzerland 2.6% (2008 est.) 2.8% (2007 est.)

Syria 8.6% (2008 est.) 9% (2007 est.)

Taiwan 4.1% (2008 est.) 3.9% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan 2.3% (2008 est.) 2.4% (2007 est.) note: official rates; actual unemployment is higher

Tanzania NA%

Thailand 1.4% (2008 est.) 1.4% (2007 est.)

Timor-Leste 20% (2006 est.) note: data are for rural areas, unemployment rises to more than 40% among urban youth

Togo NA%

Tokelau NA%

Tonga 13% (FY03/04 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 4.6% (2008 est.) 4.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia 14.1% (2008 est.) 14.1% (2007 est.)

Turkey 11% (2008 est.) 9.9% (2007 est.) note: underemployment amounted to 4% in 2008

Turkmenistan 60% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 10% (1997 est.)

Tuvalu NA%

Uganda NA%

Ukraine 3% (2008 est.) 2.3% (2007 est.) note: officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers

United Arab Emirates 2.4% (2001)

United Kingdom 5.6% (2008 est.) 5.3% (2007 est.)

United States 5.8% (2008 est.) 4.6% (2007 est.)

Uruguay 7.6% (2008 est.) 9.2% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan 1% (2008 est.) 0.8% (2007 est.) note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed

Vanuatu 1.7% (1999)

Venezuela 7.4% (2008 est.) 8.5% (2007 est.)

Vietnam 4.7% (2008 est.) 4.3% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands 6.2% (2004)

Wallis and Futuna 15.2% (2003)

West Bank 16.3% (2008 est.) 18.6% (2006)

Western Sahara NA%

World 30% (2007 est.) note: 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.)

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@2137

Field Listing :: Military - note

This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere. Country

Military - note

Akrotiri Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces 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 implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2008)

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

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 (2007)

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

Cuba the collapse of the Soviet Union deprived the Cuban Army of its major economic and logistic support and had a significant impact on equipment numbers and serviceability; the army remains well trained and professional in nature; while the lack of replacement parts for its existing equipment and the current severe shortage of fuel have increasingly affected operational capabilities, Cuba remains able to offer considerable resistance to any regional power (2008)

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

European Union the five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumed command of the ISAF in Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; in November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating 13 1,500-man battle groups by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis; 22 of the EU's 27 nations have agreed to supply troops; France, Italy, and the UK formed the first of three battle groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland established the Nordic Battle Group effective 1 January 2008; nine other groups are to be formed; a rapid-reaction naval EU Maritime Task Group was stood up in March 2007 (2007)

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 Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992

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

Iceland Iceland has no standing military force; under a 1951 bilateral agreement - still valid - its defense was provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik; however, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn as of October 2006; although wartime defense of Iceland remains a NATO commitment, in April 2007, Iceland and Norway signed a bilateral agreement providing for Norwegian aerial surveillance and defense of Icelandic airspace (2008)

Isle of Man defense is the responsibility of the UK

Jan Mayen defense is the responsibility of Norway

Jersey defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Laos serving one of the world's least developed countries, the Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) is small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; its mission focus is border and internal security, primarily in countering ethnic Hmong insurgent groups; together with the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the government, the Lao People's Army (LPA) is the third pillar of state machinery, and as such is expected to suppress political and civil unrest and similar national emergencies, but the LPA also has upgraded skills to respond to avian influenza outbreaks; there is no perceived external threat to the state and the LPA maintains strong ties with the neighboring Vietnamese military (2008)

Lesotho Lesotho's declared policy is maintenance of its independent sovereignty and preservation of internal security; in practice, external security is guaranteed by South Africa; restructuring of the Lesotho Defense Force (LDF) and Ministry of Defense and Public Service over the past five years has focused on subordinating the defense apparatus to civilian control and restoring the LDF's cohesion; the restructuring has considerably improved capabilities and professionalism, but the LDF is disproportionately large for a small, poor country; the government has outlined a reduction to a planned 1,500-man strength, but these plans have met with vociferous resistance from the political opposition and from inside the LDF (2008)

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein has no military forces, but is interested in European security policy and is an active member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)

