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20220901 | field-inflation-rate-consumer-prices | This entry provides the annual inflation rate, as calculated by the percent change in current consumer prices from the previous year's consumer prices.
Topic: Afghanistan5% (2017 est.)
4.4% (2016 est.)
Topic: Albania1.4% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Algeria1.9% (2019 est.)
4.2% (2018 est.)
5.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: American Samoa-0.5% (2015 est.)
1.4% (2014 est.)
Topic: Andorra-0.9% (2015 est.)
-0.1% (2014 est.)
Topic: Angola17.2% (2019 est.)
20.3% (2018 est.)
32.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Anguilla1.3% (2017 est.)
-0.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda2.5% (2017 est.)
-0.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Argentina25.7% (2017 est.)
26.5% (2016 est.)
note: data are derived from private estimates
Topic: Armenia1.4% (2019 est.)
2.5% (2018 est.)
0.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Aruba-0.5% (2017 est.)
-0.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Australia1.6% (2019 est.)
1.9% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Austria1.5% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijan2.6% (2019 est.)
2.3% (2018 est.)
12.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, The1.4% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Bahrain1.4% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Bangladesh5.5% (2019 est.)
5.5% (2018 est.)
5.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Barbados4.4% (2017 est.)
1.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Belarus5.6% (2019 est.)
4.8% (2018 est.)
6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Belgium1.4% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
2.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Belize1.1% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Benin-0.8% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
0% (2017 est.)
Topic: Bermuda1.9% (2017 est.)
1.4% (2016 est.)
Topic: Bhutan5.8% (2017 est.)
7.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Bolivia1.8% (2019 est.)
2.2% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1.2% (2017 est.)
-1.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Botswana2.7% (2019 est.)
3.2% (2018 est.)
3.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Brazil3.7% (2019 est.)
3.6% (2018 est.)
3.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: British Virgin Islands1.1% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Brunei-0.2% (2017 est.)
-0.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Bulgaria3.1% (2019 est.)
2.8% (2018 est.)
2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Burkina Faso-3.2% (2019 est.)
1.9% (2018 est.)
1.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Burma8.8% (2019 est.)
6.8% (2018 est.)
4.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Burundi-0.6% (2019 est.)
-2.5% (2018 est.)
15.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cabo Verde1.1% (2019 est.)
1.2% (2018 est.)
0.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cambodia2.9% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Cameroon2.4% (2019 est.)
1% (2018 est.)
0.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Canada1.9% (2019 est.)
2.2% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cayman Islands2% (2017 est.)
-0.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Central African Republic2.7% (2019 est.)
1.6% (2018 est.)
4.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Chad-0.9% (2019 est.)
4.2% (2018 est.)
-1.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Chile2.2% (2019 est.)
2.7% (2018 est.)
2.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: China2.8% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Colombia3.5% (2019 est.)
3.2% (2018 est.)
4.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Comoros1% (2017 est.)
1.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the41.5% (2017 est.)
18.2% (2016 est.)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the2.2% (2019 est.)
1.1% (2018 est.)
0.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cook Islands2.2% (2011 est.)
Topic: Costa Rica2% (2019 est.)
2.2% (2018 est.)
1.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire-1.1% (2019 est.)
0.3% (2018 est.)
0.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Croatia0.7% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
1.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Cuba5.5% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Curacao2.6% (2013 est.)
2.8% (2012 est.)
Topic: Cyprus0.2% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
0.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Czechia2.8% (2019 est.)
2.1% (2018 est.)
2.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Denmark0.7% (2019 est.)
0.8% (2018 est.)
1.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Djibouti0.7% (2017 est.)
2.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Dominica0.6% (2017 est.)
0% (2016 est.)
Topic: Dominican Republic1.8% (2019 est.)
3.5% (2018 est.)
3.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Ecuador0.2% (2019 est.)
-0.2% (2018 est.)
0.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Egypt9.3% (2019 est.)
14.4% (2018 est.)
29.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: El Salvador0% (2019 est.)
1% (2018 est.)
1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea1.2% (2019 est.)
1.3% (2018 est.)
0.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Eritrea9% (2017 est.)
9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Estonia2.2% (2019 est.)
3.4% (2018 est.)
3.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Eswatini6.2% (2017 est.)
7.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Ethiopia15.7% (2019 est.)
13.9% (2018 est.)
10.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: European Union1.1% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)1.4% (2014 est.)
Topic: Faroe Islands-0.3% (2016)
-1.7% (2015)
Topic: Fiji3.4% (2017 est.)
3.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Finland1% (2019 est.)
1% (2018 est.)
0.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: France1.1% (2019 est.)
1.8% (2018 est.)
1% (2017 est.)
Topic: French Polynesia0% (2015 est.)
0.3% (2014 est.)
Topic: Gabon2.4% (2019 est.)
4.7% (2018 est.)
2.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Gambia, The7.1% (2019 est.)
6.5% (2018 est.)
8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Gaza Strip0.2% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)
note: excludes the West Bank
Topic: Georgia4.8% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2018 est.)
6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Germany1.4% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Ghana8.4% (2019 est.)
9.8% (2018 est.)
12.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Gibraltar2.5% (2013 est.)
2.2% (2012 est.)
Topic: Greece0.2% (2019 est.)
0.6% (2018 est.)
1.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Greenland0.3% (January 2017 est.)
1.2% (January 2016 est.)
Topic: Grenada0.9% (2017 est.)
1.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Guam1% (2017 est.)
0% (2016 est.)
Topic: Guatemala3.7% (2019 est.)
3.7% (2018 est.)
4.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Guernsey3.4% (June 2006 est.)
Topic: Guinea9.4% (2019 est.)
9.8% (2018 est.)
8.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau0.2% (2019 est.)
0.3% (2018 est.)
1.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Guyana2% (2017 est.)
0.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Haiti14.7% (2017 est.)
13.4% (2016 est.)
Topic: Honduras4.3% (2019 est.)
4.3% (2018 est.)
3.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Hong Kong2.8% (2019 est.)
2.4% (2018 est.)
1.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Hungary3.3% (2019 est.)
2.8% (2018 est.)
2.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Iceland3% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2018 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: India3.7% (2019 est.)
3.9% (2018 est.)
3.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Indonesia2.8% (2019 est.)
3.2% (2018 est.)
3.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Iran10% (2017 est.)
9.6% (2017 est.)
9.1% (2016 est.)
note: official Iranian estimate
Topic: Iraq-0.1% (2019 est.)
0.3% (2018 est.)
0.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Ireland0.9% (2019 est.)
0.4% (2018 est.)
0.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Isle of Man4.1% (2017 est.)
1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Israel1.8% (2020 est.)
0.8% (2019 est.)
0.8% (2018 est.)
Topic: Italy0.6% (2019 est.)
1.1% (2018 est.)
1.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Jamaica3.9% (2019 est.)
3.7% (2018 est.)
4.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Japan0.4% (2019 est.)
0.9% (2018 est.)
0.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Jersey3.7% (2006)
Topic: Jordan0.3% (2019 est.)
4.4% (2018 est.)
3.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Kazakhstan5.2% (2019 est.)
6% (2018 est.)
7.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Kenya5.1% (2019 est.)
4.6% (2018 est.)
8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Kiribati0.4% (2017 est.)
1.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Korea, NorthNANA
Topic: Korea, South0.3% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Kosovo2.6% (2019 est.)
1% (2018 est.)
1.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Kuwait1.5% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan1.1% (2019 est.)
1.5% (2018 est.)
3.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Laos0.8% (2017 est.)
1.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Latvia2.8% (2019 est.)
2.5% (2018 est.)
2.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Lebanon2.8% (2019 est.)
6% (2018 est.)
4.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Lesotho5.3% (2019 est.)
3.8% (2018 est.)
5.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Liberia12.4% (2017 est.)
8.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Libya28.5% (2017 est.)
25.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Liechtenstein-0.4% (2016 est.)
-0.2% (2013)
Topic: Lithuania2.3% (2019 est.)
2.7% (2018 est.)
3.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Luxembourg1.7% (2019 est.)
1.5% (2018 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Macau2.7% (2019 est.)
3% (2018 est.)
1.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Madagascar5.6% (2019 est.)
8.6% (2018 est.)
8.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Malawi9.3% (2019 est.)
12.4% (2018 est.)
11.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Malaysia0.6% (2019 est.)
0.9% (2018 est.)
3.8% (2017 est.)
note: approximately 30% of goods are price-controlled
Topic: Maldives2.3% (2017 est.)
0.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Mali1.9% (2018 est.)
1.8% (2017 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Malta1.6% (2019 est.)
1.1% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Marshall Islands0% (2017 est.)
-1.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Mauritania2.2% (2019 est.)
3.1% (2018 est.)
2.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritius0.4% (2019 est.)
3.2% (2018 est.)
3.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Mexico3.6% (2019 est.)
4.9% (2018 est.)
6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of0.5% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Moldova4.8% (2019 est.)
3% (2018 est.)
6.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Monaco1.5% (2010)
Topic: Mongolia4.6% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Montenegro0.3% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2018 est.)
2.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Montserrat1.2% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)
Topic: Morocco0.2% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
0.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Mozambique2.7% (2019 est.)
3.9% (2018 est.)
15.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Namibia3.7% (2019 est.)
4.2% (2018 est.)
6.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Nauru5.1% (2017 est.)
8.2% (2016 est.)
Topic: Nepal4.5% (2017 est.)
9.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Netherlands2.6% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: New Caledonia1.4% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: New Zealand1.6% (2019 est.)
1.5% (2018 est.)
1.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Nicaragua5.3% (2019 est.)
4.9% (2018 est.)
3.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Niger-2.5% (2019 est.)
6.3% (2018 est.)
2.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Nigeria11.3% (2019 est.)
12.1% (2018 est.)
16.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Niue4% (2005)
Topic: North Macedonia0.7% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands0.3% (2016 est.)
0.1% (2015 est.)
Topic: Norway2.1% (2019 est.)
2.7% (2018 est.)
1.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Oman0.1% (2019 est.)
0.7% (2018 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Pakistan9.3% (2019 est.)
5.2% (2018 est.)
4.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Palau0.9% (2017 est.)
-1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Panama0.9% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guinea5.4% (2017 est.)
6.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Paraguay3.6% (2017 est.)
4.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Peru2.1% (2019 est.)
1.3% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
note: data are for metropolitan Lima, annual average
Topic: Philippines2.4% (2019 est.)
5.2% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Poland2.1% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Portugal0.3% (2019 est.)
0.9% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Puerto Rico1.8% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Qatar-0.6% (2019 est.)
0.2% (2018 est.)
0.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Romania3.8% (2019 est.)
4.6% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Russia4.4% (2019 est.)
2.8% (2018 est.)
3.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Rwanda3.3% (2019 est.)
-0.3% (2018 est.)
8.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha4% (2012 est.)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis0% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Saint Lucia0.1% (2017 est.)
-3.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon1.5% (2015)
4.5% (2010)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines2.2% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)
Topic: Samoa1.3% (2017 est.)
0.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: San Marino1% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe7.8% (2018 est.)
5.6% (2017 est.)
5.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Saudi Arabia-2% (2019 est.)
-4.5% (2018 est.)
-0.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Senegal-0.8% (2019 est.)
0.4% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Serbia-0.1% (2019 est.)
-1.1% (2018 est.)
2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Seychelles1.8% (2019 est.)
3.7% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Sierra Leone14.8% (2019 est.)
16% (2018 est.)
18.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Singapore0.5% (2019 est.)
0.4% (2018 est.)
0.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Sint Maarten4% (2012 est.)
0.7% (2009 est.)
Topic: Slovakia2.6% (2019 est.)
2.5% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Slovenia1.6% (2019 est.)
1.7% (2018 est.)
1.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Solomon Islands0.5% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Somalia1.5% (2017 est.)
-71.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: South Africa4.1% (2019 est.)
4.6% (2018 est.)
5.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: South Sudan187.9% (2017 est.)
379.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Spain0.7% (2019 est.)
1.6% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Sri Lanka4.3% (2019 est.)
4.2% (2018 est.)
6.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Sudan50.2% (2019 est.)
62.8% (2018 est.)
32.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Suriname22% (2017 est.)
55.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Sweden1.7% (2019 est.)
1.9% (2018 est.)
1.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Switzerland0.3% (2019 est.)
0.9% (2018 est.)
0.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Syria28.1% (2017 est.)
47.3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Taiwan0.5% (2019 est.)
1.3% (2018 est.)
0.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Tajikistan7.7% (2019 est.)
3.9% (2018 est.)
7.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Tanzania3.4% (2019 est.)
3.5% (2018 est.)
5.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Thailand0.7% (2019 est.)
1% (2018 est.)
0.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Timor-Leste0.6% (2017 est.)
-1.3% (2016 est.)
Topic: Togo0.6% (2019 est.)
0.9% (2018 est.)
-0.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: Tokelau4% (2020 est.)
2.5% (2019 est.)
11% (2017 est.)
note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely due to cigarette prices, a chief import.
Topic: Tonga7.4% (2017 est.)
2.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1.9% (2017 est.)
3.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Tunisia6.7% (2019 est.)
7.2% (2018 est.)
5.3% (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)15.4% (2019 est.)
16.2% (2018 est.)
11.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkmenistan8% (2017 est.)
3.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands4% (2017 est.)
0.7% (2016 est.)
Topic: Tuvalu4.1% (2017 est.)
3.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Uganda2.8% (2019 est.)
2.6% (2018 est.)
5.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Ukraine7.9% (2019 est.)
11% (2018 est.)
14.4% (2017 est.)
note: Excluding the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and part of the anti-terrorist operation zone
Topic: United Arab Emirates-1.9% (2019 est.)
3% (2018 est.)
1.9% (2017 est.)
Topic: United Kingdom1.7% (2019 est.)
2.4% (2018 est.)
2.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: United States1.8% (2019 est.)
2.4% (2018 est.)
2.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Uruguay7.8% (2019 est.)
7.5% (2018 est.)
6.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistan12.5% (2017 est.)
8% (2016 est.)
note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 22% in 2012
Topic: Vanuatu3.1% (2017 est.)
0.8% (2016 est.)
Topic: Venezuela146,101.7% (2019 est.)
45,518.1% (2018 est.)
416.8% (2017 est.)
Topic: Vietnam2.7% (2019 est.)
3.5% (2018 est.)
3.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Virgin Islands1% (2016 est.)
2.6% (2015 est.)
Topic: Wallis and Futuna0.9% (2015)
2.8% (2005)
Topic: West Bank0.2% (2017 est.)
-0.2% (2016 est.)
note: excludes Gaza Strip
Topic: World6.4% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
developed countries: 1.9% (2017 est.) 0.9% (2016 est.)
developing countries: 8.8% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.)
note: the above estimates are weighted averages; inflation in developed countries is 0% to 4% typically, in developing countries, 4% to 10% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases; inflation rates have declined for most countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing international competition from several low wage countries and by soft demand due to the world financial crisis
Topic: Yemen24.7% (2017 est.)
-12.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Zambia9.1% (2019 est.)
7.4% (2018 est.)
6.5% (2017 est.)
Topic: Zimbabwe241.7% (2019 est.)
10.6% (2018 est.)
0.9% (2017 est.) |
20220901 | countries-iran-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: None; the US Interests Section is located in the Embassy of Switzerland; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444; EMER: (202) 485-7600; Embassy of Switzerland, US Foreign Interests Section No. 39, Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th), Pasdaran Ave., Tehran, Iran
Telephone Code: 98
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 115; Fire: 123; Police: 110
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Currency (Code): Iranian rials (IRR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F
Major Languages: Persian Farsi, Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Major Religions: Muslim 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%
Time Difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins fourth Wednesday in March, ends fourth Friday in September
Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Persepolis; Chogha Zanbil; Anzali Lagoon; Chalus Road; Naqsh-e Jahan Square; Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System; Naqsh-e Rostam
Major Sports: Varzesh-e-Bastani (martial art), wrestling, polo
Cultural Practices: In Iran, it is customary to decline food or other offerings even when you want them. The provider will most often insist, whereupon one should humbly accept.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not common. Offer the bellhop a little something for carrying bags to your room.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-greenland |
Topic: Photos of Greenland
Topic: Introduction
Background: Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 80% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland became an integral part of the Danish Realm in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland remains a member of the Overseas Countries and Territories Association of the EU. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater responsibility for internal affairs when the Act on Greenland Self-Government was signed into law in June 2009. Denmark, however, continues to exercise control over several policy areas on behalf of Greenland, including foreign affairs, security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Self-Rule Government.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates: 72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (approximately 1,710,000 sq km ice-covered)
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 44,087 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain: flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation: highest point: Gunnbjorn Fjeld 3,694 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,792 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use: agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 99.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Geography - note: dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice sheet after that of Antarctica covering an area of 1.71 million sq km (660,000 sq mi) or about 79% of the island, and containing 2.85 million cu km (684 thousand cu mi) of ice (this is almost 7% of all of the world's fresh water); if all this ice were converted to liquid water, one estimate is that it would be sufficient to raise the height of the world's oceans by 7.2 m (24 ft)
Map description: Greenland map showing the massive island that makes up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.Greenland map showing the massive island that makes up this part of Denmark in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 57,792 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups: Greenlandic 89.1%, Danish 7.5%, other Nordic peoples 0.9%, and other 2.5% (2022 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages: Greenlandic (West Greenlandic or Kalaallisut is the official language), Danish, English
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.82% (male 6,079/female 5,916)
15-24 years: 14.45% (male 4,186/female 4,137)
25-54 years: 39.72% (male 11,962/female 10,921)
55-64 years: 14.66% (male 4,561/female 3,886)
65 years and over: 10.36% (2020 est.) (male 3,170/female 2,798)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 34.3 years
male: 35.1 years
female: 33.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.02% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 13.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: settlement concentrated on the southwest shoreline, with limited settlements scattered along the remaining coast; interior is uninhabited
Urbanization: urban population: 87.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 18,000 NUUK (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.98 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.82 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: 1.87 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Hospital bed density: 14 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 10.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: especially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.51 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Land use: agricultural land: 0.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 99.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 87.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,000 tons (2010 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
etymology: named by Norwegian adventurer Erik THORVALDSSON (Erik the Red) in A.D. 985 in order to entice settlers to the island
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament of Greenland or Inatsisartut)
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979
Capital: name: Nuuk (Godthaab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 45 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
time zone note: Greenland has four time zones
etymology: "nuuk" is the Inuit word for "cape" and refers to the city's position at the end of the Nuup Kangerlua fjord
Administrative divisions: 5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
Independence: none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)
National holiday: National Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Constitution: history: previous 1953 (Greenland established as a constituency in the Danish constitution), 1979 (Greenland Home Rule Act); latest 21 June 2009 (Greenland Self-Government Act)
Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable and Greenlandic law applies to other areas
Citizenship: see Denmark
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Mikaela ENGELL (since April 2011)
head of government: Premier Mute B. EGEDE (since 23 April 2021)
cabinet: Self-rule Government (Naalakkersuisut) elected by the Parliament (Inatsisartut) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; premier indirectly elected by Parliament for a 4-year term
election results: Kim KIELSEN elected premier; Parliament vote - Kim KIELSEN (S) 27.2%, Sara OLSVIG (IA) 25.5%, Randi Vestergaard EVALDSEN (D) 19.5%, other 27.8%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Inatsisartut (31 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote - using the d'Hondt method - to serve 4-year terms)
Greenland elects 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
elections: Greenland Parliament - last held on 6 April 2021 (next to be held in 2025)
Greenland members to Danish Parliament - last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held by 4 June 2023)
election results: Greenland Parliament - percent of vote by party - IA 38.7%, S 32.2%, N 12.9%, D 9.7%, A 6.5%; seats by party - IA 12, S 10, N 4, D 3, A 2; composition - men 21, women 10, percent of women 32.2%
Greenland members in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - IA 1, S 1; composition - 2 women
Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Greenland (consists of the presiding professional judge and 2 lay assessors); note - appeals beyond the High Court of Greenland can be heard by the Supreme Court (in Copenhagen)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the monarch upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Council, a 6-member independent body of judges and lawyers; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Greenland; 18 district or magistrates' courts
Political parties and leaders: Democrats Party (Demokraatit) or D [Jens Frederik NIELSEN]
Fellowship Party (Atassut) or A [Aqqalu JERIMIASSEN]
Forward Party (Siumut) or S [Erik JENSEN]
Inuit Community (Inuit Ataqatigiit) or IA [Mute Bourup EGEDE]
Signpost Party (Partii Naleraq) or N [Hans ENOKSEN]
International organization participation: Arctic Council, ICC, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Kenneth HOEGH, Head of Representation; note - Greenland also has offices in the Danish consulates in Chicago and New York
chancery: Greenland Representation
3200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: 202-797-5392
email address and website:
washington@nanoq.gl
https://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut/Groenlands-repraesentation-Washington
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul Joanie SIMON (since June 2021)
embassy: Aalisartut Aqqutaa 47
Nuuk 3900
Greenland
telephone: (+299) 384100
email address and website:
https://dk.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/nuuk/
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark
National symbol(s): polar bear; national colors: red, white
National anthem: name: "Nunarput utoqqarsuanngoravit" (Our Country, Who's Become So Old also translated as You Our Ancient Land)
lyrics/music: Henrik LUND/Jonathan PETERSEN
note: adopted 1916; the government also recognizes "Nuna asiilasooq" as a secondary anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural); note - excerpted from the Denmark entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: Ilulissat Icefjord (n); Kujataa, Norse and Inuit Farming (c); Aasivissuit–Nipisat, Inuit Hunting Ground (c)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP. The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017–20 period. Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development.Greenland’s economy depends on exports of shrimp and fish, and on a substantial subsidy from the Danish Government. Fish account for over 90% of its exports, subjecting the economy to price fluctuations. The subsidy from the Danish Government is budgeted to be about $535 million in 2017, more than 50% of government revenues, and 25% of GDP. The economy is expanding after a period of decline. The economy contracted between 2012 and 2014, grew by 1.7% in 2015 and by 7.7%in 2016. The expansion has been driven by larger quotas for shrimp, the predominant Greenlandic export, and also by increased activity in the construction sector, especially in Nuuk, the capital. Private consumption and tourism also are contributing to GDP growth more than in previous years. Tourism in Greenland grew annually around 20% in 2015 and 2016, largely a result of increasing numbers of cruise lines now operating in Greenland's western and southern waters during the peak summer tourism season. The public sector, including publicly owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays a dominant role in Greenland's economy. During the last decade the Greenland Self Rule Government pursued conservative fiscal and monetary policies, but public pressure has increased for better schools, health care, and retirement systems. The budget was in deficit in 2014 and 2016, but public debt remains low at about 5% of GDP. The government plans a balanced budget for the 2017–20 period. Significant challenges face the island, including low levels of qualified labor, geographic dispersion, lack of industry diversification, the long-term sustainability of the public budget, and a declining population due to emigration. Hydrocarbon exploration has ceased with declining oil prices. The island has potential for natural resource exploitation with rare-earth, uranium, and iron ore mineral projects proposed, but a lack of infrastructure hinders development.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.413 billion (2015 est.)
$2.24 billion (2014 est.)
$2.203 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 7.7% (2016 est.)
1.7% (2015 est.)
-0.8% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $41,800 (2015 est.)
$38,800 (2014 est.)
$38,500 (2013 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.221 billion (2015 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.3% (January 2017 est.)
1.2% (January 2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 15.9% (2015 est.)
industry: 10.1% (2015 est.)
services: 73.9% (2015)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.1% (2015 est.)
government consumption: 28% (2015 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.3% (2015 est.)
investment in inventories: -13.9% (2015 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18.2% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: sheep, cattle, reindeer, fish, shellfish
Industries: fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); anorthosite and ruby mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 26,840 (2015 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15.9%
industry: 10.1%
services: 73.9% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.1% (2015 est.)
10.3% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.2% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.9 (2015 est.)
34.3 (2014 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 1.719 billion (2016 est.)
expenditures: 1.594 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 5.6% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Public debt: 13% of GDP (2015 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 77.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $407.1 million (2015 est.)
$599.7 million (2014 est.)
Exports - partners: Denmark 55%, China 22%, Japan 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: fish, crustaceans, fishing ships (2019)
Imports: $783.5 million (2015 est.)
$866.1 million (2014 est.)
Imports - partners: Denmark 51%, Spain 23%, Sweden 12%, Iceland 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: fishing ships, refined petroleum, construction vehicles, crustaceans, delivery trucks (2019)
Debt - external: $36.4 million (2010)
$58 million (2009)
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
6.586 (2017 est.)
6.7309 (2016 est.)
6.7309 (2015 est.)
6.7326 (2014 est.)
5.6125 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 187,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 481.7 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 17 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 15.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 84.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 183 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 3,973 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 605,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 6,352 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 65,958 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables, and microwave radio relay; the fundamental telecommunications infrastructure consists of a digital radio link from Nanortalik in south Greenland to Uummannaq in north Greenland; satellites cover north and east Greenland for domestic and foreign telecommunications; a marine cable connects south and west Greenland to the rest of the world, extending from Nuuk and Qaqortoq to Canada and Iceland (2018)
domestic: nearly 13 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions and 109 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)
international: country code - 299; landing points for Greenland Connect, Greenland Connect North, Nunavut Undersea Fiber System submarine cables to Greenland, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 15 (12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: the Greenland Broadcasting Company provides public radio and TV services throughout the island with a broadcast station and a series of repeaters; a few private local TV and radio stations; Danish public radio rebroadcasts are available (2019)
Internet country code: .gl
Internet users: total: 39,358 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 70% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 15,649 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 (registered in Denmark)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H
Airports: total: 15 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by airnote: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport is either by sea or by air
Merchant marine: total: 8
by type: other 8 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Sisimiut
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription
Military - note: the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk is responsible for the defense of Greenland
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submissionmanaged dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland; Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission |
20220901 | countries-united-states-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions.Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 9,833,517 sq km
land: 9,147,593 sq km
water: 685,924 sq km
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land;
Topic: People and Society
Population: 337,341,954 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: White 61.6%, Black or African American 12.4%, Asian 6%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1.1%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0.2%, other 8.4%, two or more races 10.2% (2020 est.)
Languages: English only 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est.)
Religions: Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Church of Jesus Christ 1.6%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 1.8%, unaffiliated 22.8%, don't know/refused 0.6% (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.69% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: constitutional federal republic
Capital: name: Washington, DC
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Congress consists of:
Senate (100 seats; 2 members directly elected in each of the 50 state constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia and Louisiana which require an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of membership renewed every 2 years)
House of Representatives (435 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote except in Georgia which requires an absolute majority vote with a second round if needed; members serve 2-year terms)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: high-income, diversified North American economy; NATO leader; largest importer and second-largest exporter; home to leading financial exchanges; high and growing public debt; rising socioeconomic inequalities; historically low interest rates; hit by COVID-19high-income, diversified North American economy; NATO leader; largest importer and second-largest exporter; home to leading financial exchanges; high and growing public debt; rising socioeconomic inequalities; historically low interest rates; hit by COVID-19
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $19,846,720,000,000 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $60,200 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, milk, soybeans, wheat, sugar cane, sugar beet, poultry, potatoes, cotton, pork
Industries: highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second-largest industrial output in the world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Exports: $2,127,250,000,000 (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Canada 17%, Mexico 16%, China 7%, Japan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, aircraft (2019)
Imports: $2,808,960,000,000 (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 18%, Mexico 15%, Canada 13%, Japan 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars, crude petroleum, computers, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019)Page last updated: Monday, May 16, 2022 |
20220901 | field-total-fertility-rate-country-comparison | |
20220901 | field-natural-resources | This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.
Topic: Afghanistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones, arable land
Topic: Albaniapetroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Algeriapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Topic: American Samoapumice, pumicite
Topic: Andorrahydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Topic: Angolapetroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Topic: Anguillasalt, fish, lobster
Topic: Antarcticairon ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities; mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; krill, icefish, toothfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries, which are managed through the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources (CCAMLR)
Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Topic: Arctic Oceansand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Topic: Argentinafertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium, arable land
Topic: Armeniasmall deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Topic: ArubaNEGL; white sandy beaches foster tourism
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsfish
Topic: Atlantic Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Topic: Australiaalumina, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, opals, natural gas, petroleum; note - Australia is the world's largest net exporter of coal accounting for 29% of global coal exports; as well, Australia is by far the world's largest supplier of opals
Topic: Austriaoil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Topic: Azerbaijanpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Topic: Bahamas, Thesalt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Topic: Bahrainoil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Topic: Bangladeshnatural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Topic: Barbadospetroleum, fish, natural gas
Topic: Belarustimber, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay
Topic: Belgiumconstruction materials, silica sand, carbonates, arable land
Topic: Belizearable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower
Topic: Beninsmall offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber
Topic: Bermudalimestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism
Topic: Bhutantimber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Topic: Boliviatin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinacoal, iron ore, antimony, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, timber, hydropower
Topic: Botswanadiamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver
Topic: Bouvet Islandnone
Topic: Brazilalumina, bauxite, beryllium, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, niobium, phosphates, platinum, tantalum, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorycoconuts, fish, sugarcane
Topic: British Virgin IslandsNEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Topic: Bruneipetroleum, natural gas, timber
Topic: Bulgariabauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land
Topic: Burkina Fasogold, manganese, zinc, limestone, marble, phosphates, pumice, salt
Topic: Burmapetroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Burundinickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone
Topic: Cabo Verdesalt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Topic: Cambodiaoil and gas, timber, gemstones, iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential, arable land
Topic: Cameroonpetroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Topic: Canadabauxite, iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, uranium, rare earth elements, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower
Topic: Cayman Islandsfish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Topic: Central African Republicdiamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Topic: Chadpetroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Topic: Chilecopper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower
Topic: Chinacoal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land
Topic: Christmas Islandphosphate, beaches
Topic: Clipperton Islandfish
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsfish
Topic: Colombiapetroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower
Topic: Comorosfish
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber
Topic: Congo, Republic of thepetroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower
Topic: Cook Islandscoconuts (copra)
Topic: Coral Sea Islandsfish
Topic: Costa Ricahydropower
Topic: Cote d'Ivoirepetroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower
Topic: Croatiaoil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Topic: Cubacobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Topic: Curacaocalcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springscalcium phosphates, protected harbors, hot springs
Topic: Cypruscopper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Topic: Czechiahard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber, arable land
Topic: Denmarkpetroleum, natural gas, fish, arable land, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand
Topic: Djiboutipotential geothermal power, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum
Topic: Dominicatimber, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Dominican Republicnickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Topic: Ecuadorpetroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Topic: Egyptpetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, rare earth elements, zinc
Topic: El Salvadorhydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Topic: Equatorial Guineapetroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Topic: Eritreagold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Topic: Estoniaoil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Topic: Eswatiniasbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Topic: Ethiopiasmall reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower
Topic: European Unioniron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Topic: Faroe Islandsfish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Topic: Fijitimber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Topic: Finlandtimber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Topic: Francemetropolitan France: coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorspar, gypsum, timber, arable land, fish, French Guiana, gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum, clay
Topic: French Polynesiatimber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsfish, crayfish, note, Glorioso Islands and Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses) have guano, phosphates, and coconuts
note - in the 1950's and 1960's, several species of trout were introduced to Iles Kerguelen of which two, Brown trout and Brook trout, survived to establish wild populations; reindeer were also introduced to Iles Kerguelen in 1956 as a source of fresh meat for whaling crews, the herd today, one of two in the Southern Hemisphere, is estimated to number around 4,000
Topic: Gabonpetroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Topic: Gambia, Thefish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon
Topic: Gaza Striparable land, natural gas
Topic: Georgiatimber, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Topic: Germanycoal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Topic: Ghanagold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Topic: Gibraltarnone
Topic: Greecelignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Topic: Greenlandcoal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, diamonds, gold, platinum, niobium, tantalite, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Topic: Grenadatimber, tropical fruit
Topic: Guamaquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)
Topic: Guatemalapetroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Topic: Guernseycropland
Topic: Guineabauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Topic: Guinea-Bissaufish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Topic: Guyanabauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Topic: Haitibauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsfish
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)none
Topic: Hondurastimber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower
Topic: Hong Kongoutstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Topic: Hungarybauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Topic: Icelandfish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Topic: Indiacoal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), antimony, iron ore, lead, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land
Topic: Indian Oceanoil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Topic: Indonesiapetroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Topic: Iranpetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Topic: Iraqpetroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Topic: Irelandnatural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite
Topic: Isle of Mannone
Topic: Israeltimber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Topic: Italycoal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Topic: Jamaicabauxite, alumina, gypsum, limestone
Topic: Jan Mayennone
Topic: Japannegligible mineral resources, fish; note - with virtually no natural energy resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil
Topic: Jerseyarable land
Topic: Jordanphosphates, potash, shale oil
Topic: Kazakhstanmajor deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Topic: Kenyalimestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower
Topic: Kiribatiphosphate (production discontinued in 1979), coconuts (copra), fish
Topic: Korea, Northcoal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, precious metals, hydropower
Topic: Korea, Southcoal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Topic: Kosovonickel, lead, zinc, magnesium, lignite, kaolin, chrome, bauxite
Topic: Kuwaitpetroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Topic: Kyrgyzstanabundant hydropower; gold, rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Topic: Laostimber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Topic: Latviapeat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, timber, arable land
Topic: Lebanonlimestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land
Topic: Lesothowater, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone
Topic: Liberiairon ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Topic: Libyapetroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Topic: Liechtensteinhydroelectric potential, arable land
Topic: Lithuaniapeat, arable land, amber
Topic: Luxembourgiron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Topic: MacauNEGL
Topic: Madagascargraphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, rare earth elements, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower
Topic: Malawilimestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Topic: Malaysiatin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite
Topic: Maldivesfish
Topic: Maligold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower, note, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited
Topic: Maltalimestone, salt, arable land
Topic: Marshall Islandscoconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Topic: Mauritaniairon ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish
Topic: Mauritiusarable land, fish
Topic: Mexicopetroleum, silver, antimony, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftimber, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate
Topic: Moldovalignite, phosphorites, gypsum, limestone, arable land
Topic: Monaconone
Topic: Mongoliaoil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron
Topic: Montenegrobauxite, hydroelectricity
Topic: MontserratNEGL
Topic: Moroccophosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Topic: Mozambiquecoal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite
Topic: Namibiadiamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Topic: Nauruphosphates, fish
Topic: Navassa Islandguano (mining discontinued in 1898)
Topic: Nepalquartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Topic: Netherlandsnatural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land
Topic: New Caledonianickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Topic: New Zealandnatural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Topic: Nicaraguagold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Topic: Nigeruranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum
Topic: Nigerianatural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Topic: Niuearable land, fish
Topic: Norfolk Islandfish
Topic: North Macedonialow-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsarable land, fish
Topic: Norwaypetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Topic: Omanpetroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Topic: Pacific Oceanoil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Topic: Pakistanarable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Topic: Palauforests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Topic: Panamacopper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Topic: Papua New Guineagold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Topic: Paracel Islandsnone
Topic: Paraguayhydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Topic: Perucopper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Topic: Philippinestimber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsmiro trees (used for handicrafts), fish; note - manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore
Topic: Polandcoal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land
Topic: Portugalfish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower
Topic: Puerto Ricosome copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Topic: Qatarpetroleum, fish, natural gas
Topic: Romaniapetroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Topic: Russiawide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, bauxite, reserves of rare earth elements, timber, note, formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources
Topic: Rwandagold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Saint Barthelemyfew natural resources; beaches foster tourism
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhafish, lobster
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisarable land
Topic: Saint Luciaforests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Topic: Saint Martinsalt
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonfish, deepwater ports
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadineshydropower, arable land
Topic: Samoahardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Topic: San Marinobuilding stone
Topic: Sao Tome and Principefish, hydropower
Topic: Saudi Arabiapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Topic: Senegalfish, phosphates, iron ore
Topic: Serbiaoil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Topic: Seychellesfish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
Topic: Sierra Leonediamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Topic: Singaporefish, deepwater ports
Topic: Sint Maartenfish, saltfish, salt
Topic: Slovakialignite, small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Topic: Slovenialignite, lead, zinc, building stone, hydropower, forests
Topic: Solomon Islandsfish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Topic: Somaliauranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves
Topic: South Africagold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, rare earth elements, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsfish
Topic: South Sudanhydropower, fertile agricultural land, gold, diamonds, petroleum, hardwoods, limestone, iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver
Topic: Southern Oceanprobable large oil and gas fields on the continental margin; manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fish
Topic: Spaincoal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Spratly Islandsfish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Topic: Sri Lankalimestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Sudanpetroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
Topic: Surinametimber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Topic: Svalbardcoal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Topic: Swedeniron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Topic: Switzerlandhydropower potential, timber, salt
Topic: Syriapetroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Topic: Taiwansmall deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, asbestos, arable land
Topic: Tajikistanhydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Topic: Tanzaniahydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones (including tanzanite, found only in Tanzania), gold, natural gas, nickel
Topic: Thailandtin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Topic: Timor-Lestegold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Topic: Togophosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Topic: TokelauNEGL
Topic: Tongaarable land, fish
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagopetroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Topic: Tunisiapetroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Topic: Turkeycoal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower
Topic: Turkmenistanpetroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsspiny lobster, conch
Topic: Tuvalufish, coconut (copra)
Topic: Ugandacopper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land, gold
Topic: Ukraineiron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
Topic: United Arab Emiratespetroleum, natural gas
Topic: United Kingdomcoal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land
Topic: United Statescoal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, rare earth elements, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber, arable land;
note 1: the US has the world's largest coal reserves with 491 billion short tons accounting for 27% of the world's total
note 2: the US is reliant on foreign imports for 100% of its needs for the following strategic resources - Arsenic, Cesium, Fluorspar, Gallium, Graphite, Indium, Manganese, Niobium, Rare Earths, Rubidium, Scandium, Tantalum, Yttrium; see Appendix H: Strategic Materials for further details
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesterrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Topic: Uruguayarable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fish
Topic: Uzbekistannatural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Topic: Vanuatumanganese, hardwood forests, fish
Topic: Venezuelapetroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Topic: Vietnamantimony, phosphates, coal, manganese, rare earth elements, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, timber, hydropower, arable land
Topic: Virgin Islandspleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Topic: Wake Islandnone
Topic: Wallis and FutunaNEGL
Topic: West Bankarable land
Topic: Worldthe rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality pose serious long-term problems
Topic: Yemenpetroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Topic: Zambiacopper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Topic: Zimbabwecoal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals |
20220901 | countries-pakistan |
Topic: Photos of Pakistan
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars and a limited conflict - in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to the marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in mid-1998. India-Pakistan relations improved in the mid-2000s but have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and have been further strained by Indian reports of cross-border militancy. Imran KHAN took office as prime minister in 2018 after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party won a plurality of seats in the July 2018 general elections. Pakistan has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict with militant groups that target government institutions and civilians, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks.The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world and dating back at least 5,000 years, spread over much of what is presently Pakistan. During the second millennium B.C., remnants of this culture fused with the migrating Indo-Aryan peoples. The area underwent successive invasions in subsequent centuries from the Persians, Greeks, Scythians, Arabs (who brought Islam), Afghans, and Turks. The Mughal Empire flourished in the 16th and 17th centuries; the British came to dominate the region in the 18th century. The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with West and East sections) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars and a limited conflict - in 1947-48, 1965, and 1999 respectively - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India assisted an indigenous movement reacting to the marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh.In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in mid-1998. India-Pakistan relations improved in the mid-2000s but have been rocky since the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and have been further strained by Indian reports of cross-border militancy. Imran KHAN took office as prime minister in 2018 after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party won a plurality of seats in the July 2018 general elections. Pakistan has been engaged in a decades-long armed conflict with militant groups that target government institutions and civilians, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant networks.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 796,095 sq km
land: 770,875 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 7,257 km
border countries (4): Afghanistan 2,670 km; China 438 km; India 3,190 km; Iran 959 km
Coastline: 1,046 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain: divided into three major geographic areas: the northern highlands, the Indus River plain in the center and east, and the Balochistan Plateau in the south and west
Elevation: highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 900 m
Natural resources: arable land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 35.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 27.6% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 2.1% (2018 est.)
other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 202,000 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)
Major aquifers: Indus Basin
Population distribution: the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Geography - note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
Map description: Pakistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Arabian Sea.Pakistan map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Arabian Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 242,923,845 (2022 est.)
note: results of Pakistan's 2017 national census estimate the country's total population to be 207,684,626
Nationality: noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi 44.7%, Pashtun (Pathan) 15.4%, Sindhi 14.1%, Saraiki 8.4%, Muhajirs 7.6%, Balochi 3.6%, other 6.3%
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Saraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashto (alternate name, Pashtu) 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
major-language sample(s):
ਸੰਸਾਰ ਦੀ ਤੱਥ ਕਿਤਾਬ, ਆਧਾਰੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਜ਼ਰੂਰੀ ਸਰੋਤ ਹੈ (Punjabi)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official) 96.5% (Sunni 85-90%, Shia 10-15%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 3.5% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.01% (male 42,923,925/female 41,149,694)
15-24 years: 19.3% (male 23,119,205/female 21,952,976)
25-54 years: 34.7% (male 41,589,381/female 39,442,046)
55-64 years: 5.55% (male 6,526,656/female 6,423,993)
65 years and over: 4.44% (2020 est.) (male 4,802,165/female 5,570,595)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 64.4
youth dependency ratio: 57.2
elderly dependency ratio: 7.1
potential support ratio: 14 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 22 years
male: 21.9 years
female: 22.1 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.95% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 26.48 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the Indus River and its tributaries attract most of the settlement, with Punjab province the most densely populated
Urbanization: urban population: 37.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 16.840 million Karachi, 13.542 million Lahore, 3.625 million Faisalabad, 2.353 million Gujranwala, 2.343 million Peshawar, 1.198 million ISLAMABAD (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.8 years (2017/18 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 140 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 53.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 58.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.67 years
male: 67.62 years
female: 71.82 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 34% (2018/19)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.5% of population
rural: 92.5% of population
total: 94% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.5% of population
rural: 7.5% of population
total: 6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 3.4% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.12 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 88.6% of population
rural: 73.2% of population
total: 78.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 11.4% of population
rural: 26.8% of population
total: 21.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 200,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 8,200 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
animal contact diseases: rabies
note 1: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Pakistan; as of 18 August 2022, Pakistan has reported a total of 1,564,231 cases of COVID-19 or 708.14 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 30,542 cumulative deaths or a rate of 13.82 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 59.98% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
note 2: Pakistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Afghanistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 20.2% (2020 est.)
male: 33% (2020 est.)
female: 7.3% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 23.1% (2017/18)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 3.6%
women married by age 18: 18.3%
men married by age 18: 4.7% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 69.3%
female: 46.5% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 8 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.9%
male: 8.2%
female: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 55.21 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 201.15 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 142.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Land use: agricultural land: 35.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 27.6% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 6.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 2.1% (2018 est.)
other: 62.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 37.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
animal contact diseases: rabies
note 1: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Pakistan; as of 18 August 2022, Pakistan has reported a total of 1,564,231 cases of COVID-19 or 708.14 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 30,542 cumulative deaths or a rate of 13.82 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 59.98% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
note 2: Pakistan is one of two countries with endemic wild polio virus (the other is Afghanistan) and considered high risk for international spread of the disease; before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to population displacements, economic constraints, and high prices of the main food staple - according to the latest analysis, about 4.66 million people, 25% of the population, are estimated to be facing high levels of acute food insecurity, "Crisis" and above, until at least April 2022 in 25 districts analyzed in Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces; prices of wheat flour, the country’s main staple, were at high levels in most markets in January 2022, constraining access to the staple food (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 30.76 million tons (2017 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,460,800 tons (2017 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2017 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Indus river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,610 km; Sutlej river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 1,372 km; Chenab river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 1,086 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), (Aral Sea basin) Amu Darya (534,739 sq km)
Major aquifers: Indus Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9.65 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 172.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 246.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan
etymology: the word "pak" means "pure" in Persian or Pashto, while the Persian suffix "-stan" means "place of" or "country," so the word Pakistan literally means "Land of the Pure"
Government type: federal parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 41 N, 73 03 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: derived from two words: "Islam," an Urdu word referring to the religion of Islam, and "-abad," a Persian suffix indicating an "inhabited place" or "city," to render the meaning "City of Islam"
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from British India)
National holiday: Pakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Constitution: history: several previous; latest endorsed 12 April 1973, passed 19 April 1973, entered into force 14 August 1973 (suspended and restored several times)
amendments: proposed by the Senate or by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses; amended many times, last in 2018
Legal system: common law system with Islamic law influence
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Pakistan
dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries
residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 7 years and including the 12 months preceding application
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - there are joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arif ALVI (since 9 September 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Shehbaz SHARIF (since 11 April 2022); former Prime Minister Imran KHAN on 10 April lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the advice of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Electoral College consisting of members of the Senate, National Assembly, and provincial assemblies for a 5-year term (limited to 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 4 September 2018 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on 17 August 2018
election results: Arif ALVI elected president; Electoral College vote - Arif ALVI (PTI) 352, Fazl-ur-REHMAN (MMA) 184, Aitzaz AHSAN (PPP) 124; Imran KHAN elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - Imran KHAN (PTI) 176, Shehbaz SHARIF (PML-N) 96
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of:
Senate (100 seats; members indirectly elected by the 4 provincial assemblies and the territories' representatives by proportional representation vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
National Assembly (342 seats; 272 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 70 members - 60 women and 10 non-Muslims - directly elected by proportional representation vote; all members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held on 3 March 2021 (next to be held in March 2024)
National Assembly - last held on 25 July 2018 (next to be held on 25 July 2023)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PTI 25, PPP 21, PML-N 18, BAP 13, JU-F 5, other 13, independent 5; composition - men 81, women 19, percent of women 19%
National Assembly - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by party - PTI 156, PML-N 83, PPP 55, MMA 16, MQM-P 7, BAP 5, PML-Q 5, BNP 4, GDA 3, AML 1, ANP 1, JWP 1, independent 4; composition - men 272, women 70, percent of women 20.2%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Pakistan (consists of the chief justice and 16 judges)
judge selection and term of office: justices nominated by an 8-member parliamentary committee upon the recommendation of the Judicial Commission, a 9-member body of judges and other judicial professionals, and appointed by the president; justices can serve until age 65
subordinate courts: High Courts; Federal Shariat Court; provincial and district civil and criminal courts; specialized courts for issues, such as taxation, banking, and customs
Political parties and leaders: Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]
Awami Muslim League or AML [Sheikh Rashid AHMED]
Balochistan Awami Party or BAP [Jam Kamal KHAN]
Balochistan National Party-Awami or BNP-A [Mir Israr Ullah ZEHRI]
Balochistan National Party-Mengal or BNP-M [Sardar Akhtar Jan MENGAL]
Grand Democratic Alliance or GDA (alliance of several parties)
Jamhoori Wattan Party or JWP [Shahzain BUGTI]
Jamaat-i Islami or JI [Sirajul HAQ]
Jamiat-i Ulema-i Islam Fazl-ur Rehman or JUI-F [Fazlur REHMAN]
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London or MQM-L [Altaf HUSSAIN] (MQM split into two factions in 2016)
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan or MQM-P [Dr. Khalid Maqbool SIDDIQUI] (MQM split into two factions in 2016)
Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA [Fazl-ur- REHMAN] (alliance of several parties)
National Party or NP [Abdul Malik BALOCH]
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party or PMAP or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]
Pakistan Muslim League-Functional or PML-F [Pir PAGARO or Syed Shah Mardan SHAH-II]
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz or PML-N [Shehbaz SHARIF]
Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid-e-Azam Group or PML-Q [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]
Pakistan Peoples Party or PPP [Bilawal BHUTTO ZARDARI, Asif Ali ZARDARI]
Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaaf or PTI (Pakistan Movement for Justice) [Imran KHAN]Pak Sarzameen Party or PSP [Mustafa KAMAL]
Qaumi Watan Party or QWP [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]
note: political alliances in Pakistan shift frequently
International organization participation: ADB, AIIB, ARF, ASEAN (sectoral dialogue partner), C, CERN (associate member), CICA, CP, D-8, ECO, FAO, G-11, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURCAT, MINURSO, MINUSCA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, SCO, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNSOS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sardar Masood KHAN (since 24 March 2022)
chancery: 3517 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
email address and website:
consularsection@embassyofpakistanusa.org
https://embassyofpakistanusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angela AGGELER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: 8100 Islamabad Place, Washington, DC 20521-8100
telephone: [92] 051-201-4000
FAX: [92] 51-2338071
email address and website:
ACSIslamabad@state.gov
https://pk.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description: green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam
National symbol(s): five-pointed star between the horns of a waxing crescent moon, jasmine; national colors: green, white
National anthem: name: "Qaumi Tarana" (National Anthem)
lyrics/music: Abu-Al-Asar Hafeez JULLANDHURI/Ahmed Ghulamali CHAGLA
note: adopted 1954; also known as "Pak sarzamin shad bad" (Blessed Be the Sacred Land)
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro; Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi; Taxila; Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore; Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta; Rohtas Fort
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Decades of internal political disputes and low levels of foreign investment have led to underdevelopment in Pakistan. Pakistan has a large English-speaking population, with English-language skills less prevalent outside urban centers. Despite some progress in recent years in both security and energy, a challenging security environment, electricity shortages, and a burdensome investment climate have traditionally deterred investors. Agriculture accounts for one-fifth of output and two-fifths of employment. Textiles and apparel account for more than half of Pakistan's export earnings; Pakistan's failure to diversify its exports has left the country vulnerable to shifts in world demand. Pakistan’s GDP growth has gradually increased since 2012, and was 5.3% in 2017. Official unemployment was 6% in 2017, but this fails to capture the true picture, because much of the economy is informal and underemployment remains high. Human development continues to lag behind most of the region. In 2013, Pakistan embarked on a $6.3 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility, which focused on reducing energy shortages, stabilizing public finances, increasing revenue collection, and improving its balance of payments position. The program concluded in September 2016. Although Pakistan missed several structural reform criteria, it restored macroeconomic stability, improved its credit rating, and boosted growth. The Pakistani rupee has remained relatively stable against the US dollar since 2015, though it declined about 10% between November 2017 and March 2018. Balance of payments concerns have reemerged, however, as a result of a significant increase in imports and weak export and remittance growth. Pakistan must continue to address several longstanding issues, including expanding investment in education, healthcare, and sanitation; adapting to the effects of climate change and natural disasters; improving the country’s business environment; and widening the country’s tax base. Given demographic challenges, Pakistan’s leadership will be pressed to implement economic reforms, promote further development of the energy sector, and attract foreign investment to support sufficient economic growth necessary to employ its growing and rapidly urbanizing population, much of which is under the age of 25. In an effort to boost development, Pakistan and China are implementing the "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" (CPEC) with $60 billion in investments targeted towards energy and other infrastructure projects. Pakistan believes CPEC investments will enable growth rates of over 6% of GDP by laying the groundwork for increased exports. CPEC-related obligations, however, have raised IMF concern about Pakistan’s capital outflows and external financing needs over the medium term.Decades of internal political disputes and low levels of foreign investment have led to underdevelopment in Pakistan. Pakistan has a large English-speaking population, with English-language skills less prevalent outside urban centers. Despite some progress in recent years in both security and energy, a challenging security environment, electricity shortages, and a burdensome investment climate have traditionally deterred investors. Agriculture accounts for one-fifth of output and two-fifths of employment. Textiles and apparel account for more than half of Pakistan's export earnings; Pakistan's failure to diversify its exports has left the country vulnerable to shifts in world demand. Pakistan’s GDP growth has gradually increased since 2012, and was 5.3% in 2017. Official unemployment was 6% in 2017, but this fails to capture the true picture, because much of the economy is informal and underemployment remains high. Human development continues to lag behind most of the region. In 2013, Pakistan embarked on a $6.3 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility, which focused on reducing energy shortages, stabilizing public finances, increasing revenue collection, and improving its balance of payments position. The program concluded in September 2016. Although Pakistan missed several structural reform criteria, it restored macroeconomic stability, improved its credit rating, and boosted growth. The Pakistani rupee has remained relatively stable against the US dollar since 2015, though it declined about 10% between November 2017 and March 2018. Balance of payments concerns have reemerged, however, as a result of a significant increase in imports and weak export and remittance growth. Pakistan must continue to address several longstanding issues, including expanding investment in education, healthcare, and sanitation; adapting to the effects of climate change and natural disasters; improving the country’s business environment; and widening the country’s tax base. Given demographic challenges, Pakistan’s leadership will be pressed to implement economic reforms, promote further development of the energy sector, and attract foreign investment to support sufficient economic growth necessary to employ its growing and rapidly urbanizing population, much of which is under the age of 25. In an effort to boost development, Pakistan and China are implementing the "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" (CPEC) with $60 billion in investments targeted towards energy and other infrastructure projects. Pakistan believes CPEC investments will enable growth rates of over 6% of GDP by laying the groundwork for increased exports. CPEC-related obligations, however, have raised IMF concern about Pakistan’s capital outflows and external financing needs over the medium term.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,021,130,000,000 (2020 est.)
$1,015,800,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,005,850,000,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
data are for fiscal years
Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.)
4.6% (2016 est.)
4.1% (2015 est.)
note: data are for fiscal years
Real GDP per capita: $4,600 (2020 est.)
$4,700 (2019 est.)
$4,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $253.183 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (2019 est.)
5.2% (2018 est.)
4.2% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B- (2018)
Moody's rating: B3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 24.4% (2016 est.)
industry: 19.1% (2016 est.)
services: 56.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 82% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 11.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 8.2% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -17.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, buffalo milk, wheat, milk, rice, maize, potatoes, cotton, fruit, mangoes/guavas
Industries: textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 61.71 million (2017 est.)
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 42.3%
industry: 22.6%
services: 35.1% (FY2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6% (2017 est.)
6% (2016 est.)
note: Pakistan has substantial underemployment
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7.9%
male: 8.2%
female: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.3% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.5 (2015 est.)
30.9 (FY2011)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.1% (FY2013)
Budget: revenues: 46.81 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 64.49 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are for fiscal years
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 67% of GDP (2017 est.)
67.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: -$7.143 billion (2019 est.)
-$19.482 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $27.3 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$30.67 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$30.77 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 14%, China 8%, Germany 7%, United Kingdom 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: textiles, clothing and apparel, rice, leather goods, surgical instruments (2019)
Imports: $51.07 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$57.98 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$68.42 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 11%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, natural gas, palm oil, scrap iron (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $18.46 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$22.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $107.527 billion (2019 est.)
$95.671 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: Pakistani rupees (PKR) per US dollar -
160.425 (2020 est.)
155.04 (2019 est.)
138.8 (2018 est.)
102.769 (2014 est.)
101.1 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 79% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 72% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 39.925 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 103,493,520,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 487 million kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 17.389 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 55.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 8.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 2.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 31.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 4.855 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 21.012 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 17.239 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 3.064 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 100,700 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 493,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 7,800 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 198,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 540 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 291,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 25,510 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 264,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 38,056,250,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 48,391,627,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 10,743,167,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 592.218 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 193.869 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 47.468 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 67.789 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 78.611 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 15.859 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,876,794 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 175,624,364 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Pakistan’s telecom market transitioned from a regulated state-owned monopoly to a deregulated competitive structure in 2003, now aided by foreign investment; moderate growth over the last six years, supported by a young population and a rising use of mobile services; telecom infrastructure is improving, with investments in mobile-cellular networks, fixed-line subscriptions declining; system consists of microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks; 4G mobile services broadly available; 5G tests ongoing; data centers in major cities; mobile and broadband doing well and dominate over fixed-broadband sector; China-Pakistan Fiber Optic Project became operational in 2020; importer of broadcasting equipment and computers from China; future growth (in market size as well as revenue) is likely to come from the wider availability of value-added services on top of the expansion of 4G LTE and (from 2023) 5G mobile networks; the Universal Service Fund (USF) continues to direct investment towards the development of mobile broadband (and, to a lesser extent, fiber-based networks) in under-served and even unserved areas of the country, with multiple projects being approved to start in 2021 and 2022. (2021)
domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership has increased; more than 90% of Pakistanis live within areas that have cell phone coverage; fiber-optic networks are being constructed throughout the country to increase broadband access and broadband penetration in Pakistan is increasing--by the end of 2021, 50% of the population had access to broadband services; fixed-line teledensity is a little over 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 84 per 100 persons (2021)
international: country code - 92; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, IMEWE, Orient Express, PEACE Cable, and TW1 submarine cable systems that provide links to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: television is the most popular and dominant source of news in Pakistan with over 120 satellite tv stations licensed by the country’s electronic media regulatory body, PEMRA ,and 40 media companies/channels with landing rights permission; state-run Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) is the largest television network in the country and serves over 90% of the population with the largest terrestrial infrastructure of the country; PTV consists of nine TV Channels and PTV networks give special coverage to Kashmir; Pakistanis have access to over 100 private cable and satellite channels; 6 channels are considered the leaders for news reporting and current affairs programing in the country; state-owned Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC or Radio Pakistan) has the largest radio audience in the country, particularly in the rural areas; Radio Pakistan’s AM/SW/FM stations cover 98 percent of the population and 80 percent of the total area in the country; all major newspapers have online editions and all major print publications operate websites; freedom of the press and freedom of speech in the country are fragile (2021)
Internet country code: .pk
Internet users: total: 55,223,083 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 25% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,523,027 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 52
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 6,880,637 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 217.53 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: AP
Airports: total: 151 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 108
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 43
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 24 (2021)
Heliports: 23 (2021)
Pipelines: 13,452 km gas transmission and 177,029 km gas distribution, 3,663 km oil, 1,150 km refined products (2022)
Railways: total: 11,881 km (2021)
narrow gauge: 389 km (2021) 1.000-m gauge
broad gauge: 11,492 km (2021) 1.676-m gauge (286 km electrified)
Roadways: total: 264,175 km (2021)
paved: 185,463 km (2021) (includes 708 km of expressways)
unpaved: 78,712 km (2021)
Merchant marine: total: 57
by type: bulk carrier 5, oil tanker 7, other 45 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim
container port(s) (TEUs): Karachi (2,097,855) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Port Qasim
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Pakistan Army (includes National Guard), Pakistan Navy (includes marines, Maritime Security Agency), Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fizaia); Ministry of Interior: Frontier Corps, Pakistan Rangers (2022)
note 1: the National Guard is a paramilitary force and one of the Army's reserve forces, along with the Pakistan Army Reserve, the Frontier Corps, and the Pakistan Rangers
note 2: the Frontier Corps is a paramilitary force manned mostly by individuals from the tribal areas and commanded by officers from the Pakistan Army; it manages security duties in the tribal areas and on the border with Afghanistan (Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, including the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas)
note 3: the Pakistan Rangers is a paramilitary force operating in Sindh and Punjab
Military expenditures: 4% of GDP (2022 est.)
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
4% of GDP (2020)
4.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $21.6 billion)
4.1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $21.6 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 630,000 active duty personnel (550,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 50,000 Air Force); approximately 150,000 Frontier Corps and Pakistan Rangers (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Pakistan military inventory includes a broad mix of equipment, primarily from China, France, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK, and the US; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Pakistan; Pakistan also has a large domestic defense industry (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 16 (or 17 depending on service)-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; women serve in all three armed forces; reserve obligation to age 45 for enlisted men, age 50 for officers (2022)
Military deployments: 1,300 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,970 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 220 Mali (MINUSMA); 290 South Sudan (UNMISS); 220 Sudan (UNISFA) (May 2022)
Military - note: the military has carried out three coups since Pakistan's independence in 1947 and as of 2022 remained a dominant force in the country’s political arena; its chief external focus was on the perceived threat from India, as well as implications of the fall of the government in Kabul, but over the past 15 years, the military also has increased its role in internal security missions, including counterinsurgency and counterterrorism; it is the lead security agency in many areas of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas
the military establishment also has a large stake in the country's economic sector; through two large conglomerates, it is involved in a diverse array of commercial activities, including banking, construction of public projects, employment services, energy and power generation, fertilizer, food, housing, real estate, and security services
Pakistan and India have fought several conflicts since 1947, including the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and the Indo-Pakistan and Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971, as well as two clashes over the disputed region of Kashmir (First Kashmir War of 1947 and the Kargil Conflict of 1999); a fragile cease-fire in Kashmir was reached in 2003, revised in 2018, and reaffirmed in 2021, although the Line of Control remained contested as of 2022, and India has accused Pakistan of backing armed separatists and terrorist organizations in Jammu and Kashmir; in addition, India and Pakistan have battled over the Siachen Glacier of Kashmir, which was seized by India in 1984 with Pakistan attempting to retake the area in 1985, 1987, and 1995; despite a cease-fire, as of 2022 both sides continued to maintain a permanent military presence there with outposts at altitudes above 20,000 feet (over 6,000 meters) where most casualties were due to extreme weather or the hazards of operating in the high mountain terrain of the world’s highest conflict, including avalanches, exposure, and altitude sickness
Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022)
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Haqqani Network; Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami; Harakat ul-Mujahidin; Hizbul Mujahideen; Indian Mujahedeen; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham-Khorasan (ISIS-K); Islamic State of ash-Sham – India; Islamic State of ash-Sham – Pakistan; Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan; Jaish-e-Mohammed; Jaysh al Adl (Jundallah); Lashkar i Jhangvi; Lashkar-e Tayyiba; Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP); al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Pakistan-Afghanistan: since 2002, with UN assistance, Pakistan has repatriated about 5.3 million Afghan refugees, leaving about 2.74-3 million; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; in February 2022, amid skirmishes between Taliban and Pakistani forces, Pakistan announced its intent to finish constructing the barbed wire fence along the Durand Line and bring nearby areas under its control; Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on maps Pakistan-China: none identified Pakistan-India: Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have initiated discussions on defusing the armed standoff in the Siachen glacier region; the Siachen glacier is claimed by both countries and militarily occupied by India: Pakistan opposed India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control (completed in 2004) and the construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River (opened in 2008) in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh in India's Gujarat State as part of Pakistan Pakistan-Iran: none identified Pakistan-Afghanistan: since 2002, with UN assistance, Pakistan has repatriated about 5.3 million Afghan refugees, leaving about 2.74-3 million; Pakistan has sent troops across and built fences along some remote tribal areas of its treaty-defined Durand Line border with Afghanistan, which serve as bases for foreign terrorists and other illegal activities; in February 2022, amid skirmishes between Taliban and Pakistani forces, Pakistan announced its intent to finish constructing the barbed wire fence along the Durand Line and bring nearby areas under its control; Afghan, Coalition, and Pakistan military meet periodically to clarify the alignment of the boundary on the ground and on mapsPakistan-China: none identifiedPakistan-India: Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; India and Pakistan have initiated discussions on defusing the armed standoff in the Siachen glacier region; the Siachen glacier is claimed by both countries and militarily occupied by India: Pakistan opposed India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control (completed in 2004) and the construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River (opened in 2008) in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh in India's Gujarat State as part of PakistanPakistan-Iran: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 2.62-2.88 million (1.28 million registered, 1.34-1.6 million undocumented or otherwise categorized) (Afghanistan) (2022)
IDPs: 104,000 (primarily those who remain displaced by counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations and violent conflict between armed non-state groups in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Paktunkwa Province; more than 1 million displaced in northern Waziristan in 2014; individuals also have been displaced by repeated monsoon floods) (2021)
stateless persons: 47 (mid-year 2021)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Pakistan and Pakistanis abroad; the largest human trafficking problem is bonded labor, where traffickers exploit a debt assumed by a worker as part of the terms of employment, entrapping sometimes generations of a family; bonded laborers are forced to work in agriculture, brick kilns, fisheries, mining, textile manufacturing, bangle- and carpet-making; traffickers buy, sell, rent, and kidnap children for forced labor in begging, domestic work, small shops, sex trafficking and stealing; some children are maimed to bring in more money for begging; Afghans, Iranians, and Pakistanis are forced into drug trafficking in border areas and Karachi; Pakistani traffickers lure women and girls away from their families with promises of marriage and exploit the women and girls in sex trafficking; militant groups kidnap, buy, or recruit children and force them to spy, fight, and conduct suicide attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Pakistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; government efforts include convicting traffickers under the comprehensive human trafficking law, convicting more traffickers for bonded labor, and increasing registration of brick kilns nationwide for the oversight of workers traffickers target; more trafficking victims were identified; authorities initiated eight investigations against suspected traffickers of Pakistani victims overseas; authorities collaborated with international partners and foreign governments on anti-trafficking efforts; however, the government significantly decreased investigations and prosecutions of sex traffickers; bonded labor exists on farms and in brick kilns in Punjab province; no action was taken against officials involved in trafficking; several high-profile trafficking cases were dropped during the reporting period; resources were lacking for the care of identified victims; Pakistan was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)
Illicit drugs: minor cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis with 1,400 hectares of poppy cultivated 2016; one of the world’s top transit corridors for opiates and cannabis products along with Afghanistan and Iran; precursor chemicals also pass through Pakistan as a major transit point for global distribution minor cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis with 1,400 hectares of poppy cultivated 2016; one of the world’s top transit corridors for opiates and cannabis products along with Afghanistan and Iran; precursor chemicals also pass through Pakistan as a major transit point for global distribution |
20220901 | countries-yemen |
Topic: Photos of Yemen
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border. Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014-present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007. Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH - inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections. The Huthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and anti-Huthi groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN brokered a months-long cessation of hostilities that reduced airstrikes and fighting, and initiated peace talks in Kuwait. However, the talks ended without agreement. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government. However, amid rising tensions between the Huthis and SALIH, sporadic clashes erupted in mid-2017, and escalated into open fighting that ended when Huthi forces killed SALIH in early December 2017. In 2018, anti-Huthi forces made the most battlefield progress in Yemen since early 2016, most notably in Al Hudaydah Governorate. In December 2018, the Huthis and Yemeni Government participated in the first UN-brokered peace talks since 2016, agreeing to a limited cease-fire in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the establishment of a UN Mission to monitor the agreement. In April 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened in Say'un for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. In August 2019, violence erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transition Council (STC) in southern Yemen. In November 2019, HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting between them, and in December 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued on the ground in Yemen as the Huthis gained territory, and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Yemen (colloquially known as North Yemen) became independent from the Ottoman Empire in 1918 and in 1962 became the Yemen Arab Republic. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became the People's Republic of Southern Yemen (colloquially known as South Yemen). Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation and changed the country's name to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement and brief civil war in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to delineate their border.Fighting in the northwest between the government and the Huthis, a Zaydi Shia Muslim minority, continued intermittently from 2004 to 2010, and then again from 2014-present. The southern secessionist movement was revitalized in 2007.Public rallies in Sana'a against then President Ali Abdallah SALIH - inspired by similar Arab Spring demonstrations in Tunisia and Egypt - slowly built momentum starting in late January 2011 fueled by complaints over high unemployment, poor economic conditions, and corruption. By the following month, some protests had resulted in violence, and the demonstrations had spread to other major cities. By March the opposition had hardened its demands and was unifying behind calls for SALIH's immediate ouster. In April 2011, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), in an attempt to mediate the crisis in Yemen, proposed the GCC Initiative, an agreement in which the president would step down in exchange for immunity from prosecution. SALIH's refusal to sign an agreement led to further violence. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2014 in October 2011 calling for an end to the violence and completing a power transfer deal. In November 2011, SALIH signed the GCC Initiative to step down and to transfer some of his powers to Vice President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI. Following HADI's uncontested election victory in February 2012, SALIH formally transferred all presidential powers. In accordance with the GCC Initiative, Yemen launched a National Dialogue Conference (NDC) in March 2013 to discuss key constitutional, political, and social issues. HADI concluded the NDC in January 2014 and planned to begin implementing subsequent steps in the transition process, including constitutional drafting, a constitutional referendum, and national elections.The Huthis, perceiving their grievances were not addressed in the NDC, joined forces with SALIH and expanded their influence in northwestern Yemen, which culminated in a major offensive against military units and rival tribes and enabled their forces to overrun the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In January 2015, the Huthis surrounded the presidential palace, HADI's residence, and key government facilities, prompting HADI and the cabinet to submit their resignations. HADI fled to Aden in February 2015 and rescinded his resignation. He subsequently escaped to Oman and then moved to Saudi Arabia and asked the GCC to intervene militarily in Yemen to protect the legitimate government from the Huthis. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia assembled a coalition of Arab militaries and began airstrikes against the Huthis and Huthi-affiliated forces. Ground fighting between Huthi-aligned forces and anti-Huthi groups backed by the Saudi-led coalition continued through 2016. In 2016, the UN brokered a months-long cessation of hostilities that reduced airstrikes and fighting, and initiated peace talks in Kuwait. However, the talks ended without agreement. The Huthis and SALIH’s political party announced a Supreme Political Council in August 2016 and a National Salvation Government, including a prime minister and several dozen cabinet members, in November 2016, to govern in Sanaa and further challenge the legitimacy of HADI’s government. However, amid rising tensions between the Huthis and SALIH, sporadic clashes erupted in mid-2017, and escalated into open fighting that ended when Huthi forces killed SALIH in early December 2017. In 2018, anti-Huthi forces made the most battlefield progress in Yemen since early 2016, most notably in Al Hudaydah Governorate. In December 2018, the Huthis and Yemeni Government participated in the first UN-brokered peace talks since 2016, agreeing to a limited cease-fire in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the establishment of a UN Mission to monitor the agreement. In April 2019, Yemen’s parliament convened in Say'un for the first time since the conflict broke out in 2014. In August 2019, violence erupted between HADI's government and the pro-secessionist Southern Transition Council (STC) in southern Yemen. In November 2019, HADI's government and the STC signed a power-sharing agreement to end the fighting between them, and in December 2020, the signatories formed a new cabinet. In 2020 and 2021, fighting continued on the ground in Yemen as the Huthis gained territory, and also conducted regular UAV and missile attacks against targets in Saudi Arabia. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 527,968 sq km
land: 527,968 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
Area - comparative: almost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries: total: 1,601 km
border countries (2): Oman 294 km; Saudi Arabia 1,307 km
Coastline: 1,906 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain: 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
Elevation: highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,666 m
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 999 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Land use: agricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 1% (2018 est.)