Macau defense is the responsibility of China

Maldives the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), with its small size and with little serviceable equipment, is inadequate to prevent external aggression and is primarily tasked to reinforce the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and ensure security in the exclusive economic zone (2008)

Marshall Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

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

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

Monaco defense is the responsibility of France

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 (2008)

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 Barthelemy defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Helena defense is the responsibility of the UK

Saint Martin defense is the responsibility of France

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, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving 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 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 Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920

Tokelau defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Turkey a "National Security Policy Document" adopted in October 2005 increases the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) role in internal security, augmenting the General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command (Jandarma); the TSK leadership continues to play a key role in politics and considers itself guardian of Turkey's secular state; in April 2007, it warned the ruling party about any pro-Islamic appointments; despite on-going negotiations on EU accession since October 2005, progress has been limited in establishing required civilian supremacy over the military; primary domestic threats are listed as fundamentalism (with the definition in some dispute with the civilian government), separatism (the Kurdish problem), and the extreme left wing; Ankara strongly opposed establishment of an autonomous Kurdish region; an overhaul of the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC) taking place under the "Force 2014" program is to produce 20-30% smaller, more highly trained forces characterized by greater mobility and firepower and capable of joint and combined operations; the TLFC has taken on increasing international peacekeeping responsibilities, and took charge of a NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) command in Afghanistan in April 2007; the Turkish Navy is a regional naval power that wants to develop the capability to project power beyond Turkey's coastal waters; the Navy is heavily involved in NATO, multinational, and UN operations; its roles include control of territorial waters and security for sea lines of communications; the Turkish Air Force adopted an "Aerospace and Missile Defense Concept" in 2002 and has initiated project work on an integrated missile defense system; Air Force priorities include attaining a modern deployable, survivable, and sustainable force structure, and establishing a sustainable command and control system (2008)

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

Field Listing :: Communications - note

This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere. Country

Communications - note

Afghanistan Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul (2005)

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

French Southern and Antarctic Lands one or more meteorological stations on each possession; note - meteorological station on Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) is important for forecasting cyclones

Saint Helena South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

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@2140

Field Listing :: Government - note

This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere. Country

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 no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

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

Solomon Islands by the end of 2007, the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) - originally made up of police and troops from Australia, NZ, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga - had been scaled back to 303 police officers, 197 civilian technical advisers, and 72 military advisers from 15 countries across the region

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

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@2141

Field Listing :: Group

Country

Group

Afghanistan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Akrotiri All, Europe, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Albania All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Algeria All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

American Samoa All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Andorra All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Angola All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Anguilla All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Antarctica All, APLAA, South America/Global, Antarctica

Antigua and Barbuda All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Arctic Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Argentina All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Armenia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Aruba All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Ashmore and Cartier Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Atlantic Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Australia All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Austria All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Azerbaijan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Bahamas, The All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Bahrain All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Bangladesh All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Barbados All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Belarus All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Europe

Belgium All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Belize All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Benin All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Bermuda All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, North America

Bhutan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Bolivia All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Bosnia and Herzegovina All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Botswana All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Bouvet Island All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Antarctica

Brazil All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

British Indian Ocean Territory All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia

British Virgin Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Brunei All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Bulgaria All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Burkina Faso All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Burma All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Burundi All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Cambodia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Cameroon All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Canada All, APLAA, Eurasia/North America, North America

Cape Verde All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Cayman Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Central African Republic All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Chad All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Chile All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

China All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Christmas Island All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Clipperton Island All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Cocos (Keeling) Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Colombia All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Comoros All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Congo, Democratic Republic of the All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Congo, Republic of the All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Cook Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Coral Sea Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Costa Rica All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Cote d'Ivoire All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Croatia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Cuba All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Cyprus All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Czech Republic All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Denmark All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Dhekelia All, Europe, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Djibouti All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Dominica All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Dominican Republic All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Ecuador All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Egypt All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

El Salvador All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Equatorial Guinea All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Eritrea All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Estonia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Ethiopia All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

European Union All, Europe, Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Faroe Islands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Fiji All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Finland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

France All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

French Polynesia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Australia - Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Antarctica

Gabon All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Gambia, The All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Gaza Strip All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Georgia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Middle East