other: 54.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,800 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Natural hazards: sandstorms and dust storms in summervolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a centurysandstorms and dust storms in summervolcanism: limited volcanic activity; Jebel at Tair (Jabal al-Tair, Jebel Teir, Jabal al-Tayr, Jazirat at-Tair) (244 m), which forms an island in the Red Sea, erupted in 2007 after awakening from dormancy; other historically active volcanoes include Harra of Arhab, Harras of Dhamar, Harra es-Sawad, and Jebel Zubair, although many of these have not erupted in over a century
Geography - note: strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
Map description: Yemen map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.Yemen map showing major population centers as well as parts of neighboring countries and the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 30,984,689 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups: predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asian, European
Languages: Arabic (official); note - a distinct Socotri language is widely used on Socotra Island and Archipelago; Mahri is still fairly widely spoken in eastern Yemen
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
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Religions: Muslim 99.1% (official; virtually all are citizens, an estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian; many are refugees or temporary foreign residents) (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.16% (male 5,711,709 /female 5,513,526)
15-24 years: 21.26% (male 3,089,817 /female 3,005,693)
25-54 years: 32.78% (male 4,805,059 /female 4,591,811)
55-64 years: 4% (male 523,769 /female 623,100)
65 years and over: 2.8% (2018 est.) (male 366,891 /female 435,855)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 71.7
youth dependency ratio: 66.7
elderly dependency ratio: 5
potential support ratio: 19.9 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 19.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.9 years
Population growth rate: 1.88% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 24.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the vast majority of the population is found in the Asir Mountains (part of the larger Sarawat Mountain system), located in the far western region of the country
Urbanization: urban population: 39.2% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.182 million SANAA (capital), 1.045 million Aden (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.8 years (2013 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 164 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 46.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.51 years
male: 65.19 years
female: 69.94 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 33.5% (2013)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.5% of population
rural: 84.2% of population
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.5% of population
rural: 15.8% of population
total: 10.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4.3% (2015)
Physicians density: 0.53 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 83.5% of population
rural: 44.2% of population
total: 59.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 16.5% of population
rural: 55.8% of population
total: 40.9% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 11,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Yemen is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.1% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 20.3% (2020 est.)
male: 32.5% (2020 est.)
female: 8.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 39.9% (2013)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.1%
male: 85.1%
female: 55% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 24.5%
male: 23.5%
female: 34.6% (2014 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 44.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 10.61 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 8.03 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Land use: agricultural land: 44.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 1% (2018 est.)
other: 54.5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 39.2% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.71% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Yemen is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to conflict, poverty, floods, high food and fuel prices - between January and June 2021, the number of food insecure was projected to increase by nearly 3 million to 16.2 million people; out of these, an estimated 11 million people will likely be in "Crisis," 5 million in "Emergency," and the number of those in "Catastrophe" will likely increase to 47,000; economic conditions in the country remain dire; the conflict is further hampering the already constrained livelihood activities and humanitarian access; income earning opportunities have declined due to COVID‑19‑related business disruptions (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,836,820 tons (2011 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 386,946 tons (2016 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 265 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 65 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.235 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yaman
former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
etymology: name derivation remains unclear but may come from the Arab term "yumn" (happiness) and be related to the region's classical name "Arabia Felix" (Fertile or Happy Arabia); the Romans referred to the rest of the peninsula as "Arabia Deserta" (Deserted Arabia)
Government type: in transition
Capital: name: Sanaa
geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name is reputed to mean "well-fortified" in Sabaean, the South Arabian language that went extinct in Yemen in the 6th century A.D.
Administrative divisions: 22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
Independence: 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Constitution: history: adopted by referendum 16 May 1991 (following unification); note - after the National Dialogue ended in January 2015, a Constitutional Drafting Committee appointed by the president worked to prepare a new draft constitution that was expected to be put to a national referendum before being adopted; however, the start of the current conflict in early 2015 interrupted the process
amendments: amended several times, last in 2009
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, Napoleonic law, English common law, and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Yemen; if the father is unknown, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chairperson, Presidential Council Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI, Dr. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Sultan al-ARADA (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Faraj Salmin al- BAHSANI, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Abdullah Al-Alimi BA WAZIR (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Uthman Hussain Faid al-MUJALI (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council TARIQ Muhammad Abdallah Salih, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council 'Abd-al-Rahman ABU ZARA'A al-Muharrami al-Yafai, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Aydarus Qasim al-ZUBAYDI, Maj. Gen. (since 19 April 2022)
head of government: Chairperson, Presidential Council Rashad Muhammad al-ALIMI, Dr. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Sultan al-ARADA (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Faraj Salmin al- BAHSANI, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Abdullah Al-Alimi BA WAZIR (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Uthman Hussain Faid al-MUJALI (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council TARIQ Muhammad Abdallah Salih, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council 'Abd-al-Rahman ABU ZARA'A al-Muharrami al-Yafai, Brig. Gen. (since 19 April 2022); Vice Chairperson, Presidential Council Aydarus Qasim al-ZUBAYDI, Maj. Gen. (since 19 April 2022)
cabinet: NA
elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 February 2012 (next election NA); note - a special election was held on 21 February 2012 to remove Ali Abdallah SALIH under the terms of a Gulf Cooperation Council-mediated deal during the political crisis of 2011; vice president appointed by the president; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: in a special election held on 21 February 2012, Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI (GPC) was elected as a consensus president
note: on 7 April 2022, President Abd Rabuh Mansur HADI announced the dismissal of Vice President ALI MUHSIN al-Ahmar and the formation of a Presidential Council, an eight-member body chaired by former minister Rashad AL-ALIMI; on 19 April 2022, the Council was sworn in before Parliament and began assuming the responsibilities of the president and vice president and carrying out the political, security, and military duties of the government
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Majlis consists of:
Shura Council or Majlis Alshoora (111 seats; members appointed by the president; member tenure NA)
House of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwaab (301 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms)
elections: Shura Council - last appointments NA (next appointments NA)
House of Representatives - last held in April 2019 (next to be held NA)
election results:
percent of vote by party - GPC 58.0%, Islah 22.6%, YSP 3.8%, Unionist Party 1.9%, other 13.7%; seats by party - GPC 238, Islah 46, YSP 8, Nasserist Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party 2, independent 4
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the court president, 2 deputies, and nearly 50 judges; court organized into constitutional, civil, commercial, family, administrative, criminal, military, and appeals scrutiny divisions)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Supreme Judicial Council, which is chaired by the president of the republic and includes 10 high-ranking judicial officers; judges serve for life with mandatory retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: appeal courts; district or first instance courts; commercial courts
Political parties and leaders: General People’s Congress or GPC (3 factions: pro-Hadi [Abdrabbi Mansur HADI], pro-Houthi [Sadeq Ameen Abu RAS], pro-Saleh [Ahmed SALEH]
National Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party [Qassem Salam SAID]
Nasserist Unionist People's Organization [Abdulmalik al-MEKHLAFI]
Southern Transitional Council or STC [Aidarus al-ZOUBAIDA]
Yemeni Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah al-YADUMI]
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Dr. Abd al-Rahman Umar al-SAQQAF]
(
International organization participation: AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CD, EITI (temporarily suspended), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMHA, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNVIM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohammed Al-HADHRAMI (since 2019)
chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
email address and website:
Information@yemenembassy.org
https://www.yemenembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven H. FAGIN (since 1 June 2022); note - the embassy closed in March 2015; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh
embassy: previously - Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: 6330 Sanaa Place, Washington DC 20521-6330
telephone: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-3800
previously - [967] 1 755-2000
FAX: US Embassy Riyadh [966] 11-488-7360
email address and website:
YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov
https://ye.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
National symbol(s): golden eagle; national colors: red, white, black
National anthem: name: "al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic)
lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
note: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Walled City of Shibam (c); Old City of Sana'a (c); Historic Town of Zabid (c); Socotra Archipelago (n)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen. However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014. Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.Yemen is a low-income country that faces difficult long-term challenges to stabilizing and growing its economy, and the current conflict has only exacerbated those issues. The ongoing war has halted Yemen’s exports, pressured the currency’s exchange rate, accelerated inflation, severely limited food and fuel imports, and caused widespread damage to infrastructure. The conflict has also created a severe humanitarian crisis - the world’s largest cholera outbreak currently at nearly 1 million cases, more than 7 million people at risk of famine, and more than 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Prior to the start of the conflict in 2014, Yemen was highly dependent on declining oil and gas resources for revenue. Oil and gas earnings accounted for roughly 25% of GDP and 65% of government revenue. The Yemeni Government regularly faced annual budget shortfalls and tried to diversify the Yemeni economy through a reform program designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. In July 2014, the government continued reform efforts by eliminating some fuel subsidies and in August 2014, the IMF approved a three-year, $570 million Extended Credit Facility for Yemen. However, the conflict that began in 2014 stalled these reform efforts and ongoing fighting continues to accelerate the country’s economic decline. In September 2016, President HADI announced the move of the main branch of Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden where his government could exert greater control over the central bank’s dwindling resources. Regardless of which group controls the main branch, the central bank system is struggling to function. Yemen’s Central Bank’s foreign reserves, which stood at roughly $5.2 billion prior to the conflict, have declined to negligible amounts. The Central Bank can no longer fully support imports of critical goods or the country’s exchange rate. The country also is facing a growing liquidity crisis and rising inflation. The private sector is hemorrhaging, with almost all businesses making substantial layoffs. Access to food and other critical commodities such as medical equipment is limited across the country due to security issues on the ground. The Social Welfare Fund, a cash transfer program for Yemen’s neediest, is no longer operational and has not made any disbursements since late 2014. Yemen will require significant international assistance during and after the protracted conflict to stabilize its economy. Long-term challenges include a high population growth rate, high unemployment, declining water resources, and severe food scarcity.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $73.63 billion (2017 est.)
$78.28 billion (2016 est.)
$90.63 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -5.9% (2017 est.)
-13.6% (2016 est.)
-16.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $2,500 (2017 est.)
$2,700 (2016 est.)
$3,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $54.356 billion (2018 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 24.7% (2017 est.)
-12.6% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 20.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 11.8% (2017 est.)
services: 67.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 116.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 17.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 2.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 7.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: mangoes/guavas, potatoes, sorghum, onions, milk, poultry, watermelons, grapes, oranges, bananas
Industries: crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles, leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; aluminum products; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 7.425 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor forcenote: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate: 27% (2014 est.)
35% (2003 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 24.5%
male: 23.5%
female: 34.6% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48.6% (2014 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36.7 (2014 est.)
37.3 (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2008 est.)
Budget: revenues: 2.821 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 4.458 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 74.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
68.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.236 billion (2017 est.)
-$1.868 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $384.5 million (2017 est.)
$940 million (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: China 53%, Saudi Arabia 10%, United Arab Emirates 7%, Australia 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, gold, fish, industrial chemical liquids, scrap iron (2019)
Imports: $4.079 billion (2017 est.)
$3.117 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: China 25%, Turkey 10%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Saudi Arabia 8%, India 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: wheat, refined petroleum, iron, rice, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $245.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$592.6 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $6.805 billion (2018 est.)
$7.181 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar -
275 (2017 est.)
214.9 (2016 est.)
214.9 (2015 est.)
228 (2014 est.)
214.89 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: population without electricity: 16 million (2019)
electrification - total population: 47% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 72% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 31% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.772 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 2,677,920,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 753 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 84.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 15.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 22,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 22,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 70,100 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 75,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 3 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 20,180 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 12,670 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 75,940 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 89.906 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 89.906 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 478.554 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 10.158 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 79,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 9.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 183,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 5.453 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1.24 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 15,357,900 (2019)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55.18 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Yemen continues to provide an exceptionally challenging market for telcos; civil unrest has caused havoc and devastation across most parts of the country, while the threat of sanctions has also made it a challenging environment in which to operate; a large proportion of the population requires humanitarian assistance, and there is little disposable income for services upon which telcos can generate revenue; essential telecom infrastructure, such as mobile towers and fiber cabling, has often been targeted, destroyed, or damaged by the opposing sides in the ongoing conflict; these difficulties have proved to be a disincentive to telcos investing in infrastructure, with the result that the country lacks basic fixed-line infrastructure, and mobile services are based on outdated GSM; this has prevented the development of a mobile broadband sector, or the evolution of mobile data services; the ownership of telecommunication services, and the scrutiny of associated revenues and taxes, have become a political issue in Yemen; in 2019 the recognized government moved Tele Yemen’s headquarters from Sana’a to Aden in a bid to regain control of the company; until telecom infrastructure can be improved across Yemen, and until civil unrest eases, there will be little progress for the sector; MTN Group in November 2021 completed its exit from the country, having incurred losses for several years, and considered that continuing its presence in this market was no longer worth its while. (2022)
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line teledensity remains low by regional standards at roughly 4 per 100 but mobile cellular use expanding at over 55 per 100 (2019)
international: country code - 967; landing points for the FALCON, SeaMeWe-5, Aden-Djibouti, and the AAE-1 international submarine cable connecting Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Southeast Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti (2020)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia can be accessed
Internet country code: .ye
Internet users: total: 7,873,719 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 27% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 391,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 336,310 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 3.27 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7O
Airports: total: 57 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 40
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 9 (2021)
Pipelines: 641 km gas, 22 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,370 km oil (2013)
Roadways: total: 71,300 km (2005)
paved: 6,200 km (2005)
unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)
Merchant marine: total: 34
by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 4, other 28 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: note - military and security forces operating in Yemen consist of a patchwork of government, non-state, and foreign-backed regular, semi-regular/militia, and paramilitary forces, often with informal command organizations and conflicting, fluid, or overlapping agendas, loyalties, and relationships; in addition, the Huthis maintain opposition military and security forces
Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) forces; Ministry of Defense: Yemeni National Army, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and Coastal Defense Forces, Border Guard, Strategic Reserve Forces (includes Special Forces and Presidential Protection Brigades, which are under the Ministry of Defense but responsible to the president), Popular Committee Forces (government-backed tribal militia); Ministry of Interior: Special Security Forces (paramilitary; formerly known as Central Security Forces), Political Security Organization (state security), National Security Bureau (intelligence), Counterterrorism Unit
Saudi-backed forces: paramilitary/militia border security brigades based largely on tribal or regional affiliation (deployed along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf)
United Arab Emirates-backed forces included tribal and regionally-based militia and paramilitary forces (concentrated in the southern governates): Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces, including the Security Belt Forces, the Shabwani and Hadrami “Elite” Forces, the Support and Backup Forces (aka Logistics and Support Forces), Facilities Protection Forces, and Anti-Terrorism Forces; Republican Forces; Joint Forces; note – under the 2019 Riyadh Agreement, the STC forces were to be incorporated into Yemen’s Ministries of Defense and Interior under the authority of the HADI government
Huthi: ground, air/air defense, coastal defense, presidential protection, special operations, missile, and tribal militia forces (2022)
note: a considerable portion--up to 70 percent by some estimates--of Yemen’s military and security forces defected in whole or in part to former president SALAH and the Huthi opposition in 2011-2015
Military expenditures: prior to the start of the civil war, annual military expenditures were approximately 4-5% of Yemen's GDP prior to the start of the civil war, annual military expenditures were approximately 4-5% of Yemen's GDP
Military and security service personnel strengths: information limited and widely varied; Yemen Government: up to 300,000 estimated military, paramilitary, militia, and other security forces; UAE- and Saudi-backed forces: estimated 150-200,000 trained militia and paramilitary fighters; Huthis: up to 200,000 estimated fighters (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Yemeni Government forces consists primarily of Russian and Soviet-era equipment, although much of it has been lost in the current conflict; since the start of the civil war in 2014, it has received limited amounts of donated equipment from some Gulf States, including Saudi Arabia and UAE
Huthi forces are armed with weapons seized from Yemeni Government forces; in addition, they have reportedly received arms from Iran (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2001; 2-year service obligation (note - limited information since the start of the civil war) (2021)
Military - note: in 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government (ROYG) against the separatist Huthis; as of early 2022, the conflict had become largely stalemated, but the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces), ROYG forces, and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although some ground fighting was also taking place over the key oil-rich province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen based largely on tribal or regional affiliation to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf; in April 2022, the warring parties agreed to a two-month cease-fire
the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in Yemen in 2015 as part of the Saudi-led coalition with about 3,500 troops, as well as supporting air and naval forces; UAE withdrew its main military force from Yemen in 2019, but has retained a small military presence while working with proxies in southern Yemen, most notably the Southern Transitional Council (STC); as of 2021, UAE had recruited, trained, and equipped an estimated 150-200,000 Yemeni fighters and formed them into dozens of militia and paramilitary units
Iran reportedly has backed the Huthi forces by providing military training, lethal support, and technical assistance; Iran has said it supports the Huthis politically, but denies sending the group weapons (2022)
Maritime threats: the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean."the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued Maritime Advisory 2022-003 (Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and Piracy) effective 28 February 2022, which states in part the "Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to US flagged commercial vessels transiting the southern Red Sea, Bab al Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden. Threats may come from a variety of different sources including, but not limited to, missiles, rockets, projectiles, mines, small arms, unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, or waterborne improvised explosive devices. These threat vectors continue to pose a direct or collateral risk to US flagged commercial vessels operating in the region. Additionally, piracy poses a threat in the Gulf of Aden, Western Arabian Sea, and Western Indian Ocean."
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham - Yemen; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Yemen-Oman: none identified Yemen-Saudia Arabia: in 2004, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities, including militants and arms; in 2013 and 2015, Saudi Arabia again erected fences
Yemen-Oman: none identifiedYemen-Saudia Arabia: in 2004, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities, including militants and arms; in 2013 and 2015, Saudi Arabia again erected fences
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 69,230 (Somalia), 18,153 (Ethiopia) (2022)
IDPs: 4,288,739 (conflict in Sa'ada Governorate; clashes between al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and government forces) (2022) |
20220901 | field-civil-aircraft-registration-country-code-prefix | This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to five characters for the specific aircraft. The prefix codes are based upon radio call-signs allocated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to each country. Since 1947, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has managed code standards and their allocation.
Topic: AfghanistanYA
Topic: AlbaniaZA
Topic: Algeria7T
Topic: AndorraC3
Topic: AngolaD2
Topic: AnguillaVP-A
Topic: Antigua and BarbudaV2
Topic: ArgentinaLV
Topic: ArmeniaEK
Topic: ArubaP4
Topic: AustraliaVH
Topic: AustriaOE
Topic: Azerbaijan4K
Topic: Bahamas, TheC6
Topic: BahrainA9C
Topic: BangladeshS2
Topic: Barbados8P
Topic: BelarusEW
Topic: BelgiumOO
Topic: BelizeV3
Topic: BeninTY
Topic: BermudaVP-B
Topic: BhutanA5
Topic: BoliviaCP
Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaT9
Topic: BotswanaA2
Topic: BrazilPP
Topic: British Virgin IslandsVP-L
Topic: BruneiV8
Topic: BulgariaLZ
Topic: Burkina FasoXT
Topic: BurmaXY
Topic: Burundi9U
Topic: Cabo VerdeD4
Topic: CambodiaXU
Topic: CameroonTJ
Topic: CanadaC
Topic: Cayman IslandsVP-C
Topic: Central African RepublicTL
Topic: ChadTT
Topic: ChileCC
Topic: ChinaB
Topic: ColombiaHJ, HK
Topic: ComorosD6
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the9Q
Topic: Congo, Republic of theTN
Topic: Cook IslandsE5
Topic: Costa RicaTI
Topic: Cote d'IvoireTU
Topic: Croatia9A
Topic: CubaCU
Topic: CuracaoPJ
Topic: Cyprus5B
Topic: CzechiaOK
Topic: DenmarkOY
Topic: DjiboutiJ2
Topic: DominicaJ7
Topic: Dominican RepublicHI
Topic: EcuadorHC
Topic: EgyptSU
Topic: El SalvadorYS
Topic: Equatorial Guinea3C
Topic: EritreaE3
Topic: EstoniaES
Topic: Eswatini3DC
Topic: EthiopiaET
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)VP-F
Topic: Faroe IslandsOY-H
Topic: FijiDQ
Topic: FinlandOH
Topic: FranceF
Topic: French PolynesiaF-OH
Topic: GabonTR
Topic: Gambia, TheC5
Topic: Georgia4L
Topic: GermanyD
Topic: Ghana9G
Topic: GibraltarVP-G
Topic: GreeceSX
Topic: GreenlandOY-H
Topic: GrenadaJ3
Topic: GuamN
Topic: GuatemalaTG
Topic: Guernsey2
Topic: Guinea3X
Topic: Guinea-BissauJ5
Topic: Guyana8R
Topic: HaitiHH
Topic: HondurasHR
Topic: Hong KongB-H
Topic: HungaryHA
Topic: IcelandTF
Topic: IndiaVT
Topic: IndonesiaPK
Topic: IranEP
Topic: IraqYI
Topic: IrelandEI
Topic: Isle of ManM
Topic: Israel4X
Topic: ItalyI
Topic: Jamaica6Y
Topic: JapanJA
Topic: JordanJY
Topic: KazakhstanUP
Topic: Kenya5Y
Topic: KiribatiT3
Topic: Korea, NorthP
Topic: Korea, SouthHL
Topic: KosovoZ6
Topic: Kuwait9K
Topic: KyrgyzstanEX
Topic: LaosRDPL
Topic: LatviaYL
Topic: LebanonOD
Topic: Lesotho7P
Topic: LiberiaA8
Topic: Libya5A
Topic: LiechtensteinHB
Topic: LithuaniaLY
Topic: LuxembourgLX
Topic: MacauB-M
Topic: Madagascar5R
Topic: Malawi7Q
Topic: Malaysia9M
Topic: Maldives8Q
Topic: MaliTZ, TT
Topic: Malta9H
Topic: Marshall IslandsV7
Topic: Mauritania5T
Topic: Mauritius3B
Topic: MexicoXA
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofV6
Topic: MoldovaER
Topic: Monaco3A
Topic: MongoliaJU
Topic: Montenegro4O
Topic: MontserratVP-M
Topic: MoroccoCN
Topic: MozambiqueC9
Topic: NamibiaV5
Topic: NauruC2
Topic: Nepal9N
Topic: NetherlandsPH
Topic: New ZealandZK
Topic: NicaraguaYN
Topic: Niger5U
Topic: Nigeria5N
Topic: North MacedoniaZ3
Topic: NorwayLN
Topic: OmanA4O
Topic: PakistanAP
Topic: PalauT8
Topic: PanamaHP
Topic: Papua New GuineaP2
Topic: ParaguayZP
Topic: PeruOB
Topic: PhilippinesRP
Topic: PolandSP
Topic: PortugalCR, CS
Topic: QatarA7
Topic: RomaniaYR
Topic: RussiaRA
Topic: Rwanda9XR
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaVQ-H
Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisV4
Topic: Saint LuciaJ6
Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesJ8
Topic: Samoa5W
Topic: San MarinoT7
Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeS9
Topic: Saudi ArabiaHZ
Topic: Senegal6V
Topic: SerbiaYU
Topic: SeychellesS7
Topic: Sierra Leone9L
Topic: Singapore9V
Topic: SlovakiaOM
Topic: SloveniaS5
Topic: Solomon IslandsH4
Topic: Somalia6O
Topic: South AfricaZS
Topic: South SudanZ8
Topic: SpainEC
Topic: Sri Lanka4R
Topic: SudanST
Topic: SurinamePZ
Topic: SwedenSE
Topic: SwitzerlandHB
Topic: SyriaYK
Topic: TaiwanB
Topic: TajikistanEY
Topic: Tanzania5H
Topic: ThailandHS
Topic: Timor-Leste4W
Topic: Togo5V
Topic: TongaA3
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago9Y
Topic: TunisiaTS
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)TC
Topic: TurkmenistanEZ
Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsVQ-T
Topic: TuvaluT2
Topic: Uganda5X
Topic: UkraineUR
Topic: United Arab EmiratesA6
Topic: United KingdomG
Topic: United StatesN
Topic: UruguayCX
Topic: UzbekistanUK
Topic: VanuatuYJ
Topic: VenezuelaYV
Topic: VietnamVN
Topic: Yemen7O
Topic: Zambia9J
Topic: ZimbabweZ |
20220901 | field-internet-users |
Topic: CIA.gov has changed . . .If you arrived at this page using a bookmark or favorites link, please update it accordingly.Please use the search form or the links below to find the information you seek.Thank you for visiting CIA.gov.The CIA Web Team |
20220901 | countries-saudi-arabia |
Topic: Photos of Saudi Arabia
Topic: Introduction
Background: Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure. From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism. The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. Since then, he has jockeyed for influence with neighboring countries in a bid to be the region’s main power broker. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices. In early 2020, this agreement by the so-called OPEC+ coalition collapsed. Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to OPEC+’s largest and longest-lasting output cut. This cut helped to buoy prices that had collapsed as a result of the price war and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. One of his male descendants rules the country today, as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong ongoing campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. US troops returned to the Kingdom in October 2019 after attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.From 2005 to 2015, King ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud incrementally modernized the Kingdom. Driven by personal ideology and political pragmatism, he introduced a series of social and economic initiatives, including expanding employment and social opportunities for women, attracting foreign investment, increasing the role of the private sector in the economy, and discouraging businesses from hiring foreign workers. These reforms have accelerated under King SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz, who ascended to the throne in 2015, and has since lifted the Kingdom's ban on women driving, implemented education reforms, funded green initiatives, and allowed cinemas to operate for the first time in decades. Saudi Arabia saw some protests during the 2011 Arab Spring but not the level of bloodshed seen in protests elsewhere in the region. Shia Muslims in the Eastern Province protested primarily against the detention of political prisoners, endemic discrimination, and Bahraini and Saudi Government actions in Bahrain. Riyadh took a cautious but firm approach by arresting some protesters but releasing most of them quickly and by using its state-sponsored clerics to counter political and Islamist activism.The government held its first-ever elections in 2005 and 2011, when Saudis went to the polls to elect municipal councilors. In December 2015, women were allowed to vote and stand as candidates for the first time in municipal council elections, with 19 women winning seats. After King SALMAN ascended to the throne in 2015, he placed the first next-generation prince, MUHAMMAD BIN NAYIF bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, in the line of succession as Crown Prince. He designated his son, MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, as the Deputy Crown Prince. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia led a coalition of 10 countries in a military campaign to restore the legitimate government of Yemen, which had been ousted by Huthi forces allied with former president ALI ABDULLAH al-Salih. The war in Yemen has drawn international criticism for civilian casualties and its effect on the country’s dire humanitarian situation. In December 2015, then Deputy Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced Saudi Arabia would lead a 34-nation Islamic Coalition to fight terrorism (it has since grown to 41 nations). In May 2017, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the Global Center for Combatting Extremist Ideology (also known as "Etidal") as part of its ongoing efforts to counter violent extremism. In June 2017, King SALMAN elevated MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN to Crown Prince. Since then, he has jockeyed for influence with neighboring countries in a bid to be the region’s main power broker.The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds about 17% of the world's proven oil reserves as of 2020. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the Kingdom. In April 2016, the Saudi Government announced a broad set of socio-economic reforms, known as Vision 2030. Low global oil prices throughout 2015 and 2016 significantly lowered Saudi Arabia’s governmental revenue. In response, the government cut subsidies on water, electricity, and gasoline; reduced government employee compensation packages; and announced limited new land taxes. In coordination with OPEC and some key non-OPEC countries, Saudi Arabia agreed to cut oil output in early 2017 to regulate supply and help elevate global prices. In early 2020, this agreement by the so-called OPEC+ coalition collapsed. Saudi Arabia launched a price war by flooding the market with low-priced oil before returning to the negotiating table to agree to OPEC+’s largest and longest-lasting output cut. This cut helped to buoy prices that had collapsed as a result of the price war and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 4,272 km
border countries (7): Iraq 811 km; Jordan 731 km; Kuwait 221 km; Oman 658 km; Qatar 87 km; UAE 457 km; Yemen 1,307 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain: mostly sandy desert
Elevation: highest point: As Sarawat range, 3,000 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
mean elevation: 665 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use: agricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.5% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,200 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Natural hazards: frequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yarfrequent sand and dust stormsvolcanism: despite many volcanic formations, there has been little activity in the past few centuries; volcanoes include Harrat Rahat, Harrat Khaybar, Harrat Lunayyir, and Jabal Yar
Geography - note: Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the world without a river; extensive coastlines on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea allow for considerable shipping (especially of crude oil) through the Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
Map description: Saudi Arabia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.Saudi Arabia map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 35,354,380 (2022 est.)
note: immigrants make up 38.3% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Nationality: noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Languages: Arabic (official)
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim (official; citizens are 85-90% Sunni and 10-12% Shia), other (includes Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Sikh) (2020 est.)
note: despite having a large expatriate community of various faiths (more than 30% of the population), most forms of public religious expression inconsistent with the government-sanctioned interpretation of Sunni Islam are restricted; non-Muslims are not allowed to have Saudi citizenship and non-Muslim places of worship are not permitted (2013)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24.84% (male 4,327,830/female 4,159,242)
15-24 years: 15.38% (male 2,741,371/female 2,515,188)
25-54 years: 50.2% (male 10,350,028/female 6,804,479)
55-64 years: 5.95% (male 1,254,921/female 778,467)
65 years and over: 3.63% (2020 est.) (male 657,395/female 584,577)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 39.3
youth dependency ratio: 34.4
elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
potential support ratio: 20.5 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 30.8 years
male: 33 years
female: 27.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 14.22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 3.42 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: historically a population that was mostly nomadic or semi-nomadic, the Saudi population has become more settled since petroleum was discovered in the 1930s; most of the economic activities - and with it the country's population - is concentrated in a wide area across the middle of the peninsula, from Ad Dammam in the east, through Riyadh in the interior, to Mecca-Medina in the west near the Red Sea
Urbanization: urban population: 84.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 7.538 million RIYADH (capital), 4.781 million Jeddah, 2.115 million Mecca, 1.545 million Medina, 1.305 million Ad Dammam, 860,000 million Hufuf-Mubarraz (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.54 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.62 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.65 years
male: 75.07 years
female: 78.32 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.7% (2019)
Physicians density: 2.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2020 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 12,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 35.4% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 14.3% (2020 est.)
male: 26.5% (2020 est.)
female: 2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 96% (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.2%
male: 21.5%
female: 43.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 78.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 563.45 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 45.47 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Land use: agricultural land: 80.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1.5% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 79.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.5% (2018 est.)
other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 84.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.69% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 16,125,701 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,418,855 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 15% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: (Persian Gulf) Tigris and Euphrates (918,044 sq km)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 3.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 19.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
etymology: named after the ruling dynasty of the country, the House of Saud; the name "Arabia" can be traced back many centuries B.C., the ancient Egyptians referred to the region as "Ar Rabi"
Government type: absolute monarchy
Capital: name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 39 N, 46 42 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Arabic word "riyadh," meaning "gardens," and refers to various oasis towns in the area that merged to form the city
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday: Saudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)
Constitution: history: 1 March 1992 - Basic Law of Government, issued by royal decree, serves as the constitutional framework and is based on the Qur'an and the life and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad
amendments: proposed by the king directly or proposed to the king by the Consultative Assembly or by the Council of Ministers; passage by the king through royal decree; Basic Law amended many times, last in 2017
Legal system: Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Saudi Arabia; a child born out of wedlock in Saudi Arabia to a Saudi mother and unknown father
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; restricted to males; universal for municipal elections
Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 23 January 2015); Crown Prince MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (born 31 August 1985)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every 4 years and includes many royal family members
elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary; an Allegiance Council created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes for a voice in selecting future Saudi kings
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 seats plus a speaker; members appointed by the monarch to serve 4-year terms); note - in early 2013, the monarch granted women 30 seats on the Council
note: composition as of 2021 - men 121, women 30, percent of women 19.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court (consists of the court chief and organized into circuits with 3-judge panels, except for the criminal circuit, which has a 5-judge panel for cases involving major punishments)
judge selection and term of office: High Court chief and chiefs of the High Court Circuits appointed by royal decree upon the recommendation of the Supreme Judiciary Council, a 10-member body of high-level judges and other judicial heads; new judges and assistant judges serve 1- and 2-year probations, respectively, before permanent assignment
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Specialized Criminal Court, first-degree courts composed of general, criminal, personal status, and commercial courts; Labor Court; a hierarchy of administrative courts
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, CAEU, CP, FAO, G-20, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Princess RIMA bint Bandar bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 8 July 2019)
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 295-3625
email address and website:
info@saudiembassy.net
https://www.saudiembassy.net/
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Martina STRONG (since February 2021)
embassy: Riyadh 11564
mailing address: 6300 Riyadh Place, Washington DC 20521-6300
telephone: [966] (11) 835-4000
FAX: [966] (11) 488-7360
email address and website:
RiyadhACS@state.gov
https://sa.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jeddah
Flag description: green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family, which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides
note: the only national flag to display an inscription as its principal design; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay
National symbol(s): palm tree surmounting two crossed swords; national colors: green, white
National anthem: name: "Aash Al Maleek" (Long Live Our Beloved King)
lyrics/music: Ibrahim KHAFAJI/Abdul Rahman al-KHATEEB
note: music adopted 1947, lyrics adopted 1984
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 6 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā ͐ in Ṣāliḥ); At-Turaif District in ad-Dir'iyah; Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Makkah; Rock Art in the Hail Region; Al-Ahsa Oasis; Ḥimā Cultural Area
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 16% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 87% of budget revenues, 42% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Approximately 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors; at the same time, however, Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population. In 2017, the Kingdom incurred a budget deficit estimated at 8.3% of GDP, which was financed by bond sales and drawing down reserves. Although the Kingdom can finance high deficits for several years by drawing down its considerable foreign assets or by borrowing, it has cut capital spending and reduced subsidies on electricity, water, and petroleum products and recently introduced a value-added tax of 5%. In January 2016, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia intends to list shares of its state-owned petroleum company, ARAMCO - another move to increase revenue and outside investment. The government has also looked at privatization and diversification of the economy more closely in the wake of a diminished oil market. Historically, Saudi Arabia has focused diversification efforts on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. More recently, the government has approached investors about expanding the role of the private sector in the health care, education and tourism industries. While Saudi Arabia has emphasized their goals of diversification for some time, current low oil prices may force the government to make more drastic changes ahead of their long-run timeline.Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses about 16% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 87% of budget revenues, 42% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia is encouraging the growth of the private sector in order to diversify its economy and to employ more Saudi nationals. Approximately 6 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors; at the same time, however, Riyadh is struggling to reduce unemployment among its own nationals. Saudi officials are particularly focused on employing its large youth population. In 2017, the Kingdom incurred a budget deficit estimated at 8.3% of GDP, which was financed by bond sales and drawing down reserves. Although the Kingdom can finance high deficits for several years by drawing down its considerable foreign assets or by borrowing, it has cut capital spending and reduced subsidies on electricity, water, and petroleum products and recently introduced a value-added tax of 5%. In January 2016, Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD BIN SALMAN announced that Saudi Arabia intends to list shares of its state-owned petroleum company, ARAMCO - another move to increase revenue and outside investment. The government has also looked at privatization and diversification of the economy more closely in the wake of a diminished oil market. Historically, Saudi Arabia has focused diversification efforts on power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemical sectors. More recently, the government has approached investors about expanding the role of the private sector in the health care, education and tourism industries. While Saudi Arabia has emphasized their goals of diversification for some time, current low oil prices may force the government to make more drastic changes ahead of their long-run timeline.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,543,240,000,000 (2020 est.)
$1,609,320,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,604,010,000,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -0.9% (2017 est.)
1.7% (2016 est.)
4.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $44,300 (2020 est.)
$47,000 (2019 est.)
$47,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $792.849 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (2019 est.)
-4.5% (2018 est.)
-0.8% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2019)
Moody's rating: A1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 44.2% (2017 est.)
services: 53.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 41.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 23.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 4.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 34.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -28.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, dates, poultry, fruit, watermelons, barley, wheat, potatoes, eggs, tomatoes
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate: -2.4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 13.8 million (2017 est.)
note: comprised of 3.1 million Saudis and 10.7 million non-Saudis
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 21.4%
services: 71.9% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6% (2017 est.)
5.6% (2016 est.)
note: data are for total population; unemployment among Saudi nationals is more than double
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 27.2%
male: 21.5%
female: 43.8% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 45.9 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 181 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 241.8 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 17.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
13.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $15.23 billion (2017 est.)
-$23.87 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $184.11 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$285.86 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$314.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: China 20%, India 11%, Japan 11%, South Korea 9%, United States 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, natural gas (2019)
Imports: $179.8 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$218.94 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$209.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 18%, United Arab Emirates 12%, United States 9%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, telephones (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $496.4 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$535.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $205.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$189.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SAR) per US dollar -
3.7514 (2020 est.)
3.75 (2019 est.)
3.7518 (2018 est.)
3.75 (2014 est.)
3.75 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 76.785 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 331,381,500,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 31.055 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 73,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 10,815,700 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 3,182,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 7,340,800 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 258.6 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 2.476 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 1.784 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 609,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 113,776,648,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 113,776,648,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 9,422,812,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 579.925 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 300,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 358.414 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 221.211 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 296.949 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,749,058 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 43,215,439 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Saudi Arabia’s telecom and ICT sectors continue to benefit from the range of programs aimed at diversifying the economy away from a dependence on oil, and establishing a wider digital transformation over the next decade; an essential element of this has been the widening reach of 5G networks, which by mid-2021 reached about half of the population and the majority of cities; the competitive mobile sector is serviced by Saudi Telecom Company (stc), Mobily, and Zain KSA, as also four licensed MVNOs; the MNOs have focused investment on upgrading LTE infrastructure and further developing 5G; this in part is aimed at generating additional revenue from mobile data services, and also to their contribution to the Vision 2030 program; the ongoing pandemic has resulted in more people working and schooling from home during periods of restricted travel; this has stimulated growth in mobile data traffic, while the government has encouraged non-cash transactions and so helped develop the vast e-commerce market; while Saudi Arabia’s fixed broadband penetration remains relatively low, there has been a concentration of fiber infrastructure and the Kingdom has developed one of the fastest services in the region. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line over 16 per 100 and mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly to roughly 124 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 966; landing points for the SeaMeWe-3, -4, -5, AAE-1, EIG, FALCON, FEA, IMEWE, MENA/Gulf Bridge International, SEACOM, SAS-1, -2, GBICS/MENA, and the Tata TGN-Gulf submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: broadcast media are state-controlled; state-run TV operates 4 networks; Saudi Arabia is a major market for pan-Arab satellite TV broadcasters; state-run radio operates several networks; multiple international broadcasters are available
Internet country code: .sa
Internet users: total: 34,117,590 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 98% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,890,261 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Communications - note: the innovative King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (informally known as Ithra, meaning "enrichment") opened on 1 December 2017 in Dhahran, Eastern Region; its facilities include a grand library, several museums, an archive, an Idea Lab, a theater, a cinema, and an Energy Exhibit, all which are meant to provide visitors an immersive and transformative experience
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 12 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 230
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 39,141,660 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,085,470,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HZ
Airports: total: 214 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 82
over 3,047 m: 33
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 132
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 16 (2021)
Heliports: 10 (2021)
Pipelines: 209 km condensate, 2,940 km gas, 1,183 km liquid petroleum gas, 5,117 km oil, 1,151 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 5,410 km (2016)
standard gauge: 5,410 km (2016) 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings)
Roadways: total: 221,372 km (2006)
paved: 47,529 km (2006) (includes 3,891 km of expressways)
unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)
Merchant marine: total: 392
by type: bulk carrier 5, container ship 1, general cargo 21, oil tanker 58, other 307 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, King Abdulla, Yanbu'
container port(s) (TEUs): Ad Dammam (1,822,642), Jeddah (4,433,991), King Abdulla (2,020,683) (2019)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ministry of Defense: Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Naval Forces (includes marines, special forces, naval aviation), Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, Royal Saudi Strategic Missiles Force; Ministry of the National Guard (SANG); Ministry of Interior: police, Border Guard, Facilities Security Force; State Security Presidency: General Directorate of Investigation (Mabahith), Special Security Forces, Special Emergency Forces (2022)
note: SANG (also known as the White Army) is a land force separate from the Ministry of Defense that is responsible for internal security, protecting the royal family, and external defense
Military expenditures: 6% of GDP (2021 est.)
7.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
8.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $92.2 billion)
10% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $103 billion)
11.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $111 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Saudi military forces have about 225,000 total active troops; approximately 125,000 under the Ministry of Defense (75,000 Land Forces; 15,000 Naval Forces, including about 3,000 marines; 35,000 Air Force/Air Defense/Strategic Missile Forces) and approximately 100,000 in the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) (2022)
note: SANG also has an irregular force (Fowj), primarily Bedouin tribal volunteers, with a total strength of approximately 25,000
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Saudi military forces, including the SANG, includes a mix of mostly modern weapons systems from the US and Europe; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of armaments; as of 2020-21, Saudi Arabia was the world's largest arms importer (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 17-40 for men; no conscription; as of 2021, women (aged 18-40) were allowed to serve in the Army, Air Defense, Navy, Strategic Missile Force, medical services, and internal security forces up to the rank of non-commissioned officer (2021)
Military deployments: estimated 2,500-5,000 Yemen (varies depending on operations) (2022)
Military - note: in 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawfin 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states intervened militarily in Yemen in support of the Republic of Yemen Government against the separatist Huthis; as of 2022, the coalition (consisting largely of Saudi forces) and the Huthis continued to engage in fighting, mostly with air and missile forces, although ground fighting was also reportedly taking place over the key province of Marib; the Saudis have conducted numerous air strikes in northern Yemen, while the Huthis have launched attacks into Saudi territory with ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles armed with explosives; the Saudi-led coalition controlled the country’s airspace and the port of Hodeida; Saudi Arabia also has raised and equipped paramilitary/militia security forces in Yemen--based largely on tribal or regional affiliation--to deploy along the Saudi-Yemen border, especially the areas bordering the governorates of Saada and Al-Jawf
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Saudi Arabia-Bahrain: none identified Saudi Arabia-Iraq: Saudi Arabia has been building a fence along its border with Iraq to keep out militants and smugglers Saudi Arabia-Jordan: Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to demarcate their maritime borders in 2007 Saudi Arabia-Kuwait: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; in December 2019, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to demarcate land in a neutral zone and to restart oil production in shared fields, which had been suspended since 2014 because of disagreements Saudi Arabia-Oman: none identified Saudi Arabia-Qatar: none identified Saudi Arabia-UAE: Saudi Arabia and UAE have disputed the Shaybah oilfield, which Saudi Arabia controls Saudi Arabia-Yemen: the two countries signed the Treaty of Jeddah in 2000, which specified the coordinates of their land and maritime border and made provisions for grazing, the placement of armed forces, and future resource exploitation; in 2010, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal crossborder activitiesSaudi Arabia-Bahrain: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-Iraq: Saudi Arabia has been building a fence along its border with Iraq to keep out militants and smugglersSaudi Arabia-Jordan: Jordan and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to demarcate their maritime borders in 2007Saudi Arabia-Kuwait: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; in December 2019, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait signed an agreement to demarcate land in a neutral zone and to restart oil production in shared fields, which had been suspended since 2014 because of disagreementsSaudi Arabia-Oman: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-Qatar: none identifiedSaudi Arabia-UAE: Saudi Arabia and UAE have disputed the Shaybah oilfield, which Saudi Arabia controlsSaudi Arabia-Yemen: the two countries signed the Treaty of Jeddah in 2000, which specified the coordinates of their land and maritime border and made provisions for grazing, the placement of armed forces, and future resource exploitation; in 2010, Saudi Arabia reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal crossborder activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons: 70,000 (mid-year 2021); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and, to a lesser extent, forced prostitution; men and women primarily from South and Southeast Asia and Africa voluntarily travel to Saudi Arabia to work in domestic service, construction, agriculture or other low-skilled jobs, but some subsequently face conditions indicative of involuntary servitude (many are forced to work months or years beyond their contract term because employers withhold passports and required exit visas); women, primarily from Asian and African countries, are reported to be forced into prostitution in Saudi Arabia
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Saudi Arabia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so and was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; the government enacted the country’s first-ever national referral mechanism (NRM) and increased the number of prosecutions and convictions under the anti-trafficking law; victims are identified and referred for care; the government convicted and sentenced two Saudi officials complicit in trafficking crimes; however, the government continued to fine, jail, and/or deport migrant workers for prostitution or immigration violations who may have been trafficking victims; authorities regularly misclassified potential trafficking crimes as labor law violations rather than as criminal offenses (2020)Tier 2 Watch List — Saudi Arabia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, but is making significant efforts to do so and was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List;
Illicit drugs: regularly sentences drug traffickers to the death penalty, although a moratorium on executions for drug offences has been in place since at least 2020; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement |
20220901 | europe | |
20220901 | countries-malawi |
Topic: Photos of Malawi
Topic: Introduction
Background: Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400 during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. Several of Malawi’s ethnic groups trace their origins to different Maravi lineages. A powerful Maravi kingdom, established around 1500, reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi as well as portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia before beginning to decline because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group - which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique - introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s; in the late 1800s, members of the Lomwe ethnic group also moved into southern Malawi from Mozambique. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and Britain declared a protectorate, called British Central Africa, over what is now Malawi in 1891 and eliminated various political entities that sought to retain their autonomy over the subsequent decade. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907 and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe - from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964. Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and, when the country became a republic in 1966, he became president. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party, in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA, who had earlier started her own party, the People's Party. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new the election, and in 2020 Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president after defeating MUTHARIKA as head of a coalition of opposition parties. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.Malawi shares its name with the Chewa word for flames and is linked to the Maravi people from whom the Chewa language originated. The Maravi settled in what is now Malawi around 1400 during one of the later waves of Bantu migration across central and southern Africa. Several of Malawi’s ethnic groups trace their origins to different Maravi lineages. A powerful Maravi kingdom, established around 1500, reached its zenith around 1700, when it controlled what is now southern and central Malawi as well as portions of neighboring Mozambique and Zambia before beginning to decline because of destabilization from the escalating global trade in enslaved people. In the early 1800s, widespread conflict in southern Africa displaced various ethnic Ngoni groups, some of which moved into Malawi and further undermined the Maravi. Members of the Yao ethnic group - which had long traded with Malawi from Mozambique - introduced Islam and began to settle in Malawi in significant numbers in the mid-1800s; in the late 1800s, members of the Lomwe ethnic group also moved into southern Malawi from Mozambique. British missionary and trading activity increased in the area around Lake Nyasa in the mid-1800s, and Britain declared a protectorate, called British Central Africa, over what is now Malawi in 1891 and eliminated various political entities that sought to retain their autonomy over the subsequent decade. The British renamed the territory Nyasaland in 1907 and it was part of the colonial Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - including present-day Zambia and Zimbabwe - from 1953 to 1963 before gaining independence as Malawi in 1964.Hastings Kamuzu BANDA served as prime minister at independence and, when the country became a republic in 1966, he became president. He later instituted one-party rule under his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and was declared president for life. After three decades of one-party rule, the country held multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in 1994 under a provisional constitution that came into full effect the following year. Bakili MULUZI of the United Democratic Front party became the first freely elected president of Malawi when he defeated BANDA at the polls in 1994; he won reelection in 1999. President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA was elected in 2004 and subsequently started his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party, in 2005. MUTHARIKA was reelected to a second term in 2009. He died abruptly in 2012 and was succeeded by Vice President Joyce BANDA, who had earlier started her own party, the People's Party. MUTHARIKA's brother, Peter MUTHARIKA, defeated BANDA in the election in 2014. Peter MUTHARIKA was reelected in a disputed election in 2019 that resulted in countrywide protests. The courts ordered a new the election, and in 2020 Lazarus CHAKWERA of the MCP was elected president after defeating MUTHARIKA as head of a coalition of opposition parties. Population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, corruption, and the scourge of HIV/AIDS pose major problems for Malawi.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Zambia, west and north of Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 S, 34 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 118,484 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,404 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 2,857 km
border countries (3): Mozambique 1,498 km; Tanzania 512 km; Zambia 847 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Terrain: narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains
Elevation: highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
mean elevation: 779 m
Natural resources: limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite
Land use: agricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 34% (2018 est.)
other: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490
Salt water lake(s): Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Population distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: flooding; droughts; earthquakes
Geography - note: landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature; it contains more fish species than any other lake on earth
Map description: Malawi map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Malawi map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 20,794,353 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian
Ethnic groups: Chewa 34.3%, Lomwe 18.8%, Yao 13.2%, Ngoni 10.4%, Tumbuka 9.2%, Sena 3.8%, Mang'anja 3.2%, Tonga 1.8%, Nyanja 1.8%, Nkhonde 1%, other 2.2%, foreign 0.3% (2018 est.)
Languages: English (official), Chewa (common), Lambya, Lomwe, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Nyakyusa, Nyanja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka, Yao
note: Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects; Nkhonde and Nyakyusa are mutually intelligible dialects
Religions: Protestant 33.5% (includes Church of Central Africa Presbyterian 14.2%, Seventh Day Adventist/Baptist 9.4%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 2.3%), Roman Catholic 17.2%, other Christian 26.6%, Muslim 13.8%, traditionalist 1.1%, other 5.6%, none 2.1% (2018 est.)
Demographic profile: Malawi has made great improvements in maternal and child health, but has made less progress in reducing its high fertility rate. In both rural and urban areas, very high proportions of mothers are receiving prenatal care and skilled birth assistance, and most children are being vaccinated. Malawi’s fertility rate, however, has only declined slowly, decreasing from more than 7 children per woman in the 1980s to about 5.5 today. Nonetheless, Malawians prefer smaller families than in the past, and women are increasingly using contraceptives to prevent or space pregnancies. Rapid population growth and high population density is putting pressure on Malawi’s land, water, and forest resources. Reduced plot sizes and increasing vulnerability to climate change, further threaten the sustainability of Malawi’s agriculturally based economy and will worsen food shortages. About 80% of the population is employed in agriculture.Historically, Malawians migrated abroad in search of work, primarily to South Africa and present-day Zimbabwe, but international migration became uncommon after the 1970s, and most migration in recent years has been internal. During the colonial period, Malawians regularly migrated to southern Africa as contract farm laborers, miners, and domestic servants. In the decade and a half after independence in 1964, the Malawian Government sought to transform its economy from one dependent on small-scale farms to one based on estate agriculture. The resulting demand for wage labor induced more than 300,000 Malawians to return home between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s. In recent times, internal migration has generally been local, motivated more by marriage than economic reasons.Malawi has made great improvements in maternal and child health, but has made less progress in reducing its high fertility rate. In both rural and urban areas, very high proportions of mothers are receiving prenatal care and skilled birth assistance, and most children are being vaccinated. Malawi’s fertility rate, however, has only declined slowly, decreasing from more than 7 children per woman in the 1980s to about 5.5 today. Nonetheless, Malawians prefer smaller families than in the past, and women are increasingly using contraceptives to prevent or space pregnancies. Rapid population growth and high population density is putting pressure on Malawi’s land, water, and forest resources. Reduced plot sizes and increasing vulnerability to climate change, further threaten the sustainability of Malawi’s agriculturally based economy and will worsen food shortages. About 80% of the population is employed in agriculture.Historically, Malawians migrated abroad in search of work, primarily to South Africa and present-day Zimbabwe, but international migration became uncommon after the 1970s, and most migration in recent years has been internal. During the colonial period, Malawians regularly migrated to southern Africa as contract farm laborers, miners, and domestic servants. In the decade and a half after independence in 1964, the Malawian Government sought to transform its economy from one dependent on small-scale farms to one based on estate agriculture. The resulting demand for wage labor induced more than 300,000 Malawians to return home between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s. In recent times, internal migration has generally been local, motivated more by marriage than economic reasons.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.87% (male 4,843,107/female 4,878,983)
15-24 years: 20.51% (male 2,151,417/female 2,195,939)
25-54 years: 27.96% (male 2,944,936/female 2,982,195)
55-64 years: 2.98% (male 303,803/female 328,092)
65 years and over: 2.68% (2020 est.) (male 249,219/female 318,938)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 83.9
youth dependency ratio: 79.1
elderly dependency ratio: 4.9
potential support ratio: 20.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 16.8 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 16.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 27.94 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.58 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population density is highest south of Lake Nyasa as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 18% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.222 million LILONGWE (capital), 995,000 Blantyre-Limbe (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.1 years (2015/16 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 349 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 33.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 37.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.44 years
male: 69.33 years
female: 75.59 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 59.2% (2015/16)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.7% of population
rural: 91% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.3% of population
rural: 9% of population
total: 8% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.4% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 59.9% of population
rural: 35.9% of population
total: 40% of population
unimproved: urban: 40.1% of population
rural: 64.1% of population
total: 60% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 8.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 990,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 12,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Malawi is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 5.8% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 10.8% (2020 est.)
male: 17.5% (2020 est.)
female: 4.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9% (2019)
Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.1%
male: 69.8%
female: 55.2% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.5%
male: 6.7%
female: 10.6% (2017 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens)
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.14 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1.3 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 11.12 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)
Land use: agricultural land: 59.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 38.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.6% (2018 est.)
forest: 34% (2018 est.)
other: 6.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 18% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.41% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 6.19% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Malawi is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes and shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 1.65 million people are facing "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between January and March 2022, underpinned by localized shortfalls in cereal production and the lingering impact of an economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the effects of poor rains at the start of the cropping season and tropical storm Ana in January 2022 are expected to cause an increase in humanitarian needs later in 2022, due to crop and livelihood losses (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,297,844 tons (2013 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Malawi (shared with Mozambique and Tanzania) - 22,490
Salt water lake(s): Lake Chilwa - 1,040 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 17.28 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland
etymology: named for the East African Maravi Kingdom of the 16th century; the word "maravi" means "fire flames"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 58 S, 33 47 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after the Lilongwe River that flows through the city
Administrative divisions: 28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Independence: 6 July 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966
Constitution: history: previous 1953 (preindependence), 1964, 1966; latest drafted January to May 1994, approved 16 May 1994, entered into force 18 May 1995
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, including the sovereignty and territory of the state, fundamental constitutional principles, human rights, voting rights, and the judiciary, requires majority approval in a referendum and majority approval by the Assembly; passage of other amendments requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; amended several times, last in 2017
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malawi
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lazarus CHAKWERA (since 28 June 2020); Vice President Saulos CHILIMA (since 3 February 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet named by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
election results: Lazarus CHAKWERA elected president; Lazarus CHAKWERA (MCP) 59.3%, Peter Mutharika (DPP) 39.9%, other 0.8% (2020)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 21 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - n/a; seats by party - DPP 62, MCP 55, UDF 10, PP 5, other 5, independent 55, vacant 1; composition - men 161, women 32, percent of women 16.6%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly; other judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission, which regulates judicial officers; judges serve until age 65
subordinate courts: High Court; magistrate courts; Industrial Relations Court; district and city traditional or local courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Peter MUTHARIKA]
Malawi Congress Party or MCP [Lazarus CHAKWERA]
Peoples Party or PP [Joyce BANDA]
United Democratic Front or UDF [Atupele MULUZI]
United Transformation Movement or UTM [Saulos CHILIMA]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Esme Jynet CHOMBO (since 19 April 2022)
chancery: 2408 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288
email address and website:
malawiembassy-dc.org
http://www.malawiembassy-dc.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David YOUNG (since 5 May 2022)
embassy: 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road, Lilongwe 3
mailing address: 2280 Lilongwe Place, Washington DC 20521-2280
telephone: [265] (0) 177-3166
FAX: [265] (0) 177-0471
email address and website:
LilongweConsular@state.gov
https://mw.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered on the black band; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the rising sun represents the hope of freedom for the continent of Africa
National symbol(s): lion; national colors: black, red, green
National anthem: name: "Mulungu dalitsa Malawi" (Oh God Bless Our Land of Malawi)
lyrics/music: Michael-Fredrick Paul SAUKA
note: adopted 1964
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Lake Malawi National Park (n); Chongoni Rock-Art Area (c)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, poor infrastructure, rampant corruption, high population growth, and poor health and education outcomes that limit labor productivity. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for about one-third of GDP and 80% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports, although Malawi is looking to diversify away from tobacco to other cash crops. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. Donors halted direct budget support from 2013 to 2016 because of concerns about corruption and fiscal carelessness, but the World Bank resumed budget support in May 2017. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program but recent increases in domestic borrowing mean that debt servicing in 2016 exceeded the levels prior to HIPC debt relief. Heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, with corn being the staple crop, Malawi’s economy was hit hard by the El Nino-driven drought in 2015 and 2016, and now faces threat from the fall armyworm. The drought also slowed economic activity, led to two consecutive years of declining economic growth, and contributed to high inflation rates. Depressed food prices over 2017 led to a significant drop in inflation (from an average of 21.7% in 2016 to 12.3% in 2017), with a similar drop in interest rates.Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The country’s economic performance has historically been constrained by policy inconsistency, macroeconomic instability, poor infrastructure, rampant corruption, high population growth, and poor health and education outcomes that limit labor productivity. The economy is predominately agricultural with about 80% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounts for about one-third of GDP and 80% of export revenues. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for more than half of exports, although Malawi is looking to diversify away from tobacco to other cash crops. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. Donors halted direct budget support from 2013 to 2016 because of concerns about corruption and fiscal carelessness, but the World Bank resumed budget support in May 2017. In 2006, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program but recent increases in domestic borrowing mean that debt servicing in 2016 exceeded the levels prior to HIPC debt relief. Heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture, with corn being the staple crop, Malawi’s economy was hit hard by the El Nino-driven drought in 2015 and 2016, and now faces threat from the fall armyworm. The drought also slowed economic activity, led to two consecutive years of declining economic growth, and contributed to high inflation rates. Depressed food prices over 2017 led to a significant drop in inflation (from an average of 21.7% in 2016 to 12.3% in 2017), with a similar drop in interest rates.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $28.44 billion (2020 est.)
$28.22 billion (2019 est.)
$26.69 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4% (2017 est.)
2.3% (2016 est.)
3% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $1,500 (2020 est.)
$1,500 (2019 est.)
$1,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $7.766 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (2019 est.)
12.4% (2018 est.)
11.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 28.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 15.4% (2017 est.)
services: 56% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 84.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 15.3% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 27.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, cassava, sugar cane, maize, mangoes/guavas, potatoes, tomatoes, pigeon peas, bananas, plantains
Industries: tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 4.1%
services: 19% (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20.4% (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.5%
male: 6.7%
female: 10.6% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.5% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 44.7 (2016 est.)
39 (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 37.5% (2010 est.)
Budget: revenues: 1.356 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 1.567 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 59.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
60.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: -$591 million (2017 est.)
-$744 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.16 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.11 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$9.658 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: Belgium 16%, United States 8%, Egypt 7%, South Africa 6%, Germany 6%, Kenya 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: tobacco, tea, raw sugar, beans, soybean products, clothing and apparel (2019)
Imports: $3.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.92 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$11.631 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: South Africa 17%, China 16%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 9%, United Kingdom 8% (2019)
Imports - commodities: postage stamps, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, fertilizers, office machinery/parts (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $780.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$585.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $2.102 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.5 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Malawian kwachas (MWK) per US dollar -
762.4951 (2020 est.)
736.6548 (2019 est.)
732.335 (2018 est.)
499.6 (2014 est.)
424.9 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 13% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 55% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 5% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 618,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 1,117,378,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 460 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 11.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 81.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 3.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 47,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 9,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 4,769 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.542 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 203,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 1.339 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 1.809 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,465 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 10,004,680 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 52 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: with few resources, Malawi is one of the world’s least developed countries; there has been little investment in fixed-line telecom infrastructure, and as a result, the country’s two mobile networks Airtel Malawi and TMN provide the vast majority of connections for voice and data services; both operators have invested in LTE technologies to improve the quality of data services; the lack of market competition, together with limited international internet bandwidth, has also resulted in some of the highest prices for telecom services in the region; the government in late 2020 secured an average 80% reduction in the cost of data bundles offered by the MNOs; following continuing customer complaints, the regulator in mid-2021 ensured that costs were again reduced, this time by about a third; mobile penetration remains low in comparison to the regional average and so there are considerable opportunities for further growth, particularly in the mobile broadband sector; low penetration is partly attributed to the lack of competition, though there is the possibility that a new play come launch services by the end of 2022; the internet sector is reasonably competitive, with about 50 licensed ISPs, though the limited availability and high cost of international bandwidth has held back growth and kept broadband access prices among the highest in the region; these limitations are being addressed, with the second phase of the national fiber backbone having started in mid-2021. (2022)
domestic: limited fixed-line subscribership less than 1 per 100 households; mobile-cellular services are expanding but network coverage is limited and is based around the main urban areas; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 52 per 100 households (2020)
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: radio is the main broadcast medium; privately owned Zodiak radio has the widest national broadcasting reach, followed by state-run radio; numerous private and community radio stations broadcast in cities and towns around the country; the largest TV network is government-owned, but at least 4 private TV networks broadcast in urban areas; relays of multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code: .mw
Internet users: total: 2,608,025 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 14% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 12,255 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 9
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 10,545 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 10,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 7Q
Airports: total: 32 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 13 (2021)
Railways: total: 767 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 767 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways: total: 15,452 km (2015)
paved: 4,074 km (2015)
unpaved: 11,378 km (2015)
Waterways: 700 km (2010) (on Lake Nyasa [Lake Malawi] and Shire River)
Ports and terminals: lake port(s): Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Malawi Defense Force (MDF): Army (includes marine unit), Air Force (established as a separate service August 2019; previously was an air wing under the Army) (2022)
note: the Malawi Police Service is under the Ministry of Homeland Security
Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $90 million)
0.8% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $70 million)
0.7% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $60 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 8,000 personnel (including about 200 air and 200 marine forces) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Malawi Defense Force inventory is comprised of mostly obsolescent or second-hand equipment from Europe and South Africa; since 2010, it has taken deliveries of limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from China, South Africa, and the UK, as well as non-lethal equipment donated by the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); high school equivalent required for enlisted recruits and college equivalent for officer recruits; initial engagement is 7 years for enlisted personnel and 10 years for officers (2021)
Military deployments: 750 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (May 2022)
Military - note: the Malawi Defense Force’s primary responsibility is external security; it is also tasked as necessary with carrying out policing or other domestic activities, such as disaster relief; Malawi contributes regularly to African Union and UN peace support operations (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Malawi-Mozambique: the two countries have held exercises to reaffirm boundaries a number of times Malawi-Tanzania: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lake Malawi-Zambia: border demarcation was completed in 2011; in 2018, the redemarcation exercise determined that some parts of Malawi actually belonged to Zambia Malawi-Mozambique: the two countries have held exercises to reaffirm boundaries a number of timesMalawi-Tanzania: dispute with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River; Malawi contends that the entire lake up to the Tanzanian shoreline is its territory, while Tanzania claims the border is in the center of the lake; the conflict was reignited in 2012 when Malawi awarded a license to a British company for oil exploration in the lakeMalawi-Zambia: border demarcation was completed in 2011; in 2018, the redemarcation exercise determined that some parts of Malawi actually belonged to Zambia
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 34,363 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 12,658 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 7,621 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) |
20220901 | field-independence | For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several significant dates are cited. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.