Germany All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Ghana All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Gibraltar All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Greece All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Greenland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Grenada All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Guam All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Guatemala All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Guernsey All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Guinea All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Guinea-Bissau All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Guyana All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Haiti All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Heard Island and McDonald Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Antarctica

Holy See (Vatican City) All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Honduras All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Hong Kong All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Hungary All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Iceland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

India All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Indian Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Indonesia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Iran All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Iraq All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Ireland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Isle of Man All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Israel All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Italy All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Jamaica All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Jan Mayen All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Japan All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Jersey All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Jordan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Kazakhstan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Kenya All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Kiribati All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Korea, North All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Korea, South All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Kosovo All, Europe

Kuwait All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Kyrgyzstan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Laos All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Latvia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Lebanon All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Lesotho All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Liberia All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Libya All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

Liechtenstein All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Lithuania All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Luxembourg All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Macau All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Macedonia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Madagascar All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malawi All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malaysia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Maldives All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Mali All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Malta All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Marshall Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Mauritania All, NESA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Mauritius All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Mayotte All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Africa

Mexico All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, North America

Micronesia, Federated States of All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Moldova All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Europe

Monaco All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Mongolia All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Montenegro All, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Montserrat All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Morocco All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

Mozambique All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Namibia All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Nauru All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Navassa Island All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Nepal All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Netherlands All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Netherlands Antilles All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

New Caledonia All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Australia - Oceania

New Zealand All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Nicaragua All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Niger All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Nigeria All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Niue All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Norfolk Island All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Northern Mariana Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Norway All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Oman All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Pacific Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Pakistan All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Palau All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Panama All, APLAA, South America/Meso America, Central America

Papua New Guinea All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Paracel Islands All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Paraguay All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Peru All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Philippines All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Pitcairn Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Poland All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Portugal All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Puerto Rico All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Qatar All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Romania All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Russia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Rwanda All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saint Barthelemy All, Central America

Saint Helena All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Saint Lucia All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Saint Martin All, Central America

Saint Pierre and Miquelon All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, North America

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Samoa All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

San Marino All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Sao Tome and Principe All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Saudi Arabia All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Senegal All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Serbia All, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Seychelles All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Sierra Leone All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Singapore All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Slovakia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Slovenia All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, European Union, Europe

Solomon Islands All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Somalia All, APLAA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

South Africa All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands All, APLAA, South America/Global

Southern Ocean All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Spain All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Spratly Islands All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Sri Lanka All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, South Asia

Sudan All, NESA, Sahel Region Africa, Africa

Suriname All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Svalbard All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Swaziland All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Sweden All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

Switzerland All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Europe

Syria All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Taiwan All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Tajikistan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Tanzania All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Thailand All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Timor-Leste All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Togo All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Tokelau All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Tonga All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Trinidad and Tobago All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Tunisia All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

Turkey All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Middle East

Turkmenistan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Turks and Caicos Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Tuvalu All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Uganda All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Ukraine All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Europe

United Arab Emirates All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

United Kingdom All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, European Union, Europe

United States All, APLAA, Eurasia/North America, North America

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges All, Australia - Oceania

Uruguay All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Uzbekistan All, OREA, Russia/Eurasia, Central Asia

Vanuatu All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Venezuela All, APLAA, South America/Global, South America

Vietnam All, APLAA, East Asia/Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia

Virgin Islands All, APLAA, North America/Caribbean, Central America

Wake Island All, APLAA, Caribbean/Oceania, Australia - Oceania

Wallis and Futuna All, OREA, Europe/French Dependencies, Australia - Oceania

West Bank All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Western Sahara All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Africa

World All, APLAA, South America/Global, Oceans

Yemen All, NESA, Near East/South Asia, Middle East

Zambia All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

Zimbabwe All, APLAA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa

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@2142

Field Listing :: Country name

This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note. Country

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

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

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: Plurinational State of Bolivia conventional short form: Bolivia local long form: Estado Plurinacional 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: 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: 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: Udzima wa Komori (Comorian); Union des Comores (French); Jumhuriyat al Qamar al Muttahidah (Arabic) local short form: Komori (Comorian); Comores (French); Juzur al Qamar (Arabic)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo conventional short form: DRC local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo local short form: RDC 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 note: pronounced coat-div-whar 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