Topic: Afghanistan19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
Topic: Albania28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Topic: Algeria5 July 1962 (from France)
Topic: American Samoanone (territory of the US)
Topic: Andorra1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)
Topic: Angola11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Topic: Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1 November 1981 (from the UK)
Topic: Argentina9 July 1816 (from Spain)
Topic: Armenia21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)
Topic: Arubanone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Topic: Australia1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)
Topic: Austriano official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed)
Topic: Azerbaijan30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)
Topic: Bahamas, The10 July 1973 (from the UK)
Topic: Bahrain15 August 1971 (from the UK)
Topic: Bangladesh16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
Topic: Barbados30 November 1966 (from the UK)
Topic: Belarus25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Belgium4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
Topic: Belize21 September 1981 (from the UK)
Topic: Benin1 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Bermudanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Bhutan17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)
Topic: Bolivia6 August 1825 (from Spain)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia); note - referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992
Topic: Botswana30 September 1966 (from the UK)
Topic: Brazil7 September 1822 (from Portugal)
Topic: British Virgin Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Brunei1 January 1984 (from the UK)
Topic: Bulgaria3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)
Topic: Burkina Faso5 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Burma4 January 1948 (from the UK)
Topic: Burundi1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
Topic: Cabo Verde5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Topic: Cambodia9 November 1953 (from France)
Topic: Cameroon1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Canada1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)
Topic: Cayman Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Central African Republic13 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Chad11 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Chile18 September 1810 (from Spain)
Topic: China1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)
Topic: Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: Colombia20 July 1810 (from Spain)
Topic: Comoros6 July 1975 (from France)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the15 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Cook Islandsnone (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)
Topic: Costa Rica15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire7 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Croatia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia; notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)
Topic: Cuba20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence
Topic: Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Topic: Cyprus16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey
Topic: Czechia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day
Topic: Denmarkca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormsson); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
Topic: Djibouti27 June 1977 (from France)
Topic: Dominica3 November 1978 (from the UK)
Topic: Dominican Republic27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
Topic: Ecuador24 May 1822 (from Spain)
Topic: Egypt28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically
Topic: El Salvador15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Topic: Eritrea24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
Topic: Estonia24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
Topic: Eswatini6 September 1968 (from the UK)
Topic: Ethiopiaoldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)
Topic: European Union7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)
note: the Treaties of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 and subsequently entered into force on 1 January 1958, created the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; a series of subsequent treaties have been adopted to increase efficiency and transparency, to prepare for new member states, and to introduce new areas of cooperation - such as a single currency; the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009 is the most recent of these treaties and is intended to make the EU more democratic, more efficient, and better able to address global problems with one voice
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Topic: Faroe Islandsnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Topic: Fiji10 October 1970 (from the UK)
Topic: Finland6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Topic: Franceno official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)
Topic: French Polynesianone (overseas land of France)
Topic: Gabon17 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Gambia, The18 February 1965 (from the UK)
Topic: Georgia9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)
Topic: Germany18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)
Topic: Ghana6 March 1957 (from the UK)
Topic: Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Greece3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire); note - 25 March 1821, outbreak of the national revolt against the Ottomans; 3 February 1830, signing of the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence by Great Britain, France, and Russia
Topic: Greenlandnone (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)
Topic: Grenada7 February 1974 (from the UK)
Topic: Guamnone (territory of the US)
Topic: Guatemala15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Guernseynone (British Crown dependency)
Topic: Guinea2 October 1958 (from France)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
Topic: Guyana26 May 1966 (from the UK)
Topic: Haiti1 January 1804 (from France)
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754
Topic: Honduras15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Hong Kongnone (special administrative region of China)
Topic: Hungary16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established)
Topic: Iceland1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement)
Topic: India15 August 1947 (from the UK)
Topic: Indonesia17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands)
Topic: Iran1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)
Topic: Iraq3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government
Topic: Ireland6 December 1921 (from the UK by the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended British rule); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)
Topic: Isle of Mannone (British Crown dependency)
Topic: Israel14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Topic: Italy17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871)
Topic: Jamaica6 August 1962 (from the UK)
Topic: Japan3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)
Topic: Jerseynone (British Crown dependency)
Topic: Jordan25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Topic: Kazakhstan16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Kenya12 December 1963 (from the UK)
Topic: Kiribati12 July 1979 (from the UK)
Topic: Korea, North15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Topic: Korea, South15 August 1945 (from Japan)
Topic: Kosovo17 February 2008 (from Serbia)
Topic: Kuwait19 June 1961 (from the UK)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Laos19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)
Topic: Latvia18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
Topic: Lebanon22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Topic: Lesotho4 October 1966 (from the UK)
Topic: Liberia26 July 1847
Topic: Libya24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
Topic: Liechtenstein23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)
Topic: Lithuania16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
Topic: Luxembourg1839 (from the Netherlands)
Topic: Macaunone (special administrative region of China)
Topic: Madagascar26 June 1960 (from France)
Topic: Malawi6 July 1964 (from the UK)
Topic: Malaysia31 August 1957 (from the UK)
Topic: Maldives26 July 1965 (from the UK)
Topic: Mali22 September 1960 (from France)
Topic: Malta21 September 1964 (from the UK)
Topic: Marshall Islands21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Mauritania28 November 1960 (from France)
Topic: Mauritius12 March 1968 (from the UK)
Topic: Mexico16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Moldova27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Monaco1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
Topic: Mongolia29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)
Topic: Montenegro3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established)
Topic: Montserratnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Morocco2 March 1956 (from France)
Topic: Mozambique25 June 1975 (from Portugal)
Topic: Namibia21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
Topic: Nauru31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Nepal1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
Topic: Netherlands23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581, they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Topic: New Caledonianone (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place
Topic: New Zealand26 September 1907 (from the UK)
Topic: Nicaragua15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Niger3 August 1960 (from France)
Topic: Nigeria1 October 1960 (from the UK)
Topic: Niue19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)
Topic: Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: North Macedonia8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnone (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Topic: Norway7 June 1905 (declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of petty Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)
Topic: Oman1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Topic: Pakistan14 August 1947 (from British India)
Topic: Palau1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Panama3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)
Topic: Papua New Guinea16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Paraguay14-15 May 1811 (from Spain); note - the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811 and both days are celebrated in Paraguay
Topic: Peru28 July 1821 (from Spain)
Topic: Philippines4 July 1946 (from the US)
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Poland11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
Topic: Portugal1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
Topic: Puerto Riconone (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Topic: Qatar3 September 1971 (from the UK)
Topic: Romania9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
Topic: Russia25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union; Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)
Topic: Rwanda1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Saint Barthelemynone (overseas collectivity of France)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis19 September 1983 (from the UK)
Topic: Saint Lucia22 February 1979 (from the UK)
Topic: Saint Martinnone (overseas collectivity of France)
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnone (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines27 October 1979 (from the UK)
Topic: Samoa1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: San Marino3 September 301 (traditional founding date)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
Topic: Saudi Arabia23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
Topic: Senegal4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
Topic: Serbia5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)
Topic: Seychelles29 June 1976 (from the UK)
Topic: Sierra Leone27 April 1961 (from the UK)
Topic: Singapore9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
Topic: Sint Maartennone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Topic: Slovakia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)
Topic: Slovenia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Topic: Solomon Islands7 July 1978 (from the UK)
Topic: Somalia1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)
Topic: South Africa31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)
Topic: South Sudan9 July 2011 (from Sudan)
Topic: Spain1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
Topic: Sri Lanka4 February 1948 (from the UK)
Topic: Sudan1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
Topic: Suriname25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
Topic: Svalbardnone (territory of Norway)
Topic: Sweden6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)
Topic: Switzerland1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Topic: Syria17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Topic: Tajikistan9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Tanzania26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)
Topic: Thailand1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
Topic: Timor-Leste20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia
Topic: Togo27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
Topic: Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand)
Topic: Tonga4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago31 August 1962 (from the UK)
Topic: Tunisia20 March 1956 (from France)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)
Topic: Turkmenistan27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Tuvalu1 October 1978 (from the UK)
Topic: Uganda9 October 1962 (from the UK)
Topic: Ukraine24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus); 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed); 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate); 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia)
Topic: United Arab Emirates2 December 1971 (from the UK)
Topic: United Kingdomno official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Topic: United States4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)
Topic: Uruguay25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
Topic: Uzbekistan1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
Topic: Vanuatu30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
Topic: Venezuela5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Topic: Vietnam2 September 1945 (from France)
Topic: Virgin Islandsnone (territory of the US)
Topic: Wake Islandnone (territory of the US)
Topic: Wallis and Futunanone (overseas collectivity of France)
Topic: Yemen22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
Topic: Zambia24 October 1964 (from the UK)
Topic: Zimbabwe18 April 1980 (from the UK) |
20220901 | countries-angola |
Topic: Photos of Angola
Topic: Introduction
Background: From the late 14th to the mid 19th century a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. By the 19th century, Portuguese settlement had spread to the interior; in 1914, Portugal abolished the last vestiges of the Kongo Kingdom and Angola became a Portuguese colony.
Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild since the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but fighting picked up again in 1993. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - during the more than a quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS stepped down from the presidency in 2017, having led the country since 1979. He pushed through a new constitution in 2010. Joao LOURENCO was elected president in August 2017 and became president of the MPLA in September 2018.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,369 km
border countries (4): Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province); Republic of the Congo 231 km; Namibia 1,427 km; Zambia 1,065 km
Coastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Elevation: highest point: Moca 2,620 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,112 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use: agricultural land: 45.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 54.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (2014)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Okavango river source (shared with Namibia and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Geography - note: the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map description: Angola map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.Angola map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 34,795,287 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Languages: Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6%; note - data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2014 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)
Demographic profile: More than a decade after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy. Despite the country's rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, about 40 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population. Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women. The youthful population - about 45% are under the age of 15 - is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use. Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola's high maternal mortality rate. Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002. In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans. Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries.More than a decade after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy. Despite the country's rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, about 40 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population. Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women. The youthful population - about 45% are under the age of 15 - is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use. Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola's high maternal mortality rate.Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002. In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans. Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.83% (male 7,758,636/female 7,797,869)
15-24 years: 18.64% (male 2,950,999/female 3,109,741)
25-54 years: 27.8% (male 4,301,618/female 4,740,463)
55-64 years: 3.43% (male 523,517/female 591,249)
65 years and over: 2.3% (2020 est.) (male 312,197/female 436,050)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 94.5
youth dependency ratio: 90.2
elderly dependency ratio: 4.3
potential support ratio: 23.5 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 15.9 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.36% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 41.8 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.01 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 68.1% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 8.952 million LUANDA (capital), 914,000 Lubango, 862,000 Cabinda, Benguela 777,000 (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2015/16 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 241 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 58.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.11 years
male: 60.05 years
female: 64.24 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 13.7% (2015/16)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 81.3% of population
rural: 36.5% of population
total: 66.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 18.7% of population
rural: 63.5% of population
total: 33.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 2.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 93.7% of population
rural: 30.3% of population
total: 72.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 6.3% of population
rural: 69.7% of population
total: 27.3% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.8% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 340,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 16,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.2% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19% (2015/16)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 7.9%
women married by age 18: 30.3%
men married by age 18: 6% (2016 est.)
Education expenditures: 1.8% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.1%
male: 82%
female: 60.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years
male: 12 years
female: 7 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3%
male: 17.9%
female: 16.7% (2014 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 27.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 34.69 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 23.28 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Land use: agricultural land: 45.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 3.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 54.3% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 68.1% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.36% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,213,644 tons (2012 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s], Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Okavango river source (shared with Namibia and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Congo Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 319.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 239.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 146.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 148.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: 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
etymology: name derived by the Portuguese from the title "ngola" held by kings of the Ndongo (Ndongo was a kingdom in what is now northern Angola)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 13 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time
etymology: originally named "Sao Paulo da Assuncao de Loanda" (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda), which over time was shortened and corrupted to just Luanda
Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution: history: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic
Legal system: civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term); last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in 24 August 2022)
election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 23 August 2017 general election
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members directly elected in a single national constituency and in multi-seat constituencies by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held on 24 August 2022)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 61.1%, UNITA 26.7%, CASA-CE 9.5%, PRS 1.4%, FNLA 0.9%, other 0.5%; seats by party - MPLA 150, UNITA 51, CASA-CE 16, PRS 2, FNLA 1; composition - men 155, women 65, percent of women 29.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
subordinate courts: provincial and municipal courts
Political parties and leaders: Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Manuel FERNANDES]
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions; one led by Lucas NGONDA; the other by Ngola KABANGU
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Adalberto Costa JUNIOR] (largest opposition party)
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Joao LOURENCO]; note - Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS stepped down 8 Sept 2018; ruling party in power since 1975
Social Renewal Party or PRS [Benedito DANIEL]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joaquim do Espirito SANTO (since 16 September 2019)
chancery: 2100-2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049
email address and website:
info@angola.org
https://angola.org/
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI, (since 9 March 2022)
embassy: Rua Houari Boumedienne, #32, Luanda
mailing address: 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
FAX: [244] (222) 64-1000
email address and website:
Consularluanda@state.gov
https://ao.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle); red represents liberty and black the African continent; the symbols characterize workers and peasants
National symbol(s): Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow
National anthem: name: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
note: adopted 1975
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Mbanza-Kongo
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its direction regarding oil production levels. Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food is still imported. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 17% per year from 2004 to 2008. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war (1975-2002). However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them. The global recession that started in 2008 stalled Angola’s economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell. Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016. Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate. In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems. Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017. Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its direction regarding oil production levels. Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food is still imported. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 17% per year from 2004 to 2008. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war (1975-2002). However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them. The global recession that started in 2008 stalled Angola’s economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell. Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016. Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate. In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems. Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017. Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $203.71 billion (2020 est.)
$212.29 billion (2019 est.)
$213.62 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -2.5% (2017 est.)
-2.6% (2016 est.)
0.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $6,200 (2020 est.)
$6,700 (2019 est.)
$6,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $97.261 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17.2% (2019 est.)
20.3% (2018 est.)
32.1% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 10.2% (2011 est.)
industry: 61.4% (2011 est.)
services: 28.4% (2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 10.3% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 25.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -30.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, pineapples, sugar cane, potatoes, citrus fruit, vegetables, cabbage
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 12.51 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85%
industry: 15% (2015 est.)
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3%
male: 17.9%
female: 16.7% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 51.3 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)
Budget: revenues: 37.02 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 45.44 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 65% of GDP (2017 est.)
75.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.254 billion (2017 est.)
-$4.834 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $21 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$35.18 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$41.39 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: China 62%, India 10%, United Arab Emirates 4%, Portugal 3%, Spain 3% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, refined petroleum, ships (2019)
Imports: $15.12 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$22.3 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$25.89 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 22%, Portugal 15%, Nigeria 6%, Belgium 6%, United States 5%, South Africa 5%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, scrap vessels, meat, rice, palm oil (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $17.29 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$23.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $42.08 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$27.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
172.6 (2017 est.)
163.656 (2016 est.)
163.656 (2015 est.)
120.061 (2014 est.)
98.303 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 43% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 61% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 6% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 7.344 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 11.815 billion kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.741 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 28.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 70.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 1,197,600 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 133,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,367,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 7.783 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 53,480 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 30,340 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 111,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 6,767,715,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 860.887 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 5,877,945,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 343.001 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 19.362 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 17.673 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.689 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 11.693 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 119,164 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 14,645,050 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Angola’s telecom sector in recent years has benefited from political stability, which has encouraged foreign investment in the sector; the government and regulator have also set in train mechanisms to open up the telecom sector to new competitors, with Africell having secured a universal license and in so doing becoming the country’s fourth MNO; following an extensive investment program, the company launched mobile services in April 2022; the MNOs were slow to develop LTE services, instead relying on their GSM and 3G network capabilities; Angola Telecom did not launch LTE services until mid-2018; there has been slow progress in LTE network development, with only a small proportion of the country covered by network infrastructure; some progress has been made with 5G; the Ministry of Telecommunications in early 2021 set up a 5G hub to assess 5G user cases, while Unitel and the new MNO Africell since mid-2021 have contracted vendors to provide 5G-ready transmission networks; the regulator in November 2021 granted licenses to Africell, Movicel, and Unitel to enable them to offer 5G services; the government has continued to develop telecom infrastructure to help diversify the country’s economy and lessen its dependence on offshore crude oil production; by extending and upgrading telecom networks the government expects businesses to become more efficient and for e-commerce to become a more prominent feature of economic growth; networks will facilitate rural access to education and health care. (2022)
domestic: only about one fixed-line per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 45 telephones per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 244; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29, Angosat-2 satellite expected by 2021 (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach; state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial TV service on 2 channels; a third TPA channel is available via cable and satellite; TV subscription services are available; state-owned Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations; about a half-dozen private radio stations broadcast locally
Internet country code: .ao
Internet users: total: 11,831,857 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 36% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 230,610 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.7 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 10 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,516,628 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 78.16 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: D2
Airports: total: 102 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 32
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 22 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 352 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1,065 km oil, 5 km oil/gas/water (2013)
Railways: total: 2,852 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 2,729 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
123 km 0.600-mm gauge
Roadways: total: 26,000 km (2018)
paved: 13,600 km (2018)
unpaved: 12,400 km (2018)
Waterways: 1,300 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 54
by type: general cargo 13, oil tanker 8, other 33 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
LNG terminal(s) (export): Angola Soyo
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA; under operational control of the Army); Rapid Reaction Police (paramilitary) (2022)
Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.7 billion)
2.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $3.02 billion)
2.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $3.65 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 101,000 active troops (95,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force); estimated 10,000 Rapid Reaction Police (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most Angolan military weapons and equipment are of Russian, Soviet, or Warsaw Pact origin; since 2010, Russia has remained the principle supplier of military hardware to Angola (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 20-45 years of age for compulsory male and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service (registration at age 18 is mandatory); 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; 2-year conscript service obligation; Angolan citizenship required; the Navy (MGA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2021)
Military - note: the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the name remained even after UNITA rejected the 1992 election results and returned to fighting against the Angolan Government the Angolan Armed Forces are responsible for external security but also have domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions against groups like the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda separatists in Cabinda (2022)the Angolan Armed Forces were created in 1991 under the Bicesse Accords signed between the Angolan Government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA); the name remained even after UNITA rejected the 1992 election results and returned to fighting against the Angolan Governmentthe Angolan Armed Forces are responsible for external security but also have domestic security responsibilities, including border security, expulsion of irregular migrants, and small-scale actions against groups like the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda separatists in Cabinda
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Angola are a risk for armed robbery against ships; in 2021, four attacks against commercial vessels were reported, a decrease from the six attacks in 2020; most of these occurred in the main port of Luanda while ships were berthed or at anchor
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Angola-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments
Angola-Namibia: none identified
Angola-Republic of Congo: (Kabinda Exclave) none identified
Angola-Zambia: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundaryAngola-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): DRC accuses Angola of shifting monuments
Angola-Namibia: none identified
Angola-Republic of Congo: (Kabinda Exclave) none identified
Angola-Zambia: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 37,178 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 9,272 (Guinea), 6,357 (Cote d'Ivoire), 5,725 (Mauritania) (2022)
Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africaused as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa |
20220901 | field-area-comparative | This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
Topic: Afghanistanalmost six times the size of Virginia; slightly smaller than Texas
Topic: Akrotiriabout 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Albaniaslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Algeriaslightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Topic: American Samoaslightly larger than Washington, DC
Topic: Andorra2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Angolaabout eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: Anguillaabout one-half the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Antarcticaslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Arctic Oceanslightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Topic: Argentinaslightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Topic: Armeniaslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Arubaslightly larger than Washington, DC
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsabout eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Atlantic Oceanabout 7.5 times the size of the US
Topic: Australiaslightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Topic: Austriaabout the size of South Carolina; slightly more than two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania
Topic: Azerbaijanabout three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Maine
Topic: Bahamas, Theslightly smaller than Connecticut
Topic: Bahrain3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Bangladeshslightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Topic: Barbados2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Belarusslightly less than twice the size of Kentucky; slightly smaller than Kansas
Topic: Belgiumabout the size of Maryland
Topic: Belizeslightly smaller than Massachusetts
Topic: Beninslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Topic: Bermudaabout one-third the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Bhutanslightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Topic: Boliviaslightly less than three times the size of Montana
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Topic: Botswanaslightly smaller than Texas; almost four times the size of Illinois
Topic: Bouvet Islandabout 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Brazilslightly smaller than the US
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryland area is about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Topic: British Virgin Islandsabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Bruneislightly smaller than Delaware
Topic: Bulgariaalmost identical in size to Virginia; slightly larger than Tennessee
Topic: Burkina Fasoslightly larger than Colorado
Topic: Burmaslightly smaller than Texas
Topic: Burundislightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Cabo Verdeslightly larger than Rhode Island
Topic: Cambodiaone and a half times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Topic: Cameroonslightly larger than California; about four times the size of Pennsylvania
Topic: Canadaslightly larger than the US
Topic: Cayman Islands1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Central African Republicslightly smaller than Texas; about four times the size of Georgia
Topic: Chadalmost nine times the size of New York state; slightly more than three times the size of California
Topic: Chileslightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Topic: Chinaslightly smaller than the US
Topic: Christmas Islandabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Clipperton Islandabout 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsabout 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Colombiaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: Comorosslightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theslightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Topic: Congo, Republic of theslightly smaller than Montana; about twice the size of Florida
Topic: Cook Islands1.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Coral Sea Islandsabout four times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Costa Ricaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Topic: Cote d'Ivoireslightly larger than New Mexico
Topic: Croatiaslightly smaller than West Virginia
Topic: Cubaslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Topic: Curacaomore than twice the size of Washington, DCmore than twice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Cyprusabout 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Topic: Czechiaabout two-thirds the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than South Carolina
Topic: Denmarkslightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts; about two-thirds the size of West Virginia
Topic: Dhekeliaabout three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Djiboutislightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: Dominicaslightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Dominican Republicslightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Topic: Ecuadorslightly smaller than Nevada
Topic: Egyptmore than eight times the size of Ohio; slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Topic: El Salvadorabout the same size as New Jersey
Topic: Equatorial Guineaslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Eritreaslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Topic: Estoniaabout twice the size of New Jersey
Topic: Eswatinislightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: Ethiopiaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: European Unionless than one-half the size of the US
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)slightly smaller than Connecticut
Topic: Faroe Islandseight times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Fijislightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: Finlandslightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana
Topic: Franceslightly more than four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than the size of Texas
Topic: French Polynesiaslightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC; Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DCIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): less than one-half the size of Washington, DC; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Iles Crozet: about twice the size of Washington, DC; Iles Kerguelen: slightly larger than Delaware; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): land area about one-third the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): about 1.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Gabonslightly smaller than Colorado
Topic: Gambia, Theslightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Topic: Gaza Stripslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Georgiaslightly smaller than South Carolina; slightly larger than West Virginia
Topic: Germanythree times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Montana
Topic: Ghanaslightly smaller than Oregon
Topic: Gibraltarmore than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Topic: Greeceslightly smaller than Alabama
Topic: Greenlandslightly more than three times the size of Texas
Topic: Grenadatwice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Guamthree times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Guatemalaslightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Topic: Guernseyabout one-half the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Guineaslightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
Topic: Guinea-Bissauslightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Topic: Guyanaslightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee
Topic: Haitislightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsslightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)about 0.7 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Hondurasslightly larger than Tennessee
Topic: Hong Kongsix times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Hungaryslightly smaller than Virginia; about the same size as Indiana
Topic: Icelandslightly smaller than Pennsylvania; about the same size as Kentucky
Topic: Indiaslightly more than one-third the size of the US
Topic: Indian Oceanalmost 7 times the size of the US
Topic: Indonesiaslightly less than three times the size of Texas
Topic: Iranalmost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Topic: Iraqslightly more than three times the size of New York state
Topic: Irelandslightly larger than West Virginia
Topic: Isle of Manslightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Israelslightly larger than New Jersey
Topic: Italyalmost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Topic: Jamaicaabout half the size of New Jersey; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Topic: Jan Mayenslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Japanslightly smaller than California
Topic: Jerseyabout two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Jordanabout three-quarters the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Indiana
Topic: Kazakhstanslightly less than four times the size of Texas
Topic: Kenyafive times the size of Ohio; slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Topic: Kiribatifour times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Korea, Northslightly larger than Virginia; slightly smaller than Mississippi
Topic: Korea, Southslightly smaller than Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Indiana
Topic: Kosovoslightly larger than Delaware
Topic: Kuwaitslightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: Kyrgyzstanslightly smaller than South Dakota
Topic: Laosabout twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly larger than Utah
Topic: Latviaslightly larger than West Virginia
Topic: Lebanonabout one-third the size of Maryland
Topic: Lesothoslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Liberiaslightly larger than Virginia
Topic: Libyaabout 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly larger than Alaska
Topic: Liechtensteinabout 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Lithuaniaslightly larger than West Virginia
Topic: Luxembourgslightly smaller than Rhode Island; about half the size of Delaware
Topic: Macauless than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Madagascaralmost four times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Topic: Malawislightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Topic: Malaysiaslightly larger than New Mexico
Topic: Maldivesabout 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Malislightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: Maltaslightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Marshall Islandsabout the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Mauritaniaslightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico; about six times the size of Florida
Topic: Mauritiusalmost 11 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Mexicoslightly less than three times the size of Texas
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States offour times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)
Topic: Moldovaslightly larger than Maryland
Topic: Monacoabout three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Mongoliaslightly smaller than Alaska; more than twice the size of Texas
Topic: Montenegroslightly smaller than Connecticut; slightly larger than twice the size of Delaware
Topic: Montserratabout 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Moroccoslightly larger than twice the size of California
Topic: Mozambiqueslightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Topic: Namibiaalmost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Topic: Nauruabout 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Navassa Islandabout nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Nepalslightly larger than New York state
Topic: Netherlandsslightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Topic: New Caledoniaslightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: New Zealandalmost twice the size of North Carolina; about the size of Colorado
Topic: Nicaraguaslightly larger than Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than New York state
Topic: Nigerslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: Nigeriaabout six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Topic: Niue1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Norfolk Islandabout 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: North Macedoniaslightly larger than Vermont; almost four times the size of Delaware
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Norwayslightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico
Topic: Omantwice the size of Georgia
Topic: Pacific Oceanabout 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global surface; almost equal to the total land area of the world
Topic: Pakistanslightly more than five times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of California
Topic: Palauslightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Panamaslightly smaller than South Carolina
Topic: Papua New Guineaslightly larger than California
Topic: Paracel Islandsland area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Paraguayabout three times the size of New York state; slightly smaller than California
Topic: Perualmost twice the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska
Topic: Philippinesslightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsabout three-tenths the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Polandabout twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than New Mexico
Topic: Portugalslightly smaller than Virginia
Topic: Puerto Ricoslightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Topic: Qataralmost twice the size of Delaware; slightly smaller than Connecticut
Topic: Romaniatwice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Topic: Russiaapproximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Topic: Rwandaslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Saint Barthelemyless than one-eighth the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaslightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Luciathree and a half times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Martinmore than one-third the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonone and half times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestwice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Samoaslightly smaller than Rhode Island
Topic: San Marinoabout one-third the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Sao Tome and Principemore than five times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Saudi Arabiaslightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Topic: Senegalslightly smaller than South Dakota; slightly larger than twice the size of Indiana
Topic: Serbiaslightly smaller than South Carolina
Topic: Seychelles2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Sierra Leoneslightly smaller than South Carolina
Topic: Singaporeslightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Sint Maartenone-fifth the size of Washington, DCone-fifth the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Slovakiaabout one and a half times the size of Maryland; about twice the size of New Hampshire
Topic: Sloveniaslightly smaller than New Jersey
Topic: Solomon Islandsslightly smaller than Maryland
Topic: Somaliaalmost five times the size of Alabama; slightly smaller than Texas
Topic: South Africaslightly less than twice the size of Texas
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsslightly larger than Rhode Island
Topic: South Sudanmore than four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas
Topic: Southern Oceanslightly more than twice the size of the US
Topic: Spainalmost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Topic: Spratly Islandsland area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Sri Lankaslightly larger than West Virginia
Topic: Sudanslightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Topic: Surinameslightly larger than Georgia
Topic: Svalbardslightly smaller than West Virginia
Topic: Swedenalmost three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Topic: Switzerlandslightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Topic: Syriaslightly more than 1.5 times the size of Pennsylvania
Topic: Taiwanslightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Topic: Tajikistanslightly smaller than Wisconsin
Topic: Tanzaniamore than six times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than twice the size of California
Topic: Thailandabout three times the size of Florida; slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Topic: Timor-Lesteslightly larger than Connecticut; almost half the size of Maryland
Topic: Togoslightly smaller than West Virginia
Topic: Tokelauabout 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Tongafour times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoslightly smaller than Delaware
Topic: Tunisiaslightly larger than Georgia
Topic: Turkeyslightly larger than Texas
Topic: Turkmenistanslightly more than three times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than California
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Tuvalu0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Ugandaslightly more than two times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Topic: Ukrainealmost four times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Texas
Topic: United Arab Emiratesslightly larger than South Carolina; slightly smaller than Maine
Topic: United Kingdomtwice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Topic: United Statesabout half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; more than twice the size of the European Union
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: about 2.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Howland Island: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Johnston Atoll: about 4.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Kingman Reef: a little more than 1.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Midway Islands: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DCBaker Island: about 2.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Howland Island: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Johnston Atoll: about 4.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Kingman Reef: a little more than 1.5 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Midway Islands: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC; Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Uruguayabout the size of Virginia and West Virginia combined; slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Topic: Uzbekistanabout four times the size of Virginia; slightly larger than California
Topic: Vanuatuslightly larger than Connecticut
Topic: Venezuelaalmost six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Topic: Vietnamabout three times the size of Tennessee; slightly larger than New Mexico
Topic: Virgin Islandstwice the size of Washington, DC
Topic: Wake Islandabout 11 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Topic: Wallis and Futuna1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Topic: West Bankslightly smaller than Delaware
Topic: Worldland area about 16 times the size of the USland area about 16 times the size of the US
Topic: Yemenalmost four times the size of Alabama; slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Topic: Zambiaalmost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Topic: Zimbabweabout four times the size of Indiana; slightly larger than Montana |
20220901 | field-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.
Topic: Afghanistan4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Albania1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Algeria2.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: American Samoa2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Andorra1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Angola5.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Anguilla1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Argentina2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Armenia1.65 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Aruba1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Australia1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Austria1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijan1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, The1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bahrain1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bangladesh2.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Barbados1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Belarus1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Belgium1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Belize2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Benin5.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bermuda1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bhutan1.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bolivia2.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Botswana2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Brazil1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: British Virgin Islands1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Brunei1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Bulgaria1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Burkina Faso4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Burma2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Burundi5.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cabo Verde2.13 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cambodia2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cameroon4.55 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Canada1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cayman Islands1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Central African Republic4.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Chad5.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Chile1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: China1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Christmas IslandNA
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands(2021 est.) NA
Topic: Colombia1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Comoros2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the5.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the4.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cook Islands2.07 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Costa Rica1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Croatia1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cuba1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Curacao1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Cyprus1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Czechia1.49 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Denmark1.77 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Djibouti2.15 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Dominica2.02 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Dominican Republic2.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Ecuador2.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Egypt2.88 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: El Salvador2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Eritrea3.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Estonia1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Eswatini2.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Ethiopia3.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: European Union(2021 est.) 1.62 children born/woman
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA
Topic: Faroe Islands2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Fiji2.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Finland1.74 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: France2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: French Polynesia1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Gabon3.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Gambia, The3.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Gaza Strip3.44 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Georgia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Germany1.57 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Ghana3.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Gibraltar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Greece1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Greenland1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Grenada1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guam2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guatemala2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guernsey1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guinea4.85 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau4.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Guyana2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Haiti2.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Honduras2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Hong Kong1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Hungary1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Iceland1.95 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: India2.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Indonesia2.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Iran1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Iraq3.25 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Ireland1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Isle of Man1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Israel2.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Italy1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Jamaica2.06 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Japan1.38 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Jersey1.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Jordan2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kazakhstan2.11 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kenya3.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kiribati2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Korea, North1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Korea, South1.1 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kosovo1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kuwait2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan2.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Laos2.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Latvia1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Lebanon1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Lesotho2.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Liberia4.79 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Libya3.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Liechtenstein1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Lithuania1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Luxembourg1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Macau1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Madagascar3.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Malawi3.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Malaysia1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Maldives1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Mali5.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Malta1.5 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Marshall Islands2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Mauritania3.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Mauritius1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Mexico1.68 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of2.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Moldova1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Monaco1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Mongolia1.91 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Montenegro1.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Montserrat1.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Morocco2.29 children born/woman (2022 est.)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique4.81 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Namibia2.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Nauru2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Nepal1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Netherlands1.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: New Caledonia1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: New Zealand1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Nicaragua1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Niger6.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Nigeria4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Niue(2021 est.) NA
Topic: Norfolk IslandNA
Topic: North Macedonia1.51 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands2.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Norway1.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Oman2.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Pakistan3.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Palau1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Panama2.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guinea3.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Paraguay1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Peru2.2 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Philippines2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA
Topic: Poland1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Portugal1.43 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Puerto Rico1.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Qatar1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Romania1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Russia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Rwanda3.33 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Barthelemy1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Lucia1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Martin1.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.75 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Samoa2.42 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: San Marino1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe3.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Saudi Arabia1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Senegal4.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Serbia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Seychelles1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Sierra Leone3.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Singapore1.16 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Sint Maarten1.99 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Slovakia1.46 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Slovenia1.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Solomon Islands2.87 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Somalia5.31 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: South Africa2.18 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: South Sudan5.32 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Spain1.27 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Sri Lanka1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Sudan4.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Suriname1.92 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Svalbard(2021 est.) NA
Topic: Sweden1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Switzerland1.58 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Syria2.8 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Taiwan1.08 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Tajikistan2.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Tanzania4.39 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Thailand1.54 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Timor-Leste4.21 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Togo4.23 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Tokelau(2021 est.) NA
Topic: Tonga2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Tunisia2 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Turkey1.93 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Turkmenistan2.03 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands1.7 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Tuvalu2.83 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Uganda5.36 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Ukraine1.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: United Arab Emirates1.64 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: United Kingdom1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: United States1.84 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Uruguay1.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistan1.73 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Vanuatu2.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Venezuela2.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Vietnam2.05 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Virgin Islands2 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Wallis and Futuna1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: West Bank2.96 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: World2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Topic: Yemen3.01 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Zambia4.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Topic: Zimbabwe3.89 children born/woman (2022 est.) |
20220901 | field-reserves-of-foreign-exchange-and-gold-country-comparison | |
20220901 | countries-liechtenstein |
Topic: Photos of Liechtenstein
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic Wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the German Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 160 sq km
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 75 km
border countries (2): Austria 34 km; Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation: highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Map description: Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria.Liechtenstein map showing major population centers of this landlocked country surrounded by Switzerland and Austria.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 39,711 (2022 est.)
note: immigrants make up 67% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Liechtensteiner 65.5%, Swiss 9.6%, Austrian 6%, German 4.5%, Italian 3.1%, other 11.4% (2020 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
Languages: German 91.5% (official) (Alemannic is the main dialect), Italian 1.5%, Turkish 1.3%, Portuguese 1.1%, other 4.6% (2015 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Das World Factbook, die unverzichtbare Quelle für grundlegende Informationen. (German)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic (official) 73.4%, Protestant Reformed 6.3%, Muslim 5.9%, Christian Orthodox 1.3%, Lutheran 1.2%, other Protestant .7%, other Christian .3%, other .8%, none 7%, unspecified 3.3% (2015 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 3,259/female 2,688)
15-24 years: 11.29% (male 2,238/female 2,181)
25-54 years: 40.22% (male 7,869/female 7,872)
55-64 years: 14.41% (male 2,711/female 2,930)
65 years and over: 18.88% (2020 est.) (male 3,403/female 3,986)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 43.7 years
male: 42 years
female: 45.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.72% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 7.98 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found in the western half of the country along the Rhine River
Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 5,000 VADUZ (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.25 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.24 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.3 years (2017)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.56 years
male: 80.33 years
female: 85.38 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2011 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 14 years (2019)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: some air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.05 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.02 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Land use: agricultural land: 37.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 18.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 18.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 43.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.3% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 14.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 32,382 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 20,919 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 64.6% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 7.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
etymology: named after the Liechtenstein dynasty that purchased and united the counties of Schellenburg and Vaduz and that was allowed by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1719 to rename the new property after their family; the name in German means "light (bright) stone"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: may be a conflation from the Latin "vallis" (valley) and the High German "diutisk" (meaning "German") to produce "Valdutsch" (German valley), which over time simplified and came to refer specifically to Vaduz, the town
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)
National holiday: National Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990
Constitution: history: previous 1862; latest adopted 5 October 1921
amendments: proposed by Parliament, by the reigning prince (in the form of "Government" proposals), by petition of at least 1,500 qualified voters, or by at least four communes; passage requires unanimous approval of Parliament members in one sitting or three-quarters majority vote in two successive sittings; referendum required only if petitioned by at least 1,500 voters or by at least four communes; passage by referendum requires absolute majority of votes cast; amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Swiss, Austrian, and German law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Liechtenstein; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince HANS-ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent and Regent of Liechtenstein Prince ALOIS (son of the monarch, born 11 June 1968); note - 15 August 2004, HANS-ADAM II transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS-ADAM II retains status of chief of state
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel RISCH; Deputy Prime Minister Sabine MONAUNI (both since 25 March 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Parliament usually appointed the head of government by the monarch, and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition government
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members directly elected in 2 multi-seat constituencies by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next to be held on 7 February 2025)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 40%, VU 40%, FL 12%, DpL 8%; seats by party - FBP 10, VU 10, FL 3, DpL 2; composition - men 18, women 7, percent of women 28%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof (consists of 5 judges); Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgericht (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates)
judge selection and term of office: judges of both courts elected by the Landtag and appointed by the monarch; Supreme Court judges serve 4-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed for renewable 5-year terms
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Obergericht (second instance), Court of Justice (first instance), Administrative Court, county courts
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (Vaterlaendische Union) or VU [Guenther FRITZ]
Progressive Citizens' Party (Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei) or FBP [Thomas BANZER]
The Free List (Die Freie Liste) or FL [Pepo FRICK and Conny BUECHEL BRUEHWILER]
Democrats for Liechtenstein (Demokraten pro Liechtenstein) or DpL [Thomas REHAK]
The Independents (Die Unabhaengigen) or DU [Harry QUADERER]
International organization participation: CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Georg SPARBER (since 1 December 2021)
chancery: 2900 K Street NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
email address and website:
info@embassyli.org
https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
National symbol(s): princely hat (crown); national colors: blue, red
National anthem: name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)
lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/Josef FROMMELT
note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; uses the tune of "God Save the Queen"
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.Despite its small size and lack of natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial services sector and one of the highest per capita income levels in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly in the services sector. Low business taxes - a flat tax of 12.5% on income is applied - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated EU. As of 2015, 54% of Liechtenstein’s workforce consisted of cross-border commuters, largely from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany and the US - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization's Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011, Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries. In 2015, Liechtenstein and the EU agreed to clamp down on tax fraud and evasion and in 2018 will start automatically exchanging information on the bank accounts of each other’s residents.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $4.978 billion (2014 est.)
$3.2 billion (2009 est.)
$3.216 billion (2008 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 1.8% (2012 est.)
-0.5% (2011 est.)
3.1% (2007 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $139,100 (2009 est.)
$90,100 (2008 est.)
$91,300 (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.672 billion (2014 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.4% (2016 est.)
-0.2% (2013)
Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1996)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7% (2014)
industry: 41% (2014)
services: 52% (2014)
Agricultural products: wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 38,520 (2015 est.) (2012)
note: 51% of the labor force in Liechtenstein commute daily from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.8%
industry: 36.9%
services: 62.3% (2015)
Unemployment rate: 2.4% (2015)
2.4% (2014)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 995.3 million (2012 est.)
expenditures: 890.4 million (2011 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.6% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2012 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $3.217 billion (2015 est.)
$3.774 billion (2014 est.)
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Exports - commodities: small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Imports: $2.23 billion (2014 est.)
note: trade data exclude trade with Switzerland
Imports - commodities: agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external: $0 (2015 est.)
note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
Exchange rates: Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar -
0.9875 (2017 est.)
0.9852 (2016 est.)
0.9852 (2015 est.)
0.9627 (2014 est.)
0.9152 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 12,607 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 48,887 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: automatic telephone system; 44 Internet service providers in Liechtenstein and Switzerland combined; FttP (fiber to the home) penetration marketed 3rd highest in EU; fiber network reaches 3/4 of the population (2020)
domestic: fixed-line roughly 33 per 100 and mobile-cellular services 128 per 100 (2020)
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: relies on foreign terrestrial and satellite broadcasters for most broadcast media services; first Liechtenstein-based TV station established August 2008; Radio Liechtenstein operates multiple radio stations; a Swiss-based broadcaster operates one radio station in Liechtenstein
Internet country code: .li
Internet users: total: 37,260 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 98% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,050 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HB
Pipelines: 434.5 km gas (2018)
Railways: total: 9 km (2018)
standard gauge: 9 km (2018) 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and Switzerland
Roadways: total: 630 km (2019)
Waterways: 28 km (2010)
Merchant marine: total: 20
by type: bulk carrier 16, general cargo 1, other 3 (includes Switzerland) (2021)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the National Police is responsible for all matters relating to the safety and security of Liechtenstein
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone
Illicit drugs: has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector |
20220901 | countries-malaysia-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Malaysia. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [60] (3) 2168-5000; US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; KLACS@state.gov;
https://my.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 60
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 999; Fire: 994; Police: 999
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons
Currency (Code): Ringgits (MYR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G
Major Languages: Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai; note: Malaysia has 134 living languages
Major Religions: Muslim 61.3%, Buddhist 19.8%, Christian 9.2%, Hindu 6.3%, Confucianism, Taoism, other traditional Chinese religions 1.3%
Time Difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Kuala Lumpur (includes Petronas Towers, Bukit Bintang, National Museum); North Borneo Railway; Semenggoh Nature Reserve; Batu Caves; Kek Lok Si Temple; Malacca City; Manukan Island; Lenggong Valley; Sarawak Cultural Village
Major Sports: Soccer, badminton, tenpin bowling, field hockey, tennis
Cultural Practices: Nod or give a slight bow when greeting a women or an older person. Introduce high-ranking people and older people first.
Tipping Guidelines: Malaysia has a non-tipping culture. You are welcome to leave change in a tip jar, but you are not expected to tip.
Souvenirs: Hand-woven embroidered silk/cotton cloth, batik sarongs, pewter items; precious silver bowls, jewelry boxes, and betel nut sets; woven-bamboo and various fiber-woven baskets, bowls, and mats
Traditional Cuisine: Nasi Lemak — rice soaked in coconut cream overnight and cooked with pandan leaves, lemon grass, ginger, and other spices; usually served with a hard-boiled egg, fried anchovies, sambal paste, and roasted peanutsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-ireland-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Ireland due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. Passport must remain valid the entire length of the stay. A visa is not required.
US Embassy/Consulate: [353] (1) 668-8777; US Embassy in Dublin, 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland; ACSDublin@state.gov;
https://ie.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 353
Local Emergency Phone: 112, 999
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Currency (Code): Euros (EUR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G
Major Languages: English (the language generally used), Irish (Gaelic or Gaeilge)
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 78.3%, Church of Ireland 2.7%, other Christian 1.6%, Orthodox 1.3%, Muslim 1.3%
Time Difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March, ends last Sunday in October
Potable Water: Yes
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Cliffs of Moher; Dublin (includes Dublin Castle, Trinity College & Book of Kells, Grafton Street, Kilmainham Gaol); Killarney National Park & Muckross House & Gardens; Ring of Kerry; Kilkenny Castle; Blarney Castle; Bru na Boinne; Powerscourt Estate
Major Sports: Soccer, golf, rugby
Cultural Practices: Hands should remain visible while eating; try to not let your elbows rest on the table.
Tipping Guidelines: In restaurants, tip 10-15% of the bill if no service charge is included. Leave 1-2 euros at bars. Taxi drivers do not expect tips and many drivers often round down the bill, especially on longer fares, but you may round up the fare. Tip bellhops 1-2 euros per bag and leave housekeeping 1-2 euros per night.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-british-virgin-islands |
Topic: Photos of British Virgin Islands
Topic: Introduction
Background: First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands (1872-1960); they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. On 6 September 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Tortola. An estimated 80% of residential and business structures were destroyed or damaged, communications disrupted, and local roads rendered impassable.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 30 N, 64 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 151 sq km
land: 151 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Elevation: highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL; pleasant climate, beaches foster tourism
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 24.3% (2018 est.)
other: 29% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Natural hazards: hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Map description: British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.British Virgin Islands map showing the many islands that make up this UK territory in the Caribbean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 38,632 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: African/Black 76.3%, Latino 5.5%, White 5.4%, mixed 5.3%, Indian 2.1%, East Indian 1.6%, other 3%, unspecified 0.8% (2010 est.)
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 70.2% (Methodist 17.6%, Church of God 10.4%, Anglican 9.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 9.0%, Pentecostal 8.2%, Baptist 7.4%, New Testament Church of God 6.9%, other Protestant 1.2%), Roman Catholic 8.9%, Jehovah's Witness 2.5%, Hindu 1.9%, other 6.2%, none 7.9%, unspecified 2.4% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.48% (male 3,088/female 3,156)
15-24 years: 12.22% (male 2,212/female 2,418)
25-54 years: 47.84% (male 8,476/female 9,652)
55-64 years: 12.83% (male 2,242/female 2,521)
65 years and over: 10.63% (2021 est.) (male 1,921/female 2,105)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 37.2 years
male: 37 years
female: 37.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout the inhabited islands, with the largest islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke having the largest populations
Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15,000 ROAD TOWN (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 14.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.67 years
male: 78.17 years
female: 81.25 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: total: 99.9% of population
unimproved: total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.5% of population
rural: 97.5% of population
total: 97.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population
rural: 2.5% of population
total: 2.5% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2018)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.21 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 46.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 6.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 6.7% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 24.3% (2018 est.)
other: 29% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 49.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 21,099 tons (2000 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI
etymology: the myriad islets, cays, and rocks surrounding the major islands reminded explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 of Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin followers (Santa Ursula y las Once Mil Virgenes), which over time shortened to the Virgins (las Virgenes)
Government type: Overseas Territory of the UK with limited self-government; parliamentary democracy
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Capital: name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name refers to the nautical term "roadstead" or "roads," a body of water less sheltered than a harbor but where where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swells
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July (1956)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest effective 15 June 2007 (The Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007)
amendments: initiated by any elected member of the House of Assembly; passage requires simple majority vote by the elected members of the Assembly and assent by the governor on behalf of the monarch; amended 2015
Legal system: English common law
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor John J. RANKIN (since 29 January 2021)
head of government: Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY (since 5 May 2022)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor
note - on 5 May 2022, Premier Andrew FAHIE removed by a no confidence vote in House of Assembly following his arrest on drug trafficking and money laundering charges on 28 April 2022; Premier Dr. Natalio WHEATLEY sworn in as premier on 5 May 2022
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (15 seats; 13 members - 9 in single-seat constituencies and 4 at-large seats directly elected by simple majority vote and 2 ex-officio members - the attorney general and the speaker - chosen from outside the House; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 February 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 46.5%, NDP 28.2%, PVIM 17.4%, PU 8%; seats by party - VIP 8, NDP 3, PVIM 1, PU 1; composition as of March 2022 - men 11, women 4, percent of women 26.7%
Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, traveling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the British Virgin Islands
judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party or NDP [Marlon PENN]
Progressive Virgin Islands Movement or PVIM [Ronnie SKELTON]
Progressives United or PU [Julian FRASER]
Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Natalio WHEATLEY]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful); the islands were named by COLUMBUS in 1493 in honor of Saint Ursula and her 11 virgin followers (some sources say 11,000) who reputedly were martyred by the Huns in the 4th or 5th century; the figure on the banner holding a lamp represents the saint; the other lamps symbolize her followers
National symbol(s): zenaida dove, white cedar flower; national colors: yellow, green, red, white, blue
National anthem: note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)note: as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the national income. More than 934,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2008. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $500 million (2017 est.)
$490.2 million (2016 est.)
$481.1 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)
1.9% (2016 est.)
1.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $34,200 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.028 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 6.8% (2017 est.)
services: 93.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 25.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 7.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 20.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 94.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -69.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Industries: tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore banking center
Industrial production growth rate: 1.1% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 12,770 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4% (2005)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2015 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 400 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 400 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 38.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: $362.6 million (2011 est.)
$279.8 million (2010 est.)
Exports: $23 million (2017 est.)
$23 million (2015 est.)
Exports - partners: Malta 30%, Seychelles 29%, Switzerland 14% (2019)
Exports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, diamonds, paintings, precious stones (2019)
Imports: $300 million (2017 est.) NA
$210 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 32%, United States 22%, Italy 9%, France 7%, Seychelles 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: recreational boats, aircraft, refined petroleum, cars, furniture (2019)
Debt - external: $36.1 million (1997)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 33,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 116.298 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 22.5 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 1,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1,227 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 173,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 80.136 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 7,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,163 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 116 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021)
domestic: fixed-line connections exceed 24 per 100 persons and mobile cellular subscribership is roughly 116 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 1-284; landing points for PCCS, ECFS, CBUS, Deep Blue Cable, East-West, PAN-AM, Americas-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Columbus- IIb, St Thomas - St Croix System, Taino-Carib, and Americas I- North via submarine cable to Caribbean, Central and South America, and US (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel TV is available from cable and satellite subscription services; about a half-dozen private radio stations
Internet country code: .vg
Internet users: total: 23,585 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 6,738 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-L
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)
Roadways: total: 200 km (2007)
paved: 200 km (2007)
Merchant marine: total: 30
by type: general cargo 3, other 27 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Road Harbor
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering |
20220901 | about-faqs | Answers to many frequently asked questions are explained in the Definitions and Notes section in The World Factbook. Please review this section to see if your question is already answered there. In addition, we have compiled the following list of FAQs to answer other common questions.
Topic: GeneralThe staff cannot provide data beyond what appears in The World Factbook. The format and information in the Factbook are tailored to the specific requirements of US Government officials and content is focused on their current and anticipated needs. The staff welcomes suggestions for new entries.Formerly the website and the published Factbook were only updated annually. In November 2001, the Factbook began more frequent online updating and for many years bi-weekly updates were the norm. In late 2010, online updating on weekly basis began and that schedule continues today.The CIA discontinued publishing the printed Factbook after the 2007 edition; subsequent annual editions were published by the US Government Printing Office through the 2016-17 edition. Although no longer produced in hardcopy, annual online editions of The World Factbook are accessible on the Factbook website and may be downloaded in whole or in part.The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission. However, US Code (Section 403m) prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which implies that the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. For any questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal counsel. Further information on use of The World Factbook is described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.Although estimates and projections start with the same basic data from censuses, surveys, and registration systems, final estimates and projections can differ as a result of factors including data availability, assessment, and methods and protocols.Data availability Researchers may obtain specific country data at different times. Estimates or projections developed before the results of a census have been released will not be as accurate as those that take into account new census results.Assessment Researchers can differ in their assessment of data quality and in their estimates based on the available country data. They often need to adjust their estimates due to such factors as undercounting in a census or underregistration of births or deaths.Methods and protocols Differences in methods and protocols can shape the way estimates and projections are made of fertility, mortality, and international migration, and how these data are integrated with the population data. For example, the US Census Bureau uses a model that projects the population ahead by single years of age, a single year at a time (population statistics used in the Factbook are based on this model), whereas the United Nations model projects five-year age groups forward, five years at a time.World Factbook data may be based on different dates of information. In the above example, the GDP – per capita numbers are for past years where each year’s GDP is the population number divided by the relevant year. The population numbers shown in the People category are estimates for the current year and should not be used to calculate per capita income for earlier years.The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative units within a country. A comprehensive encyclopedia might be a source for state/province-level information.The World Factbook does not partner with other organizations or individuals, but we do welcome comments and suggestions that such groups or persons choose to provide.Previous editions of the Factbook, beginning with 2000, are available for downloading – but not browsing – on the CIA website. Rehosted versions of earlier editions of the Factbook are available for browsing, as well as for downloading, at other Internet web sites. We urge caution, however, in attempting to create time series by stringing together economic data – especially dollar values – from previous editions of the Factbook. Over time, data sources, definitions, and economic accounting methods have changed. We occasionally have made these changes ourselves in order to provide our readers with the best information available. Also, in the case of dollar values, changes in relative exchange rates and prices may make trends difficult to comprehend. Therefore, individuals should consult additional resources when doing comparative research or trend analysis
Topic: GeographyThe World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions (in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names (Appendix F), however, includes many of the world’s major geographic features as well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in The World Factbook.The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these may be expanded in the future. It is for these reasons that a separate European Union entry was created. However, because of the EU’s special status, this entry appears after the country listing. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the “Preliminary statement” of the European Union entry.Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term “Holy See” refers to the authority and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. As the jurisdictional equal of a state, the Holy See can enter into treaties and sends and receives diplomatic representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in the Geographic Names appendix.The Palestinian areas of Gaza Strip and West Bank are listed in the Factbook.The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered.A doubly landlocked country is one that is separated from an ocean or an ocean-accessible sea by two intervening countries. Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only countries that fit this definition.It all depends on whether one is looking at total area (land and water) when making the comparison (which is the criterion used by the Factbook) or just land area (which excludes inland water features such as rivers and lakes).Total area (combining land and water)United States = 9,826,630 sq km, China = 9,596,960 sq kmLand only (without any water features)United States = 9,161,923 sq km, China = 9,326,410 sq kmThe five entities are no longer in The World Factbook because their status has changed. While they are overseas departments of France, they are also now recognized as French regions, having equal status to the 22 metropolitan regions that make up European France. In other words, they are now recognized as being part of France proper. Their status is somewhat analogous to Alaska and Hawaii vis-à-vis the contiguous United States. Although separated from the larger geographic entity, they are still considered to be an integral part of it.
Topic: PhotosInclusion of photos in The World Factbook is a long-term project, and we plan to continuously add more photos to the site over time. Eventually, we hope to have images for every country in the Factbook.We appreciate the many offers from the public to contribute to our photo collection. However, we only use photos from US Government sources.Yes! All photos in The World Factbook are in the public domain.
Topic: Policies and ProceduresThe Factbook staff uses many different sources to publish what we judge are the most reliable and consistent data for any particular category. Space considerations preclude a listing of these various sources.The Factbook staff follows the guidance of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features. The position of the BGN is that the names Burma and Sea of Japan be used in official US Government maps and publications.US Federal agencies are required by the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-168) and by Executive Order 12770 of July 1991 to use the International System of Units, commonly referred to as the metric system or SI. In addition, the metric system is used by over 95% of the world’s population.The Factbook staff judges that this information would only be useful for some (generally smaller) countries. Larger countries can have large temperature extremes that do not represent the landmass as a whole.Flag designs used in The World Factbook are based on various national and vexillological sources.We have two sets of GDP dollar estimates in The World Factbook , one derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations and the other derived from official exchange rates (OER). Other sources probably use one of the two. See the Definitions and Notes section on GDP and GDP methodology for more information.Although Chiefs of State and The World Factbook both appear on the CIA Web site, they are produced and updated on different weekly schedules. Chiefs of State includes fewer countries but more leaders, whereas The World Factbook has a much larger database and includes all countries.Because of rounding, percentage distributions do not always add precisely to 100%. Rounding of numbers always results in a loss of precision – i.e., error. This error becomes apparent when percentage data are totaled, as the following two examples show:When this occurs, we do not force the numbers to add exactly to 100, because doing so would introduce additional error into the distribution.In deciding on the number of digits to present, the Factbook staff assesses the accuracy of the original data and the needs of US Government officials. All of the economic data are processed by computer – either at the source or by the Factbook staff. The economic data presented in The Factbook, therefore, follow the rounding convention used by virtually all numerical software applications, namely, any digit followed by a “5” is rounded up to the next higher digit, no matter whether the original digit is even or odd. Thus, for example, when rounded to the nearest integer, 2.5 becomes 3, rather than 2, as occurred in some pre-computer rounding systems.For most countries, this entry presents the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For other countries, the date may be some other significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession and so may not strictly be an “Independence” date. Dependent entities have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.
Topic: Spelling and PronunciationThe Factbook staff applies the names and spellings from the World Leaders link on the CIA Web site. The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings. Surnames are always spelled with capital letters; they may appear first in some cultures.The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recommends and approves names and spellings. The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names – domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to use uniform names of geographic features. (A note is usually included where changes may have occurred but have not yet been approved by the BGN). The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings.There are too many variations in pronunciation among English-speaking countries, not to mention English renditions of non-English names, for pronunciations to be included. American English pronunciations are included for some countries such as Qatar and Kiribati.
Topic: TechnicalThe World Factbook home page has a link entitled “Text/Low Bandwidth Version.” The country data in the text version is fully accessible. We believe The World Factbook is compliant with the Section 508 law. If you are experiencing difficulty, please use our comment form to provide us details of the specific problem you are experiencing and the assistive software and/or hardware you are using so that we can work with our technical staff to find and implement a solution. We welcome visitors’ suggestions to improve accessibility of The World Factbook and the CIA website.Hundreds of “Factbook” look-alikes exist on the Internet. You can access The World Factbook at: cia.gov, which is the only official site.Some of the files on The World Factbook website are large and could take several minutes to download on a dial-up connection. The screen might be blank during the download process.Adjusting the resolution setting on your monitor should correct this problem.The Factbook website features Country Comparison pages for selected Factbook entries. All of the Country Comparison pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files that can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases. |
20220901 | countries-korea-south-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in South Korea. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [82] (2) 397-4114; US Embassy Seoul, 188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea; seoulinfoACS@state.gov;
https://kr.usembassy.gov/
03141
Telephone Code: 82
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 119; Police: 112
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter; cold winters
Currency (Code): South Korean won (KRW)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): F
Major Languages: Korean, English
Major Religions: Protestant 19.7%, Buddhist 15.5%, Catholic 7.9%, none 56.9%; note: many people also practice some Confucian practices
Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Gamcheon Culture Village; Jeonju Hanok Village; Bridge of No Return; Hwaseong Fortress; Ganghwa Peace Observatory; Jindo Sea Parting; Seoraksan National Park; Seokguram Grotto & Bulguksa Temple; Jongmyo Shrine; Boryeong Mud Festival
Major Sports: Taekwondo, soccer, baseball
Cultural Practices: It is regarded as rude to point with your fingers. Better to gesture with your arm or hand. Casual physical contact, such as back slapping, is considered rude.
Tipping Guidelines: South Korea has a no-tip culture. Staff in restaurants and hotels, as well as taxi drivers, porters, and bellhops do not expect tips. Telling the taxi driver "keep the change" is appreciated. Most hotels add a compulsory 10% service charge to the bill.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Monday, April 25, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-navassa-island |
Topic: Photos of Navassa Island
Topic: Introduction
Background: This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the US Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a "unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity." The following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 30 nm west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 5 sq km
land: 5.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about nine times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: marine, tropical
Terrain: raised flat to undulating coral and limestone plateau; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation: highest point: 200 m NNW of lighthouse 85 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: guano (mining discontinued in 1898)
Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: hurricanes
Geography - note: strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock with numerous solution holes (limestone sinkholes) but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig trees, scattered cactus
Map description: Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea.Navassa Island map shows some features on this island in the Caribbean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: uninhabited; transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: some coral bleaching
Climate: marine, tropical
Land use: other: 100% (2018 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island
etymology: the flat island was named "Navaza" by some of Christopher COLUMBUS' sailors in 1504; the name derives from the Spanish term "nava" meaning "flat land, plain, or field"
Dependency status: unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of the Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; Haiti has claimed the island since the 19th century
Legal system: the laws of the US apply where applicable
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Subsistence fishing and commercial trawling occur within refuge waters.
Topic: Transportation
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Navassa Island (US)-Haiti: claimed by Haiti and is in Haiti’s constitution; the waters around Navassa island are a source of subsistence for Haitian fishermenNavassa Island (US)-Haiti: claimed by Haiti and is in Haiti’s constitution; the waters around Navassa island are a source of subsistence for Haitian fishermen |
20220901 | field-maritime-claims | This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:
territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the mean low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the territorial seas of both states are measured; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.
contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g., the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea); where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its contiguous zone beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the contiguous zone of both states are measured.
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-meter isobath, which is a line connecting points of 2,500 meters in depth; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.
exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.
Topic: Afghanistannone (landlocked)
Topic: Albaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Algeriaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
Topic: American Samoaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Andorranone (landlocked)
Topic: Angolaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Anguillaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: AntarcticaAustralia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claim; also see the Disputes - international entry
Topic: Antigua and Barbudaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Argentinaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Armenianone (landlocked)
Topic: Arubaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Australiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Austrianone (landlocked)
Topic: Azerbaijannone (landlocked)
Topic: Bahamas, Theterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Bahrainterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Topic: Bangladeshterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Topic: Barbadosterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Belarusnone (landlocked)
Topic: Belgiumterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors
Topic: Belizeterritorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Beninterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Bermudaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Bhutannone (landlocked)
Topic: Bolivianone (landlocked)
Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaNA
Topic: Botswananone (landlocked)
Topic: Bouvet Islandterritorial sea: 4 nm
Topic: Brazilterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryterritorial sea: 12 nm
Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm
Topic: British Virgin Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Bruneiterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Topic: Bulgariaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Burkina Fasonone (landlocked)
Topic: Burmaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Burundinone (landlocked)
Topic: Cabo Verdeterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Cambodiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Cameroonterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Topic: Canadaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Cayman Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Central African Republicnone (landlocked)
Topic: Chadnone (landlocked)
Topic: Chileterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Topic: Chinaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Christmas Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Clipperton Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Colombiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Comorosterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources
Topic: Congo, Republic of theterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Cook Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Coral Sea Islandsterritorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Costa Ricaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Cote d'Ivoireterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Croatiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Cubaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Curacaoterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Cyprusterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Czechianone (landlocked)
Topic: Denmarkterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Djiboutiterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Dominicaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Dominican Republicterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Ecuadorterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago
Topic: Egyptterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: El Salvadorterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Equatorial Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Eritreaterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Estoniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Topic: Eswatininone (landlocked)
Topic: Ethiopianone (landlocked)
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Faroe Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Topic: Fijiterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Finlandterritorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
Topic: Franceterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: French Polynesiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Gabonterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Gambia, Theterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: extent not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Gaza Stripsee entry for Israel note: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further noticenote: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice
Topic: Georgiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Germanyterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Ghanaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Gibraltarterritorial sea: 3 nm
Topic: Greeceterritorial sea: 6 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Greenlandterritorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Topic: Grenadaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Guamterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Guatemalaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Guernseyterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Topic: Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Guinea-Bissauterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Guyanaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Topic: Haititerritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)none (landlocked)
Topic: Hondurasterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Topic: Hong Kongterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Hungarynone (landlocked)
Topic: Icelandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Indiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Indonesiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Iranterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Topic: Iraqterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Topic: Irelandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Isle of Manterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Topic: Israelterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Topic: Italyterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Jamaicaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Jan Mayenterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Japanterritorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Jerseyterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Topic: Jordanterritorial sea: 3 nm
Topic: Kazakhstannone (landlocked)
Topic: Kenyaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Kiribatiterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Korea, Northterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Topic: Korea, Southterritorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Topic: Kosovonone (landlocked)
Topic: Kuwaitterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Kyrgyzstannone (landlocked)
Topic: Laosnone (landlocked)
Topic: Latviaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Lebanonterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Lesothonone (landlocked)
Topic: Liberiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Libyaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Topic: Liechtensteinnone (landlocked)
Topic: Lithuaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Luxembourgnone (landlocked)
Topic: Macaunot specified
Topic: Madagascarterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Topic: Malawinone (landlocked)
Topic: Malaysiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Topic: Maldivesterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Malinone (landlocked)
Topic: Maltaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm
Topic: Marshall Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Mauritaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Mauritiusterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Topic: Mexicoterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Moldovanone (landlocked)
Topic: Monacoterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Topic: Mongolianone (landlocked)
Topic: Montenegroterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty
Topic: Montserratterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Moroccoterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Mozambiqueterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Namibiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Nauruterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Navassa Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Nepalnone (landlocked)
Topic: Netherlandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: New Caledoniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: New Zealandterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Nicaraguaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation
Topic: Nigernone (landlocked)
Topic: Nigeriaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Niueterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Norfolk Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: North Macedonianone (landlocked)
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Norwayterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Omanterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Pakistanterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Palauterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Panamaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Topic: Papua New Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Paracel IslandsNA
Topic: Paraguaynone (landlocked)
Topic: Peruterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Philippinesterritorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Polandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Topic: Portugalterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Puerto Ricoterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Qatarterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Topic: Romaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Russiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Rwandanone (landlocked)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Saint Luciaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Samoaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: San Marinonone (landlocked)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principeterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Saudi Arabiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Topic: Senegalterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Serbianone (landlocked)
Topic: Seychellesterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Sierra Leoneterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Topic: Singaporeterritorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Topic: Sint Maartenterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Slovakianone (landlocked)
Topic: Sloveniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
Topic: Solomon Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Somaliaterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: South Africaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: South Sudannone (landlocked)
Topic: Spainterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Topic: Spratly IslandsNA
Topic: Sri Lankaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Sudanterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Surinameterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Svalbardterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Swedenterritorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Switzerlandnone (landlocked)
Topic: Syriaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
Topic: Taiwanterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Tajikistannone (landlocked)
Topic: Tanzaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Thailandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Timor-Lesteterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Togoterritorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Tokelauterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Tongaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Tunisiaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
Topic: Turkmenistannone (landlocked)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: Tuvaluterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Ugandanone (landlocked)
Topic: Ukraineterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: United Arab Emiratesterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: United Kingdomterritorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Topic: United Statesterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Uruguayterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Topic: Uzbekistannone (doubly landlocked)
Topic: Vanuatuterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Topic: Venezuelaterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Topic: Vietnamterritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Virgin Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Wake Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: Wallis and Futunaterritorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Topic: West Banknone (landlocked)
Topic: Worlda variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nma variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm
Topic: Yementerritorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Topic: Zambianone (landlocked)
Topic: Zimbabwenone (landlocked) |
20220901 | field-hiv-aids-adult-prevalence-rate | This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
Topic: Afghanistan(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: AkrotiriNA
Topic: Albania(2020 est.) <.1
Topic: Algeria(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: American SamoaNA
Topic: AndorraNA
Topic: Angola1.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: AnguillaNA
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1.1% (2018)
Topic: Argentina0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Armenia0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: ArubaNA
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA
Topic: Australia0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Austria0.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijan0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, The1.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Bahrain(2017 est.) <.1%
Topic: Bangladesh(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Barbados1.1% (2019 est.)
Topic: Belarus0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: BelgiumNA
Topic: Belize1.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Benin0.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: BermudaNA
Topic: Bhutan0.2% (2020)
Topic: Bolivia0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina(2018) <.1%
Topic: Botswana19.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Bouvet IslandNA
Topic: Brazil0.6% (2020 est.)
Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA
Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA
Topic: BruneiNA
Topic: Bulgaria(2019 est.) <.1%
Topic: Burkina Faso0.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: Burma0.6% (2019 est.)
Topic: Burundi1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Cabo Verde0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Cambodia0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Cameroon3% (2020 est.)
Topic: CanadaNA
Topic: Cayman IslandsNA
Topic: Central African Republic2.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Chad1.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Chile0.6% (2020 est.)
Topic: ChinaNA
Topic: Christmas IslandNA
Topic: Clipperton IslandNA
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA
Topic: Colombia0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Comoros(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the0.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the3.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Cook IslandsNA
Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA
Topic: Costa Rica0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire2.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Croatia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Cuba0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: CuracaoNA
Topic: Cyprus0.1% (2017 est.)
Topic: Czechia(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Denmark0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: DhekeliaNA
Topic: Djibouti0.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: Dominica0.6% (2018)
Topic: Dominican Republic0.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Ecuador0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Egypt(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: El Salvador0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea7.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Eritrea0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Estonia0.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: Eswatini26.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: Ethiopia0.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: European Unionnote - see individual entries of member states
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA
Topic: Faroe IslandsNA
Topic: Fiji0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Finland0.1% (2018)
Topic: France0.3% (2019 est.)
Topic: French PolynesiaNA
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA
Topic: Gabon3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Gambia, The1.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: Gaza StripNA
Topic: Georgia0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Germany0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Ghana1.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: GibraltarNA
Topic: Greece0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: GreenlandNA
Topic: Grenada0.5% (2018)
Topic: GuamNA
Topic: Guatemala0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: GuernseyNA
Topic: Guinea1.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Guyana1.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Haiti1.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA
Topic: Honduras0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Hong KongNA
Topic: Hungary(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Iceland0.1% (2020)
Topic: India0.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Indonesia0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Iran(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: IraqNA
Topic: Ireland0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Isle of ManNA
Topic: Israel0.2% (2018)
Topic: Italy0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Jamaica1.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Jan MayenNA
Topic: Japan(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: JerseyNA
Topic: Jordan(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Kazakhstan0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Kenya4.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: KiribatiNA
Topic: Korea, NorthNA
Topic: Korea, SouthNA
Topic: KosovoNA
Topic: Kuwait(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Kyrgyzstan0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Laos0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Latvia0.3% (2019 est.)
Topic: Lebanon(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Lesotho21.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Liberia1.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Libya0.1% (2020)
Topic: LiechtensteinNA
Topic: Lithuania0.1% (2019 est.)
Topic: Luxembourg0.3% (2018 est.)
Topic: MacauNA
Topic: Madagascar0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Malawi8.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Malaysia0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: MaldivesNA
Topic: Mali0.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Malta0.1% (2016 est.)
Topic: Marshall IslandsNA
Topic: Mauritania0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Mauritius1.7% (2020)
Topic: Mexico0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA
Topic: Moldova0.8% (2020 est.)
Topic: MonacoNA
Topic: Mongolia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Montenegro(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: MontserratNA
Topic: Morocco(2020 est.) <.1%
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique11.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Namibia11.6% (2020 est.)
Topic: NauruNA
Topic: Navassa IslandNA
Topic: Nepal0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Netherlands0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: New CaledoniaNA
Topic: New Zealand(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Nicaragua0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Niger0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Nigeria1.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: NiueNA
Topic: Norfolk IslandNA
Topic: North Macedonia(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA
Topic: Norway0.1% (2018 est.)
Topic: Oman0.1% (2019)
Topic: Pakistan0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: PalauNA
Topic: Panama1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guinea0.9% (2020 est.)
Topic: Paracel IslandsNA
Topic: Paraguay0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Peru0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Philippines0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA
Topic: PolandNA
Topic: Portugal0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Puerto RicoNA
Topic: Qatar(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Romania0.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Russia1.2% (2017 est.)
Topic: Rwanda2.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis0.5% (2018)
Topic: Saint Lucia0.6% (2018)
Topic: Saint MartinNA
Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1.5% (2018)
Topic: SamoaNA
Topic: San MarinoNA
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe0.3% (2020)
Topic: Saudi Arabia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Senegal0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Serbia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: SeychellesNA
Topic: Sierra Leone1.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Singapore0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Sint MaartenNA
Topic: Slovakia(2018 est.) <.1%
Topic: Slovenia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Solomon IslandsNA
Topic: Somalia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: South Africa19.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA
Topic: South Sudan2.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Spain0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Spratly IslandsNA
Topic: Sri Lanka(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Sudan0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Suriname1.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: SvalbardNA
Topic: Sweden0.2% (2016 est.)
Topic: Switzerland0.2% (2020)
Topic: Syria(2020) <.1%
Topic: TaiwanNA
Topic: Tajikistan0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: Tanzania4.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: Thailand1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Timor-Leste0.2% (2020)
Topic: Togo2% (2020 est.)
Topic: TokelauNA
Topic: TongaNA
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago0.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: Tunisia(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: TurkeyNA
Topic: TurkmenistanNA
Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA
Topic: TuvaluNA
Topic: Uganda5.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Ukraine1% (2020 est.)
Topic: United Arab Emirates0.1% (2020)
Topic: United KingdomNA
Topic: United StatesNA
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA
Topic: Uruguay0.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistan0.2% (2020 est.)
Topic: VanuatuNA
Topic: Venezuela0.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Vietnam0.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Virgin IslandsNA
Topic: Wake IslandNA
Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA
Topic: West BankNA
Topic: World0.7% (2020 est.)
Topic: Yemen(2020 est.) <.1%
Topic: Zambia11.1% (2020 est.)
Topic: Zimbabwe11.9% (2020 est.) |
20220901 | countries-cyprus |
Topic: Photos of Cyprus
Topic: Introduction
Background: A former British colony, Cyprus became independent in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority communities came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued, forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek Government-sponsored attempt to overthrow the elected president of Cyprus was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot administered area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), but it is recognized only by Turkey. An UN-mediated agreement, the Annan Plan, failed to win approval by both communities in 2004. In February 2014, after a hiatus of nearly two years, the leaders of the two communities resumed formal discussions under UN auspices aimed at reuniting the divided island. The most recent round of negotiations to reunify the island were suspended in July 2017 after failure to achieve a breakthrough. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies only to the areas under the internationally recognized government, and is suspended in the "TRNC." However, individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights accorded to other citizens of EU states.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey; note - Cyprus views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,241 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 156 km
border sovereign base areas: Akrotiri 48 km; Dhekelia 108 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation: highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 91 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use: agricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 18.8% (2018 est.)
other: 67.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 460 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
Natural hazards: moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Geography - note: the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia); several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
Map description: Cyprus map showing the island country in the Mediterranean Sea.Cyprus map showing the island country in the Mediterranean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,295,102 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups: Greek 98.8%, other 1% (includes Maronite, Armenian, Turkish-Cypriot), unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)
note: data represent only the Greek-Cypriot citizens in the Republic of Cyprus
Languages: Greek (official) 80.9%, Turkish (official) 0.2%, English 4.1%, Romanian 2.9%, Russian 2.5%, Bulgarian 2.2%, Arabic 1.2%, Filipino 1.1%, other 4.3%, unspecified 0.6%; note - data represent only the Republic of Cyprus (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Orthodox Christian 89.1%, Roman Catholic 2.9%, Protestant/Anglican 2%, Muslim 1.8%, Buddhist 1%, other (includes Maronite, Armenian Church, Hindu) 1.4%, unknown 1.1%, none/atheist 0.6% (2011 est.)
note: data represent only the government-controlled area of Cyprus
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.69% (male 102,095/female 96,676)
15-24 years: 12.29% (male 84,832/female 70,879)
25-54 years: 47.12% (male 316,710/female 280,167)
55-64 years: 11.92% (male 72,476/female 78,511)
65 years and over: 12.97% (2020 est.) (male 71,053/female 93,277)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 44.9
youth dependency ratio: 24
elderly dependency ratio: 20.9
potential support ratio: 4.8 (2020 est.)
note: data represent the whole country
Median age: total: 37.9 years
male: 36.7 years
female: 39.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.57 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated in central Nicosia and in the major cities of the south: Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca
Urbanization: urban population: 66.9% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 269,000 NICOSIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30 years (2020 est.)
note: data represent only government-controlled areas
Maternal mortality ratio: 6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 8.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.74 years
male: 76.93 years
female: 82.68 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 99.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.14 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.7% of population
rural: 98.8% of population
total: 99.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.3% of population
rural: 1.2% of population
total: 0.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2017 est.) <1000
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2017 est.) <100
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.8% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 35.1% (2020 est.)
male: 47% (2020 est.)
female: 23.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 5.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.7% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 16 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2%
male: 24.4%
female: 12.3% (2020 est.)
People - note: demographic data for Cyprus represent the population of the government-controlled area and the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, unless otherwise indicated
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 16.79 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 6.63 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.86 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Land use: agricultural land: 13.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 9.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 18.8% (2018 est.)
other: 67.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 66.9% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 541,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 72,007 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 110 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 184 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 780 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia (Greek)/ Kibris Cumhuriyeti (Turkish)
local short form: Kypros (Greek)/ Kibris (Turkish)
etymology: the derivation of the name "Cyprus" is unknown, but the extensive mining of copper metal on the island in antiquity gave rise to the Latin word "cuprum" for copper
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or "TRNC" ("Kuzey Kibris Turk Cumhuriyeti" or "KKTC")
Government type: Republic of Cyprus - presidential republic; self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) - parliamentary republic with enhanced presidency
note: a separation of the two main ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified when a Greek military-junta-supported coup attempt prompted the Turkish military intervention in July 1974 that gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government on the island; on 15 November 1983, then Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTAS declared independence and the formation of the "TRNC,” which is recognized only by Turkey
Capital: name: Nicosia (Lefkosia/Lefkosa)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: a mispronunciation of the city's Greek name Lefkosia and its Turkish name Lefkosa, both of which mean "White City"; the Greek name may derive from the Greek phrase "leuke ousia" ("white estate")
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"
Constitution: history: ratified 16 August 1960; note - in 1963, the constitution was partly suspended as Turkish Cypriots withdrew from the government; Turkish-held territory in 1983 was declared the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"); in 1985, the "TRNC" approved its own constitution
amendments: constitution of the Republic of Cyprus - proposed by the House of Representatives; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership of the "Greek Community" and the "Turkish Community"; however, all seats of Turkish Cypriot members have remained vacant since 1964; amended many times, last in 2020;
constitution of the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” - proposed by at least 10 members of the "Assembly of the Republic"; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and approval by referendum; amended 2014
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and civil law with European law supremacy
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cyprus
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013); the president is both chief of state and head of government; note - vice presidency reserved for a Turkish Cypriot, but vacant since 1974 because Turkish Cypriots do not participate in the Republic of Cyprus Government
head of government: President Nikos ANASTASIADIS (since 28 February 2013)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - under the 1960 constitution, 3 of the ministerial posts reserved for Turkish Cypriots, appointed by the vice president; positions currently filled by Greek Cypriots
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 28 January 2018 with a runoff on 4 February 2018 (next to be held in February 2023)
election results: Nikos ANASTASIADIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS (DISY) 35.5%, Stavros MALAS (AKEL) 30.2%, Nicolas PAPADOPOULOS (DIKO) 25.7%, other 8.6%; percent of vote in second round - Nikos ANASTASIADIS 56%, Stavros MALAS 44%
note: the first round of the TRNC presidential election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020, was postponed to 11 October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; the second round was held on 18 October 2020; percent of vote in the first round - Ersin TATAR (UBP) 32.4%, Mustafa AKINCI (independent) 29.8%, Tufan ERHURMAN (RTP) 21.7%, Kudret OZERSAY (independent) 5.7%, Erhan ARIKLI (YDP) 5.4%, Serdar DENKTAS (independent) 4.2%, other 0.8%; percent of vote in the second round - Ersin TATAR 51.7%, Mustafa AKINCI 48.3%
Legislative branch: description: area under government control: unicameral House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots, but only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members directly elected by both proportional representation and preferential vote; members serve 5-year terms); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: unicameral "Assembly of the Republic" or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members directly elected to 5-year terms by proportional representation system using a hybrid d'Hondt method with voter preferences for individual candidates
elections: area under government control: last held on 30 May 2021 (next to be held in 2026); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last held on 23 January 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
election results: area under government control: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - DISY 27.8%, AKEL 22.3%, DIKO 11.3%, ELAM 6.8%, EDEK-SP 6.7%, DiPa 6.1%, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 4.4%, other 14.6%; seats by party/coalition - DISY 17, AKEL 15, DIKO 9, ELAM 4, EDEK-SP 4, DiPa 4, Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Cooperation 3; area administered by Turkish Cypriots - "Assembly of the Republic" - percent of vote by party - UBP 39.5%, CTP 32%, DP 7.4%, HP 6.7%, YDP 6.4%, other 8%; seats by party - UBP 24, CTP 18, DP 3, HP 3, YDP 2
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cyprus (consists of 13 judges, including the court president); note - the highest court in the "TRNC" is the "Supreme Court" (consists of 8 "judges," including the "court president")
judge selection and term of office: Republic of Cyprus Supreme Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court judges; judges can serve until age 68; "TRNC Supreme Court" judges appointed by the "Supreme Council of Judicature," a 12-member body of judges, the attorney general, appointees by the president of the "TRNC," and by the "Legislative Assembly," and members elected by the bar association; judge tenure NA
subordinate courts: Republic of Cyprus district courts; Assize Courts; Administrative Court; specialized courts for issues relating to family, industrial disputes, the military, and rent control; "TRNC Assize Courts"; "district and family courts"
Political parties and leaders: area under government control:
Citizens' Alliance or SP [Giorgos LILLIKAS]
Democratic Front or DiPa [Marios GAROYIAN]
Democratic Party or DIKO [Nikolas PAPADOPOULOS]
Democratic Rally or DISY [Averof NEOPHYTOU]
Movement of Ecologists - Citizens' Alliance [Charalambos THEOPEMPTOU]
Movement of Social Democrats EDEK [Marinos SIZOPOULOS]
National Popular Front or ELAM [Christos CHRISTOU]
Progressive Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Stefanos STEFANOU]
Solidarity Movement [Eleni THEOCHAROUS]
area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Communal Democracy Party or TDP [Mine ATLI]
Communal Liberation Party - New Forces or TKP-YG [Mehmet CAKICI]
Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Mehmet BIRINCI]
Democratic Party or DP [Fikri ATAOGLU]
National Democratic Party or NDP [Buray BUSKUVUTCU]
National Unity Party or UBP [Faiz SUCUOGLU]
New Cyprus Party or YKP [Murat KANATLI]
People's Party or HP [Kudret OZERSAY]
Rebirth Party or YDP [Erhan ARIKLI]
Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Tufan ERHURMAN]
United Cyprus Party or BKP [Izzet IZCAN]
International organization participation: Australia Group, C, CD, CE, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marios LYSIOTIS (since 17 September 2018)
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
email address and website:
info@cyprusembassy.net
https://www.cyprusembassy.net/
consulate(s) general: New York
honorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Kirkland (WA), Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Mustafa LAKADAMYALI; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Judith Gail GARBER (since 18 March 2019)
embassy: Metochiou and Ploutarchou Street, 2407, Engomi, Nicosia
mailing address: 5450 Nicosia Place, Washington DC 20521-5450
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944
email address and website:
ACSNicosia@state.gov
https://cy.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: centered on a white field is a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the island has long been famous for its copper deposits) above two olive-green-colored, crossed olive branches; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note: one of only two national flags that uses a map as a design element; the flag of Kosovo is the other
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national flag but with the colors reversed
National symbol(s): Cypriot mouflon (wild sheep), white dove; national colors: blue, white
National anthem: name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note: adopted 1960; Cyprus adopted the Greek national anthem as its own; the Turkish Cypriot community in Cyprus uses the anthem of Turkey
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Paphos; Painted Churches in the Troodos Region; Choirokoitia
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008. During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%. However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction. Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika." Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders. As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans. Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations. The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs. In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters. Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified. Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods.The area of the Republic of Cyprus under government control has a market economy dominated by a services sector that accounts for more than four-fifths of GDP. Tourism, finance, shipping, and real estate have traditionally been the most important services. Cyprus has been a member of the EU since May 2004 and adopted the euro as its national currency in January 2008. During the first five years of EU membership, the Cyprus economy grew at an average rate of about 4%, with unemployment between 2004 and 2008 averaging about 4%. However, the economy tipped into recession in 2009 as the ongoing global financial crisis and resulting low demand hit the tourism and construction sectors. An overextended banking sector with excessive exposure to Greek debt added to the contraction. Cyprus’ biggest two banks were among the largest holders of Greek bonds in Europe and had a substantial presence in Greece through bank branches and subsidiaries. Following numerous downgrades of its credit rating, Cyprus lost access to international capital markets in May 2011. In July 2012, Cyprus became the fifth euro-zone government to request an economic bailout program from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - known collectively as the "Troika." Shortly after the election of President Nikos ANASTASIADES in February 2013, Cyprus reached an agreement with the Troika on a $13 billion bailout that triggered a two-week bank closure and the imposition of capital controls that remained partially in place until April 2015. Cyprus' two largest banks merged and the combined entity was recapitalized through conversion of some large bank deposits to shares and imposition of losses on bank bondholders. As with other EU countries, the Troika conditioned the bailout on passing financial and structural reforms and privatizing state-owned enterprises. Despite downsizing and restructuring, the Cypriot financial sector remains burdened by the largest stock of non-performing loans in the euro zone, equal to nearly half of all loans. Since the bailout, Cyprus has received positive appraisals by the Troika and outperformed fiscal targets but has struggled to overcome political opposition to bailout-mandated legislation, particularly regarding privatizations. The rate of non-performing loans (NPLs) is still very high at around 49%, and growth would accelerate if Cypriot banks could increase the pace of resolution of the NPLs. In October 2013, a US-Israeli consortium completed preliminary appraisals of hydrocarbon deposits in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which estimated gross mean reserves of about 130 billion cubic meters. Though exploration continues in Cyprus’ EEZ, no additional commercially exploitable reserves have been identified. Developing offshore hydrocarbon resources remains a critical component of the government’s economic recovery efforts, but development has been delayed as a result of regional developments and disagreements about exploitation methods.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $33.67 billion (2020 est.)
$35.48 billion (2019 est.)
$34.42 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3.08% (2019 est.)
5.25% (2018 est.)
5.16% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $37,700 (2020 est.)
$40,200 (2019 est.)
$39,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $24.946 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2019 est.)
1.4% (2018 est.)
0.5% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2018)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2018)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2017 est.)
industry: 12.5% (2017 est.)
services: 85.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 14.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 63.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -67.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, pork, sheep milk, goat milk, barley, wheat, poultry, olives, tangerines/mandarins
Industries: tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products
Industrial production growth rate: 13.4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 416,000 (2019 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 15.2%
services: 81% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.07% (2019 est.)
8.37% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.2%
male: 24.4%
female: 12.3% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.7% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 31.4 (2017 est.)
32.4 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2014)
Budget: revenues: 8.663 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 8.275 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 97.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
106.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment
Taxes and other revenues: 39.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.578 billion (2019 est.)
-$958 million (2018 est.)
Exports: $16.1 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$17.92 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$19.02 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: India 9%, Greece 9%, Libya 8%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cheese, crude petroleum (2019)
Imports: $17.58 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$18.2 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$18.6 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Greece 16%, Italy 10%, Turkey 8%, Russia 5%, Germany 5%, United Kingdom 5%, China 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, ships, cars, coal tar oil, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $888.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$817.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $213.19 billion (2019 est.)
$231.885 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.82771 (2020 est.)
0.90338 (2019 est.)
0.87789 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Economy of the area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Economy - overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the "TRNC" is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The "TRNC" maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the "TRNC" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the "TRNC" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The "TRNC" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The "TRNC" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The "TRNC" economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.; GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); 2.8% (2013 est.); GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); Population below poverty line: %NA; Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles; Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery; Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; Debt - external: NA; Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009); Economy - overview: Even though the whole of the island is part of the EU, implementation of the EU "acquis communautaire" has been suspended in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots, known locally as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" ("TRNC"), until political conditions permit the reunification of the island. The market-based economy of the "TRNC" is roughly one-fifth the size of its southern neighbor and is likewise dominated by the service sector with a large portion of the population employed by the government. In 2012 - the latest year for which data are available - the services sector, which includes the public sector, trade, tourism, and education, contributed 58.7% to economic output. In the same year, light manufacturing and agriculture contributed 2.7% and 6.2%, respectively. Manufacturing is limited mainly to food and beverages, furniture and fixtures, construction materials, metal and non-metal products, textiles and clothing. The "TRNC" maintains few economic ties with the Republic of Cyprus outside of trade in construction materials. Since its creation, the "TRNC" has heavily relied on financial assistance from Turkey, which supports the "TRNC" defense, telecommunications, water and postal services. The Turkish Lira is the preferred currency, though foreign currencies are widely accepted in business transactions. The "TRNC" remains vulnerable to the Turkish market and monetary policy because of its use of the Turkish Lira. The "TRNC" weathered the European financial crisis relatively unscathed - compared to the Republic of Cyprus - because of the lack of financial sector development, the health of the Turkish economy, and its separation from the rest of the island. The "TRNC" economy experienced growth estimated at 2.8% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014 and is projected to grow 3.8% in 2015.; GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.829 billion (2007 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (2014 est.); 2.8% (2013 est.); GDP - per capita: $11,700 (2007 est.); GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2%,; industry: 35.1%,; services: 58.7% (2012 est.); Labor force: 95,030 (2007 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5%,; industry: 29%,; services: 56.5% (2004); Unemployment rate: 9.4% (2005 est.); Population below poverty line: %NA; Inflation rate: 11.4% (2006); Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion,; expenditures: $2.5 billion (2006); Agriculture - products: citrus fruit, dairy, potatoes, grapes, olives, poultry, lamb; Industries: foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, ship repair, clay, gypsum, copper, furniture; Industrial production growth rate: -0.3% (2007 est.); Electricity production: 998.9 million kWh (2005); Electricity consumption: 797.9 million kWh (2005); Exports: $68.1 million, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Export - commodities: citrus, dairy, potatoes, textiles; Export - partners: Turkey 40%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Imports: $1.2 billion, f.o.b. (2007 est.); Import - commodities: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery; Import - partners: Turkey 60%; direct trade between the area administered by Turkish Cypriots and the area under government control remains limited; Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: NA; Debt - external: NA; Currency (code): Turkish new lira (YTL); Exchange rates: Turkish new lira per US dollar:; 1.9 (2013); 1.8 (2012); 1.668 (2011); 1.5026 (2010); 1.55 (2009);
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.881 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 4.733 billion kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 184 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 86.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 54,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 49,240 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 8.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 8.024 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 133.92 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 311,439 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,239,960 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Cyprus has suffered from the effects of the pandemic, which essentially closed down the tourism sector during 2020 and into 2021; the incumbent telco Cyta reported strong revenue growth in 2020, largely due to greater use of broadband and mobile services, though investment fell as a result of pandemic-related delays in completing planned projects; the mobile market is served by four mobile network operators, including Cablenet which initially offered services as an MVNO before becoming an MNO in its own right; Cyta has offered mobile services under the Cytamobile-Vodafone brand since 2004 following a partner agreement with Vodafone Group, while Epic was acquired by Monaco Telecom in mid-2018; in mid-2021 Monaco agreed to sell its entire passive infrastructure in Cyprus; the number of mobile subscribers fell in 2020, largely the result of subscribers scaling back on multiple SIM cards as an economic measure; the broadband market continues to develop steadily, providing the country with one of the highest broadband subscription rates in the region; DSL remains the dominant access platform, accounting for about two-thirds of fixed broadband connections; Cablenet is engaged in investment projects which will see its network pass about 80% of premises, compared to 50% as of early 2021; fiber infrastructure in Cyprus is minimal, in common with other markets in the region there are efforts underway (supported by the government and regulator) to extend an FttP service to about 200,000 premises; the number of DSL subscribers is set to fall steadily in coming years as customers are migrated to the fiber platform; regulator concludes multi-spectrum auction for 5G, issues licenses; Epic signs vendor agreement with Huawei to develop 5G (2021)
domestic: fixed-line about 35 per 100 and about 139 per 100 for mobile-cellular teledensity; open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay (2020)
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); a number of submarine cables, including the SEA-ME-WE-3, CADMOS, MedNautilus Submarine System, POSEIDON, TE North/TGN-Eurasia/SEACOM/Alexandros/Medes, UGARIT, Aphrodite2, Hawk, Lev Submarine System, and Tamares combine to provide connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Southeast Asia; Turcyos-1 and Turcyos-2 submarine cable in Turkish North Cyprus link to Turkey; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 8 (3 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean, 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: mixture of state and privately run TV and radio services; the public broadcaster operates 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations; 6 private TV broadcasters, satellite and cable TV services including telecasts from Greece and Turkey, and a number of private radio stations are available; in areas administered by Turkish Cypriots, there are 2 public TV stations, 4 public radio stations, and 7 privately owned TV and 21 radio broadcast stations plus 6 radio and 4 TV channels of local universities, plus 1 radio station of military, security forces and 1 radio station of civil defense cooperation, as well as relay stations from Turkey (2019)
Internet country code: .cy
Internet users: total: 1,098,699 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 91% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 332,080 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 401,408 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 20,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5B
Airports: total: 15 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2021)
Heliports: 9 (2021)
Roadways: total: 12,901 km (2016)
government control: 12,901 km (2016) (includes 272 km of expressways)
paved: 8,631 km (2016)
unpaved: 4,270 km (2016)
Turkish Cypriot control: 7,000 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 1,051
by type: bulk carrier 269, container ship 182, general cargo 197, oil tanker 59, other 344 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot National Guard (Ethniki Froura, EF; includes Army Land Forces, Naval Command, Air Command) (2022)
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2019) (approximately $610 million)
1.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $650 million)
1.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $540 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 13,000 total active duty personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Cypriot National Guard is a mix of Soviet-era and some more modern weapons systems; since 2010, it has received equipment from several countries, including France, Israel, Russia, and Serbia (2021)
Military service age and obligation: Cypriot National Guard (CNG): 18-50 years of age for compulsory military service for all Greek Cypriot males; 17 years of age for voluntary service; 14-month service obligation (2021)
Military - note: the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island and bring about a return to normal conditions; the UNFICYP mission had about 850 personnel as of February 2022
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the EU still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north; Turkey protests Cypriot Government creating hydrocarbon blocks and maritime boundary with Lebanon in March 2007
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 9,820 (Syria) (mid-year 2021); 13,113 (Ukraine) (as of 8 August 2022)
IDPs: 242,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2021)
stateless persons: 66 (mid-year 2021)
note: 41,908 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022)
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs |
20220901 | countries-israel-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors.The State of Israel was declared in 1948, after Britain withdrew from its mandate of Palestine. Israel was admitted as a member of the UN in 1949 and saw rapid population growth, primarily due to migration from Europe and the Middle East. The Israeli economy has undergone a dramatic transformation in the last 25 years, led by cutting-edge, high-tech sectors.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 21,937 sq km
land: 21,497 sq km
water: 440 sq km
Climate: temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Natural resources: timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand
Topic: People and Society
Population: 8,914,885 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Jewish 74% (of which Israel-born 78.7%, Europe/America/Oceania-born 14.8%, Africa-born 4.2%, Asia-born 2.3%), Arab 21.1%, other 4.9% (2020 est.)
Languages: Hebrew (official), Arabic (special status under Israeli law), English (most commonly used foreign language)
Religions: Jewish 74%, Muslim 18%, Christian 1.9%, Druze 1.6%, other 4.5% (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: name: Jerusalem; note - the US recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 without taking a position on the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty
Executive branch: chief of state: President Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Naftali BENNETT (since 13 June 2021)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a 3.25% vote threshold to gain representation; members serve 4-year terms)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: high-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; recent debt spikes; high inequality and poverty disparities persist; significant tariff and regulatory burdens, especially in agriculture; hard-hit by COVID-19; quantitative easing in effecthigh-income, technology- and industrial-based economy; recent debt spikes; high inequality and poverty disparities persist; significant tariff and regulatory burdens, especially in agriculture; hard-hit by COVID-19; quantitative easing in effect
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $353.39 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $38,300 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, poultry, tomatoes, carrots, turnips, tangerines/mandarins, green chillies/peppers, eggs, vegetables
Industries: high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, pharmaceuticals, construction, metal products, chemical products, plastics, cut diamonds, textiles, footwear
Exports: $113.87 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 26%, China 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2020)
Exports - commodities: diamonds, packaged medicines, medical instruments, integrated circuits, refined petroleum (2019)
Imports: $96.53 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: United States 12%, China 11%, Germany 7.5%, Switzerland 7%, Turkey 6% (2020)
Imports - commodities: diamonds, cars, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)Page last updated: Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-ukraine-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Ukraine due to Russian military invasion and COVID-19. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately if it is safe to do so using any commercial or other privately available ground transportation options. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine due to the active armed conflict and the singling out of U.S. citizens in Ukraine by Russian government security officials. All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those remaining in Ukraine should exercise increased caution due to the potential for active combat, crime, and civil unrest. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: +38 (044) 521-5566; EMER +38 (044) 521-5000; US Embassy Kyiv, 4 A.I. Sikorsky St (formerly Tankova), 04112 Kyiv, Ukraine; kyivacs@state.gov;
https://ua.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 380
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 03, 118; Fire: 01; Police: 02
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Eastern Europe; Ukraine is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; warm summers across the greater part of the country, hot in the south
Currency (Code): Hryvnia (UAH)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F
Major Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, other minority languages
Major Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox -Kyiv Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox -Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish
Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Kyiv (includes Saint Sophia Cathedral, Monastery of the Caves, Museum of Folk Architecture, Saint Michael’s Golden Domed Monastery, Mariinsky Palace, National Opera House, Chernobyl Museum, Saint Andrew’s Church); Mount Hoverla; Tunnel of Love; Old Town Lviv; Odessa; Chernivtsi; Tauric Chersonese & Its Chora
Major Sports: Soccer, basketball, boxing, ice hockey
Cultural Practices: When invited to a household for dinner, it is considered rude to refuse any of the dishes offered.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not required in Ukraine. However, 10% of the total bill is appreciated for good service. Tip the bellhop/porter the equivalent of $1 (USD) per bag and tip housekeeping your change.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Monday, April 25, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-ghana |
Topic: Photos of Ghana
Topic: Introduction
Background: Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, however, little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of Akan power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and contested for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader.
Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, however, little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of Akan power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and contested for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader.
Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana’s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 238,533 sq km
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,420 km
border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation: highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 190 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)
other: 9.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography - note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers
Map description: Ghana map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.Ghana map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 33,107,275 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)
Languages: Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)
note: English is the official language
Religions: Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)
Demographic profile: Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women.Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled.During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers.Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women.Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled.During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37.44% (male 5,524,932/female 5,460,943)
15-24 years: 18.64% (male 2,717,481/female 2,752,601)
25-54 years: 34.27% (male 4,875,985/female 5,177,959)
55-64 years: 5.21% (male 743,757/female 784,517)
65 years and over: 4.44% (2020 est.) (male 598,387/female 703,686)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.4
youth dependency ratio: 62.2
elderly dependency ratio: 5.3
potential support ratio: 17.1 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 21.4 years
male: 21 years
female: 21.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.23% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 28.55 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 58.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.630 million Kumasi, 2.605 million ACCRA (capital), 1.035 million Sekondi Takoradi (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.7 years (2014 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 308 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 32.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.37 years
male: 67.7 years
female: 71.09 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.66 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 27.2% (2017/18)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.7% of population
rural: 83.8% of population
total: 92.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.3% of population
rural: 16.2% of population
total: 7.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 3.4% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 84.8% of population
rural: 52.8% of population
total: 71.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 15.2% of population
rural: 47.2% of population
total: 28.9% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.7% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 350,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
note: since October 2021, there has been a yellow fever outbreak in Ghana with numerous cases, including some deaths, in the following regions: Savannah, Upper West, Bono, and Oti; the CDC recommends travelers going to Ghana should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak; there are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 10.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 3.5% (2020 est.)
male: 6.6% (2020 est.)
female: 0.3% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.6% (2017/18)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 5%
women married by age 18: 19.3%
men married by age 18: 3.9% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 83.5%
female: 74.5% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1%
male: 9.4%
female: 8.7% (2017 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 31.95 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 16.67 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 22.75 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Land use: agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)
forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)
other: 9.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 58.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.51% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
note: since October 2021, there has been a yellow fever outbreak in Ghana with numerous cases, including some deaths, in the following regions: Savannah, Upper West, Bono, and Oti; the CDC recommends travelers going to Ghana should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak; there are no medications to treat or cure yellow fever
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,538,275 tons (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 56.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name but whose location was actually further north than the modern country
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Akan word "nkran" meaning "ants," and refers to the numerous anthills in the area around the capital
Administrative divisions: 16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
amendments: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024)
election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party (preliminary) - NPP 137, NDC 137, independent 1; composition - men 235, women 40, percent of women 14.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
Political parties and leaders: All Peoples Congress or APC [Hassan AYARIGA]
Convention People's Party or CPP [Edmund N. DELLE]
Ghana Freedom Party or GFP [Akua DONKOR]
Ghana Union Movement or GUM [Christian Kwabena ANDREWS]
Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Henry Herbert LARTEY]
Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG [Kofi AKPALOO]
National Democratic Congress or NDC [John Dramani MAHAMA]
National Democratic Party or NDP [Nana Konadu Agyeman RAWLINGS]
New Patriotic Party or NPP [Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO]
People's Action Party or PAP [Imoru AYARNA]
People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
Progressive People's Party or PPP [Paa Kwesi NDUOM]
United Front Party or UFP [Dr. Nana A. BOATENG]
United Progressive Party or UPP [Akwasi Addai ODIKE]
note: Ghana has more than 20 registered parties; included are those which participated in the 2020 general election
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alima MAHAMA (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
email address and website:
info@ghanaembassydc.org
https://ghanaembassydc.org/
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Virginia E. PALMER (since 16 June 2022)
embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020
telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
email address and website:
ACSAccra@state.gov
https://gh.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
National symbol(s): black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
National anthem: name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"
lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold, oil, and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's first commercial offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. Production from two more fields, TEN and Sankofa, started in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atuabo is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. As of 2018, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of affordable electricity, lack of a solid domestic revenue base, and the high debt burden. The AKUFO-ADDO administration has made some progress by committing to fiscal consolidation, but much work is still to be done. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, boosting tax revenues, and improving the health of Ghana’s banking sector. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production and follow through on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2018.Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold, oil, and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's first commercial offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. Production from two more fields, TEN and Sankofa, started in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atuabo is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. As of 2018, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of affordable electricity, lack of a solid domestic revenue base, and the high debt burden. The AKUFO-ADDO administration has made some progress by committing to fiscal consolidation, but much work is still to be done. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, boosting tax revenues, and improving the health of Ghana’s banking sector. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production and follow through on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2018.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $164.84 billion (2020 est.)
$164.16 billion (2019 est.)
$154.13 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 8.4% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
3.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $5,300 (2020 est.)
$5,400 (2019 est.)
$5,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $65.363 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (2019 est.)
9.8% (2018 est.)
12.3% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2013)
Moody's rating: B3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 18.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 24.5% (2017 est.)
services: 57.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 8.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 13.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -46.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, cocoa, oranges, pineapples
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 16.7% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 12.49 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44.7%
industry: 14.4%
services: 40.9% (2013 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.9% (2015 est.)
5.2% (2013 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 9.1%
male: 9.4%
female: 8.7% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23.4% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 43.5 (2016 est.)
42.3 (2012-13)
41.9 (2005-06)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)
Budget: revenues: 9.544 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 12.36 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$2.131 billion (2017 est.)
-$2.86 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $25.59 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$22.51 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Switzerland 23%, India 17%, China 12%, United Arab Emirates 8%, South Africa 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa products, manganese, cashews (2019)
Imports: $26.91 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$23.22 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 24%, Nigeria 22%, United States 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: metal tubing, ships, cars, refined petroleum, rice (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.555 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $20.467 billion (2019 est.)
$17.885 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
5.86 (2020 est.)
5.68 (2019 est.)
4.9 (2018 est.)
3.712 (2014 est.)
2.895 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 85% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 93% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 75% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 5.312 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 13,107,757,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 1.801 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 58 million kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.474 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 63.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 35.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 48,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 185,700 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 98,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 176,800 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 3,900 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 2,073 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 2,654 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 85,110 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 1,598,653,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 2,224,568,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 625.915 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 18.093 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 160,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 13.569 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.364 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 11.239 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 307,668 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 40,461,609 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: challenged by unreliable electricity and shortage of skilled labor, Ghana seeks to extend telecom services nationally; investment in fiber infrastructure and off-grid solutions provide data coverage to over 23 million people; launch of LTE has improved mobile data services, including m-commerce and banking; moderately competitive Internet market, most through mobile networks; international submarine cables, and terrestrial cables have improved Internet capacity; LTE services are widely available, only MTN Ghana has thus far signaled a willingness to invest in 5G; the relatively high cost of 5G-compatible devices also inhibits most subscribers from migrating from 3G and LTE platforms. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line data about 1 per 200 subscriptions; competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a voice subscribership of more than 130 per 100 persons (2022)
international: country code - 233; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, MainOne, ACE, WACS and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South and West Africa, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; GhanaSat-1 nanosatellite launched in 2017 (2017)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
Internet country code: .gh
Internet users: total: 18,022,308 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 58% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 78,371 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 467,438 (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9G
Airports: total: 10 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2021)
Pipelines: 681.3 km gas, 11.4 km oil, 435 km refined products (2022)
Railways: total: 947 km (2022)
narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways: total: 65,725 km (2021)
paved: 14,948 km (2021)
unpaved: 50,777 km (2021)
urban: 28,480 km 27% total paved 73% total unpaved
Waterways: 1,293 km (2011) (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta)
Merchant marine: total: 51
by type: general cargo 7, oil tanker 3, other 41 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ghana Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (2022)
Military expenditures: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $360 million)
0.3% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $330 million)
0.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $300 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 14,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 2,000 Navy; 2,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Ghana Armed Forces is a mix of Russian, Chinese, and Western equipment; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2022)
Military deployments: 140 Mali (MINUSMA); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 650 Sudan (UNISFA) (May 2022)
Military - note: the military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army as of 2022, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missionsthe military of Ghana traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Gold Coast (Ghana), Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; following independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Armyas of 2022, the primary missions for the Ghanaian military included assisting other security services with internal security and patrolling the country’s economic exclusion zone, which has led to efforts to expand the Navy’s capabilities in recent years; since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the Ghana military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoiredisputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,635 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2022)
Illicit drugs: a transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African nations and Europe, and to a lesser extent the United States; cultivation of cannabis for domestic use and is trafficked to regional markets or to Europe |
20220901 | field-environment-international-agreements | This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
Topic: Afghanistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Albaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Algeriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Andorraparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Angolaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Antigua and Barbudaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Argentinaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Armeniaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Topic: Australiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Austriaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Topic: Azerbaijanparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Bahamas, Theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Bahrainparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Bangladeshparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Barbadosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Belarusparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Belgiumparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Belizeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Beninparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Bhutanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Boliviaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Botswanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Brazilparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Topic: Bruneiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Bulgariaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Burkina Fasoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Burmaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Burundiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Cabo Verdeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Cambodiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Cameroonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Canadaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Central African Republicparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Chadparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention
Topic: Chileparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Chinaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Colombiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Comorosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Congo, Republic of theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Cook Islandsparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Costa Ricaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Cote d'Ivoireparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Croatiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Cubaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Cyprusparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Czechiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Denmarkparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Topic: Djiboutiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Dominicaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Dominican Republicparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Ecuadorparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Egyptparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: El Salvadorparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Equatorial Guineaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Eritreaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement
Topic: Estoniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Eswatiniparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Ethiopiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: European Unionparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Topic: Fijiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Finlandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Franceparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Gabonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Gambia, Theparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Georgiaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Germanyparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Ghanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Greeceparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Topic: Grenadaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Guatemalaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Guineaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Guinea-Bissauparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Guyanaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Haitiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)party to: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Topic: Hondurasparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Hungaryparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Topic: Icelandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Indiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Indonesiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Iranparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Iraqparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification
Topic: Irelandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Israelparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Italyparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Topic: Jamaicaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Japanparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Jordanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Kazakhstanparty to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Kenyaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Kiribatiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Korea, Northparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Law of the Sea
Topic: Korea, Southparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Kuwaitparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention
Topic: Kyrgyzstanparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Laosparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Latviaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Lebanonparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Lesothoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Liberiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Libyaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Law of the Sea
Topic: Liechtensteinparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Law of the Sea
Topic: Lithuaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Luxembourgparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Madagascarparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Malawiparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Malaysiaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Maldivesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Maliparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Maltaparty to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Marshall Islandsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Mauritaniaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Mauritiusparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Mexicoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Moldovaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Topic: Monacoparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Mongoliaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Montenegroparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Moroccoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Mozambiqueparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Namibiaparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Nauruparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Nepalparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Netherlandsparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: New Zealandparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Nicaraguaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Nigerparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Nigeriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006
Topic: Niueparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: North Macedoniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Norwayparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Omanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Pakistanparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Palauparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Panamaparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Papua New Guineaparty to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Paraguayparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006
Topic: Peruparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Philippinesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Polandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Topic: Portugalparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Qatarparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Romaniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Russiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Topic: Rwandaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Saint Luciaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Samoaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: San Marinoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Topic: Sao Tome and Principeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Saudi Arabiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Senegalparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Serbiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Seychellesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Sierra Leoneparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Singaporeparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Slovakiaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protection
Topic: Sloveniaparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Solomon Islandsparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Somaliaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: South Africaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: South Sudanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Southern Oceanthe Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing) note: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the northnote: mineral exploitation except for scientific research is banned by the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty; additionally, many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence), which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north
Topic: Spainparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Sri Lankaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Sudanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Surinameparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Swedenparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Switzerlandparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Syriaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Tajikistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Tanzaniaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Thailandparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Timor-Lesteparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Togoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Tongaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Tunisiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Environmental Modification
Topic: Turkmenistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Tuvaluparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Ugandaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Topic: Ukraineparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic- Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Topic: United Arab Emiratesparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Topic: United Kingdomparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: United Statesparty to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping-London Protocol
Topic: Uruguayparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Life Conservation
Topic: Uzbekistanparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Vanuatuparty to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Venezuelaparty to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Vietnamparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Yemenparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Topic: Zambiaparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Topic: Zimbabweparty to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
20220901 | countries-seychelles |
Topic: Photos of Seychelles
Topic: Introduction
Background: Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency since independence.Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency since independence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation: highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
Land use: agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 88.5% (2018 est.)
other: 5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 3 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
Geography - note: the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands: 42 granitic and 113 coralline; by far the largest island is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and the site of the capital city of Victoria
Map description: Seychelles map showing the major islands and atolls that comprise this country in the Indian Ocean.Seychelles map showing the major islands and atolls that comprise this country in the Indian Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 97,017 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
Languages: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile: Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.85% (male 9,297/female 8,798)
15-24 years: 12.39% (male 6,283/female 5,607)
25-54 years: 49.03% (male 25,209/female 21,851)
55-64 years: 11.46% (male 5,545/female 5,455)
65 years and over: 8.27% (2020 est.) (male 3,272/female 4,664)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.7
youth dependency ratio: 34.9
elderly dependency ratio: 11.8
potential support ratio: 8.5 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 36.8 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 37.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.64% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.37 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 58.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years
male: 71.67 years
female: 80.66 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 96.2% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.2% (2019)
Physicians density: 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 20.2% (2020 est.)
male: 34% (2020 est.)
female: 6.4% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.6% (2012)
Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 95.4%
female: 96.4% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.4%
male: 17.4%
female: 15.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Land use: agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 88.5% (2018 est.)
other: 5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 58.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2012 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen Victoria (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory"
Administrative divisions: 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Constitution: history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 1 additional term); election last held on 22-24 October 2020 (originally scheduled for December 2020 but moved up to coincide with the 22-24 October National Assembly election in order to cut election costs)
election results: 2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6%
2015: President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote second round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 49.8%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020 -25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (next to be held October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and will be held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3% , other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US10; composition - men 27, women 8, percent of women 22.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges)
judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes
Political parties and leaders: Linyon Sanzman or LS [Martin AGLAE]
One Seychelles [Peter SINON]
Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD [Vesna RAKIC]
Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SPSJD)
United Seychelles or US [Patrick HERMINIE] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF)
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ian MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021)
chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
email address and website:
seychelles@un.int
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles
Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, and green the land and natural environment
National symbol(s): coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green
National anthem: name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
note: adopted 1996
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy. In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the IMF, and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the sale of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8. As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth.Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy.In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the IMF, and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the sale of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8.As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.4 billion (2020 est.)
$2.69 billion (2019 est.)
$2.65 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 5.3% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
4.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $24,400 (2020 est.)
$27,500 (2019 est.)
$27,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.748 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2019 est.)
3.7% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 13.8% (2017 est.)
services: 83.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 34.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -93.2% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, bananas, fruit, eggs, poultry, tomatoes, pork, tropical fruit, cassava
Industries: fishing, tourism, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 51,000 (2018 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
Unemployment rate: 3% (2017 est.)
2.7% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 16.4%
male: 17.4%
female: 15.5% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 46.8 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.7%
highest 10%: 15.4% (2007)
Budget: revenues: 593.4 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 600.7 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
69.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 39.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$307 million (2017 est.)
-$286 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.09 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.61 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.68 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 17%, United Kingdom 13%, France 12%, British Virgin Islands 11%, Zambia 9%, Mauritius 5%, Japan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats, cigarettes, animal meal (2019)
Imports: $1.35 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$1.86 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 21%, Qatar 13%, British Virgin Islands 7%, Germany 6%, France 6%, China 5%, Spain 5%, South Africa 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: recreational boats, refined petroleum, fish, aircraft, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $545.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$523.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $4.802 billion (2019 est.)
$4.613 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
13.64 (2017 est.)
13.319 (2016 est.)
13.319 (2015 est.)
13.314 (2014 est.)
12.747 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 157,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 463.894 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 30 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 7,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 7,225 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 163.06 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18,882 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 183,498 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 187 (2020)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020)
domestic: fixed-line a little over 19 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 187 telephones per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2019)the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria
Internet country code: .sc
Internet users: total: 77,785 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 79% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 34,966 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 455,201 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.79 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S7
Airports: total: 14 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 526 km (2015)
paved: 514 km (2015)
unpaved: 12 km (2015)
Merchant marine: total: 27
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 6, other 16 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Victoria
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, the Anti-Narcotics Bureau, and the Marine Police Unit) (2022)
note: the military reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense
Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2018 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500 personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; since 2010, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment (mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft) from several suppliers led by China and India (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service (including women); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2022)
Military - note: formed in 1977, the SDF's primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Seychelles-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)Seychelles-UK: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Seychelles is a source and destination country for children and women subjected to sex trafficking; Seychellois girls and, to a lesser extent boys, are forced into prostitution in nightclubs, bars, guest houses, hotels, brothels, private homes, and on the streets by peers, family members, and pimps; foreign tourists, sailors, and migrant workers contribute to the demand for commercial sex acts in Seychelles; some of the large population of foreign migrant workers reportedly experience the underpayment of wages and substandard housing
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Seychelles does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government allocated an operational and programmatic budget to the National Coordinating Committee on Trafficking in Persons, signed a bilateral agreement outlining procedures for employment and repatriation in Seychelles of migrant workers from Bangladesh and established a hotline to report forced labor concerns; however, no victims of trafficking were identified; efforts to address sex trafficking remained inadequate, its standard operating procedures for victim identification and referral to care services were not implemented; there are no shelters or care facilities for trafficking victims; investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers decreased; Seychelles did not establish a secretariat to support the Coordinating Committee, hindering the committee’s ability to direct anti-trafficking efforts across government and drive national policy; Seychelles was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020) |
20220901 | countries-china |
Topic: Photos of China
Topic: Introduction
Background: China's historical civilization dates to at least 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity following the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong.
MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies - such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) - that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, subsequent leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty, and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. The growth, however, has created considerable social displacement, adversely affected the country’s environment, and reduced the country’s natural resources. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies, but also has maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has also increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and initiating a global connectivity initiative in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). While many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, others have balked at the opaque lending behavior; weak environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards; and other practices that undermine local governance and foster corruption associated with some BRI-linked projects. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023. China's historical civilization dates to at least 13th century B.C., first under the Shang (to 1046 B.C.) and then the Zhou (1046-221 B.C) dynasties. The imperial era of China began in 221 B.C. under the Qin Dynasty and lasted until the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1912. During this period, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. In the 19th century, the Qing Dynasty suffered heavily from overextension by territorial conquest, insolvency, civil war, imperialism, military defeats, and foreign expropriation of ports and infrastructure. It collapsed following the Revolution of 1911, and China became a republic under SUN Yat-sen of the Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist) Party. However, the republic was beset by division, warlordism, and continued foreign intervention. In the late 1920s, a civil war erupted between the ruling KMT-controlled government led by CHIANG Kai-shek, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Japan occupied much of northeastern China in the early 1930s, and then launched a full-scale invasion of the country in 1937. The resulting eight years of warfare devastated the country and cost up to 20 million Chinese lives by the time of Japan’s defeat in 1945. The Nationalist-Communist civil war continued with renewed intensity following the end of World War II and culminated with a CCP victory in 1949, under the leadership of MAO Zedong.
MAO and the CCP established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring the PRC's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and launched agricultural, economic, political, and social policies - such as the Great Leap Forward (1958-1962) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) - that cost the lives of millions of people. MAO died in 1976. Beginning in 1978, subsequent leaders DENG Xiaoping, JIANG Zemin, and HU Jintao focused on market-oriented economic development and opening up the country to foreign trade, while maintaining the rule of the CCP. Since the change, China has been among the world’s fastest growing economies, with real gross domestic product averaging over 9% growth annually through 2021, lifting an estimated 800 million people out of poverty, and dramatically improving overall living standards. By 2011, the PRC’s economy was the second largest in the world. The growth, however, has created considerable social displacement, adversely affected the country’s environment, and reduced the country’s natural resources. Current leader XI Jinping has continued these policies, but also has maintained tight political controls. Over the past decade, China has also increased its global outreach, including military deployments, participation in international organizations, and initiating a global connectivity initiative in 2013 called the "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI). While many nations have signed on to BRI agreements to attract PRC investment, others have balked at the opaque lending behavior; weak environment, social, and governance (ESG) standards; and other practices that undermine local governance and foster corruption associated with some BRI-linked projects. XI Jinping assumed the positions of General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission in 2012 and President in 2013. In March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 9,596,960 sq km
land: 9,326,410 sq km
water: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries: total: 22,457 km
border countries (14): Afghanistan 91 km; Bhutan 477 km; Burma 2,129 km; India 2,659 km; Kazakhstan 1,765 km; North Korea 1,352 km; Kyrgyzstan 1,063 km; Laos 475 km; Mongolia 4,630 km; Nepal 1,389 km; Pakistan 438 km; Russia (northeast) 4,133 km and Russia (northwest) 46 km; Tajikistan 477 km; Vietnam 1,297 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east
Elevation: highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
lowest point: Turpan Pendi (Turfan Depression) -154 m
mean elevation: 1,840 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 54.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 11.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 22.3% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 690,070 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590
Salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Mekong river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Brahmaputra river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Salween river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Pearl (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Red river source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Major aquifers: North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin
Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuriesfrequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidencevolcanism: China contains some historically active volcanoes including Changbaishan (also known as Baitoushan, Baegdu, or P'aektu-san), Hainan Dao, and Kunlun although most have been relatively inactive in recent centuries
Geography - note: note 1: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US) and largest country situated entirely in Asia; Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak above sea level
note 2: the largest cave chamber in the world is the Miao Room, in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, which encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume
note 3: China appears to have been the center of domestication for two of the world's leading cereal crops: millet in the north along the Yellow River and rice in the south along the lower or middle Yangtze River
Map description: China map showing major cities as well as the many bordering East Asian countries and neighboring seas.China map showing major cities as well as the many bordering East Asian countries and neighboring seas.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,410,539,758 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)
note: the PRC officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry); note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uighur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uygur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)
major-language sample(s):
世界概況 – 不可缺少的基本消息來源 (Standard Chinese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)
note: officially atheist
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.29% (male 129,296,339/female 111,782,427)
15-24 years: 11.48% (male 86,129,841/female 73,876,148)
25-54 years: 46.81% (male 333,789,731/female 318,711,557)
55-64 years: 12.08% (male 84,827,645/female 83,557,507)
65 years and over: 12.34% (2020 est.) (male 81,586,490/female 90,458,292)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 42.2
youth dependency ratio: 25.2
elderly dependency ratio: 17
potential support ratio: 5.9 (2020 est.)
note: data do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan
Median age: total: 38.4 years
male: 37.5 years
female: 39.4 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.19% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 9.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: overwhelming majority of the population is found in the eastern half of the country; the west, with its vast mountainous and desert areas, remains sparsely populated; though ranked first in the world in total population, overall density is less than that of many other countries in Asia and Europe; high population density is found along the Yangtze and Yellow River valleys, the Xi Jiang River delta, the Sichuan Basin (around Chengdu), in and around Beijing, and the industrial area around Shenyang
Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau
Major urban areas - population: 28.517 million Shanghai, 21.333 million BEIJING (capital), 16.875 million Chongqing, 14.012 million Tianjin, 13.965 million Guangzhou, 12.831 million Shenzhen (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.72 years
male: 75 years
female: 80.7 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 84.5% (2017)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.3% of population
rural: 91.5% of population
total: 95.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.7% of population
rural: 8.5% of population
total: 4.9% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.4% (2019)
Physicians density: 2.23 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 97.6% of population
rural: 90.6% of population
total: 94.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 2.4% of population
rural: 9.4% of population
total: 5.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis
soil contact diseases: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 6 June 2022, China has reported a total of 3,392,315 cases of COVID-19 or 230.57 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 17,551 cumulative deaths or a rate 1.19 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 89.36% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.2% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 25.6% (2020 est.)
male: 49.4% (2020 est.)
female: 1.7% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2013)
Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.2% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2015)
People - note: in October 2015, the Chinese Government announced that it would change its rules to allow all couples to have two children, loosening a 1979 mandate that restricted many couples to one child; the new policy was implemented on 1 January 2016 to address China’s rapidly aging population and future economic needs
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; China is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leads to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 49.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 9,893.04 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1,490.24 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Land use: agricultural land: 54.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 11.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 41.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 22.3% (2018 est.)
other: 23% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 63.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.78% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
note: data do not include Hong Kong and Macau
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.57% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Japanese encephalitis
soil contact diseases: hantaviral hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
note: a new coronavirus is causing an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) in China; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; the US Department of State has issued a do not travel advisory for China due to COVID-19; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also recommended against travel to China and published additional guidance at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in China to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures; as of 6 June 2022, China has reported a total of 3,392,315 cases of COVID-19 or 230.57 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 17,551 cumulative deaths or a rate 1.19 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 1 June 2022, 89.36% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 210 million tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Dongting Hu - 3,100 sq km; Poyang Hu - 3,350 sq km; Hongze Hu - 2,700 sq km; Tai Hu - 2,210 sq km; Hulun Nur - 1,590
Salt water lake(s): Quinghai Hu - 4,460 sq km; Nam Co - 2,500 sq km; Siling Co - 1,860 sq km; Tangra Yumco - 1,400 sq km; Bosten Hu 1,380 sq km
Major rivers (by length in km): Yangtze - 6,300 km; Huang He - 5,464 km; Amur river source (shared with Mongolia and Russia [m]) - 4,444 km; Mekong river source (shared with Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam [m]) - 4,350 km; Brahmaputra river source (shared with India and Bangladesh [m]) - 3,969 km; Indus river source (shared with India and Pakistan [m]) - 3,610 km; Salween river source (shared with Thailand and Burma [m]) - 3,060 km; Irrawaddy river source (shared with Burma [m]) - 2,809 km; Pearl (shared with Vietnam [s]) - 2,200 km; Red river source (shared with Vietnam [m]) - 1,149 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Pacific Ocean drainage: Amur (1,929,955 sq km), Huang He (944,970 sq km), Mekong (805,604 sq km), Yangtze (1,722,193 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km), Irrawaddy (413,710 sq km), Salween (271,914 sq km)
Arctic Ocean drainage: Ob (2,972,493 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Tarim Basin (1,152,448 sq km), Amu Darya (534,739 sq km), Syr Darya (782,617 sq km), Lake Balkash (510,015 sq km)
Major aquifers: North China Aquifer System (Huang Huai Hai Plain), Song-Liao Plain, Tarim Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 79.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 133.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 385.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 2,840,220,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhongguo
abbreviation: PRC
etymology: English name derives from the Qin (Chin) rulers of the 3rd century B.C., who comprised the first imperial dynasty of ancient China; the Chinese name Zhongguo translates as "Central Nation" or "Middle Kingdom"
Government type: communist party-led state
Capital: name: Beijing
geographic coordinates: 39 55 N, 116 23 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone; before 1949 it was divided into five
etymology: the Chinese meaning is "Northern Capital"
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural)provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet)municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
Independence: 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)
National holiday: National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest promulgated 4 December 1982
amendments: proposed by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress or supported by more than one fifth of the National People’s Congress membership; passage requires more than two-thirds majority vote of the Congress membership; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system: civil law influenced by Soviet and continental European civil law systems; legislature retains power to interpret statutes; note - on 28 May 2020, the National People's Congress adopted the PRC Civil Code, which codifies personal relations and property relations
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: least one parent must be a citizen of China
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: while naturalization is theoretically possible, in practical terms it is extremely difficult; residency is required but not specified
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Vice President WANG Qishan (since 17 March 2018)
head of government: Premier LI Keqiang (since 16 March 2013); Executive Vice Premiers HAN Zheng (since 19 March 2018), SUN Chunlan (since 19 March 2018), LIU He (since 19 March 2018), HU Chunhua (since 19 March 2018)
cabinet: State Council appointed by National People's Congress
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by National People's Congress (no term limits); election last held on 17 March 2018 (next to be held in March 2023); premier nominated by president, confirmed by National People's Congress
election results: 2018: XI Jinping reelected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,970 (unanimously); WANG Qishan elected vice president with 2,969 votes
2013: XI Jinping elected president; National People's Congress vote - 2,952; LI Yuanchao elected vice president with 2,839 votes
note - in March 2018, the PRC’s National People’s Congress passed an amendment abolishing presidential term limits, opening the door for XI to seek a third five-year term in 2023
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (maximum of 3,000 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses, and the People's Liberation Army; members serve 5-year terms); note - in practice, only members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its 8 allied independent parties, and CCP-approved independent candidates are elected
elections: last held in December 2017-February 2018 (next to be held in late 2022 to early 2023)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - NA; composition - men 2,238, women 742, percent of women 24.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme People's Court (consists of over 340 judges, including the chief justice and 13 grand justices organized into a civil committee and tribunals for civil, economic, administrative, complaint and appeal, and communication and transportation cases)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the People's National Congress (NPC); limited to 2 consecutive 5-year-terms; other justices and judges nominated by the chief justice and appointed by the Standing Committee of the NPC; term of other justices and judges determined by the NPC
subordinate courts: Higher People's Courts; Intermediate People's Courts; District and County People's Courts; Autonomous Region People's Courts; International Commercial Courts; Special People's Courts for military, maritime, transportation, and forestry issues
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCP [XI Jinping]
note: China has 8 nominally independent small parties controlled by the CCP
International organization participation: ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), APEC, Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, CDB, CICA, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-24 (observer), G-5, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SCO, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador QIN Gang (since 15 Sep 2021)
chancery: 3505 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 495-2266
FAX: [1] (202) 495-2138
email address and website:
chinaemppress_us@mfa.gov.cn
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco; note - the US ordered closure of the Houston consulate in late July 2020
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas BURNS (since 2 April 2022)
embassy: 55 An Jia Lou Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
mailing address: 7300 Beijing Place, Washington DC 20521-7300
telephone: [86] (10) 8531-3000
FAX: [86] (10) 8531-4200
email address and website:
BeijingACS@state.gov
https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/
consulate(s) general: Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan; note - the Chinese Government ordered closure of the US consulate in Chengdu in late July 2020
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China
National symbol(s): dragon, giant panda; national colors: red, yellow
National anthem: name: "Yiyongjun Jinxingqu" (The March of the Volunteers)
lyrics/music: TIAN Han/NIE Er
note: adopted 1949; the anthem, though banned during the Cultural Revolution, is more commonly known as "Zhongguo Guoge" (Chinese National Song); it was originally the theme song to the 1935 Chinese movie, "Sons and Daughters in a Time of Storm"
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 56 (14 natural, 38 cultural, 4 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Imperial Palaces of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (c); Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (c); The Great Wall (c); Summer Palace (c); Jiuzhaigou Valley (n); Potala Palace (c); Ancient Pingyao (c); Historic Macau (c); Dengfeng (c); Grand Canal (c); Mount Huangshan (m)
Government - note: in 2018, the Beijing established an investigatory National Supervisory Commission to oversee all state employees
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a major global role. China has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion, resulting in efficiency gains that have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Reforms began with the phaseout of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, growth of the private sector, development of stock markets and a modern banking system, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China continues to pursue an industrial policy, state support of key sectors, and a restrictive investment regime. From 2013 to 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than 7% real growth per year. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2017 stood as the largest economy in the world, surpassing the US in 2014 for the first time in modern history. China became the world's largest exporter in 2010, and the largest trading nation in 2013. Still, China's per capita income is below the world average. In July 2005 moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. From mid-2005 to late 2008, the renminbi (RMB) appreciated more than 20% against the US dollar, but the exchange rate remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing announced it would resume a gradual appreciation. From 2013 until early 2015, the renminbi held steady against the dollar, but it depreciated 13% from mid-2015 until end-2016 amid strong capital outflows; in 2017 the RMB resumed appreciating against the dollar – roughly 7% from end-of-2016 to end-of-2017. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the renminbi, after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket. However, since late 2015 Beijing has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability. Beijing faces numerous economic challenges including: (a) reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low domestic household consumption; (b) managing its high corporate debt burden to maintain financial stability; (c) controlling off-balance sheet local government debt used to finance infrastructure stimulus; (d) facilitating higher-wage job opportunities for the aspiring middle class, including rural migrants and college graduates, while maintaining competitiveness; (e) dampening speculative investment in the real estate sector without sharply slowing the economy; (f) reducing industrial overcapacity; and (g) raising productivity growth rates through the more efficient allocation of capital and state-support for innovation. Economic development has progressed further in coastal provinces than in the interior, and by 2016 more than 169.3 million migrant workers and their dependents had relocated to urban areas to find work. One consequence of China’s population control policy known as the "one-child policy" - which was relaxed in 2016 to permit all families to have two children - is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the North - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and urbanization. Beijing is seeking to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing on natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy development. In 2016, China ratified the Paris Agreement, a multilateral agreement to combat climate change, and committed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030. The government's 13th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2016, emphasizes the need to increase innovation and boost domestic consumption to make the economy less dependent on government investment, exports, and heavy industry. However, China has made more progress on subsidizing innovation than rebalancing the economy. Beijing has committed to giving the market a more decisive role in allocating resources, but its policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Beijing in 2010 pledged to double China’s GDP by 2020, and the 13th Five Year Plan includes annual economic growth targets of at least 6.5% through 2020 to achieve that goal. In recent years, China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors considered important to "economic security," explicitly looking to foster globally competitive industries. Beijing also has undermined some market-oriented reforms by reaffirming the "dominant" role of the state in the economy, a stance that threatens to discourage private initiative and make the economy less efficient over time. The slight acceleration in economic growth in 2017—the first such uptick since 2010—gives Beijing more latitude to pursue its economic reforms, focusing on financial sector deleveraging and its Supply-Side Structural Reform agenda, first announced in late 2015.Since the late 1970s, China has moved from a closed, centrally planned system to a more market-oriented one that plays a major global role. China has implemented reforms in a gradualist fashion, resulting in efficiency gains that have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Reforms began with the phaseout of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, growth of the private sector, development of stock markets and a modern banking system, and opening to foreign trade and investment. China continues to pursue an industrial policy, state support of key sectors, and a restrictive investment regime. From 2013 to 2017, China had one of the fastest growing economies in the world, averaging slightly more than 7% real growth per year. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis that adjusts for price differences, China in 2017 stood as the largest economy in the world, surpassing the US in 2014 for the first time in modern history. China became the world's largest exporter in 2010, and the largest trading nation in 2013. Still, China's per capita income is below the world average. In July 2005 moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. From mid-2005 to late 2008, the renminbi (RMB) appreciated more than 20% against the US dollar, but the exchange rate remained virtually pegged to the dollar from the onset of the global financial crisis until June 2010, when Beijing announced it would resume a gradual appreciation. From 2013 until early 2015, the renminbi held steady against the dollar, but it depreciated 13% from mid-2015 until end-2016 amid strong capital outflows; in 2017 the RMB resumed appreciating against the dollar – roughly 7% from end-of-2016 to end-of-2017. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced it would continue to carefully push for full convertibility of the renminbi, after the currency was accepted as part of the IMF’s special drawing rights basket. However, since late 2015 Beijing has strengthened capital controls and oversight of overseas investments to better manage the exchange rate and maintain financial stability. Beijing faces numerous economic challenges including: (a) reducing its high domestic savings rate and correspondingly low domestic household consumption; (b) managing its high corporate debt burden to maintain financial stability; (c) controlling off-balance sheet local government debt used to finance infrastructure stimulus; (d) facilitating higher-wage job opportunities for the aspiring middle class, including rural migrants and college graduates, while maintaining competitiveness; (e) dampening speculative investment in the real estate sector without sharply slowing the economy; (f) reducing industrial overcapacity; and (g) raising productivity growth rates through the more efficient allocation of capital and state-support for innovation. Economic development has progressed further in coastal provinces than in the interior, and by 2016 more than 169.3 million migrant workers and their dependents had relocated to urban areas to find work. One consequence of China’s population control policy known as the "one-child policy" - which was relaxed in 2016 to permit all families to have two children - is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the North - is another long-term problem. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and urbanization. Beijing is seeking to add energy production capacity from sources other than coal and oil, focusing on natural gas, nuclear, and clean energy development. In 2016, China ratified the Paris Agreement, a multilateral agreement to combat climate change, and committed to peak its carbon dioxide emissions between 2025 and 2030. The government's 13th Five-Year Plan, unveiled in March 2016, emphasizes the need to increase innovation and boost domestic consumption to make the economy less dependent on government investment, exports, and heavy industry. However, China has made more progress on subsidizing innovation than rebalancing the economy. Beijing has committed to giving the market a more decisive role in allocating resources, but its policies continue to favor state-owned enterprises and emphasize stability. Beijing in 2010 pledged to double China’s GDP by 2020, and the 13th Five Year Plan includes annual economic growth targets of at least 6.5% through 2020 to achieve that goal. In recent years, China has renewed its support for state-owned enterprises in sectors considered important to "economic security," explicitly looking to foster globally competitive industries. Beijing also has undermined some market-oriented reforms by reaffirming the "dominant" role of the state in the economy, a stance that threatens to discourage private initiative and make the economy less efficient over time. The slight acceleration in economic growth in 2017—the first such uptick since 2010—gives Beijing more latitude to pursue its economic reforms, focusing on financial sector deleveraging and its Supply-Side Structural Reform agenda, first announced in late 2015.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $23,009,780,000,000 (2020 est.)
$22,492,450,000,000 (2019 est.)
$21,229,360,000,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 6.14% (2019 est.)
6.75% (2018 est.)
6.92% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $16,400 (2020 est.)
$16,100 (2019 est.)
$15,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $14,327,359,000,000 (2019 est.)
note: because China's exchange rate is determined by fiat rather than by market forces, the official exchange rate measure of GDP is not an accurate measure of China's output; GDP at the official exchange rate substantially understates the actual level of China's output vis-a-vis the rest of the world; in China's situation, GDP at purchasing power parity provides the best measure for comparing output across countries
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2019 est.)
2% (2018 est.)
1.5% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A+ (2007)
Moody's rating: A1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2017)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.9% (2017 est.)
industry: 40.5% (2017 est.)
services: 51.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 39.1% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 14.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 42.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -18.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugar cane, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, sweet potatoes
Industries: world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizer; consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics); food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites
Industrial production growth rate: 6.1% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 774.71 million (2019 est.)
note: by the end of 2012, China's working age population (15-64 years) was 1.004 billion
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 27.7%
industry: 28.8%
services: 43.5% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.64% (2019 est.)
3.84% (2018 est.)
note: data are for registered urban unemployment, which excludes private enterprises and migrants
Population below poverty line: 0.6% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38.5 (2016 est.)
46.2 (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 31.4% (2012)
note: data are for urban households only
Budget: revenues: 2.553 trillion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 3.008 trillion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 47% of GDP (2017 est.)
44.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: official data; data cover both central and local government debt, including debt officially recognized by China's National Audit Office report in 2011; data exclude policy bank bonds, Ministry of Railway debt, and China Asset Management Company debt
Taxes and other revenues: 21.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $141.335 billion (2019 est.)
$25.499 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $2,732,370,000,000 (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2.631 trillion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2,651,010,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 17%, Hong Kong 10%, Japan 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, office machinery and parts, telephones (2019)
Imports: $2,362,690,000,000 (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2,499,150,000,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$2,563,100,000,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: South Korea 9%, Japan 8%, Australia 7%, Germany 7%, US 7%, Taiwan 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron, natural gas, cars, gold (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.236 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.098 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $2,027,950,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,935,206,000,000 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar -
6.5374 (2020 est.)
7.0403 (2019 est.)
6.8798 (2018 est.)
6.1434 (2014 est.)
6.1958 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 2,217,925,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 6,875,088,640,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 21.655 billion kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 4.858 billion kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 333.01 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 66% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 4.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 4,314,681,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 4,506,387,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 6.652 million metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 307.047 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 141.595 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4,712,200 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 14,007,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 52,500 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 9,238,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 26,022,600,000 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 11.51 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 848,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 1.16 million bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 179,317,495,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 306,576,649,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 3,548,831,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 131,608,161,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 6,654,250,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 10,773,248,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 8,652,419,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 1,520,552,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 600.276 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 105.687 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 181.908 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1.72 billion (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: China has the largest Internet market in the world with almost all subscribers accessing Internet through mobile devices; market is driven through government-allied investment; fast-developing data center market; government aims to provide universal and affordable broadband coverage through market competition and private investment in state-controlled enterprises; 3G and LTE subscribers will migrate to 5G aiming for 2 million 5G base stations by the end of 2022; government strengthens IoT policies to boost economic growth; China is pushing development of smart cities beyond Beijing; Beijing residents carry virtual card integrating identity, social security, health, and education documents; government controls gateways to global Internet through censorship, surveillance, and shut-downs; major exporter of broadcasting equipment world-wide (2022)
domestic: nearly 13 per 100 fixed line and 118 per 100 mobile-cellular; a domestic satellite system with several earth stations has been in place since 2018 (2020)
international: country code - 86; landing points for the RJCN, EAC-C2C, TPE, APCN-2, APG, NCP, TEA, SeaMeWe-3, SJC2, Taiwan Strait Express-1, AAE-1, APCN-2, AAG, FEA, FLAG and TSE submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 7 (5 Intelsat - 4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean; 1 Intersputnik - Indian Ocean region; and 1 Inmarsat - Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: all broadcast media are owned by, or affiliated with, the Chinese Communisty Party (CCP) or a government agency; no privately owned TV or radio stations; state-run Chinese Central TV, provincial, and municipal stations offer more than 2,000 channels; the Central Propaganda Department as well as local (provincial, municipal) sends directives to all domestic media outlets to guide its reporting with the government maintaining authority to approve all programming; foreign-made TV programs must be approved/censored prior to broadcast; increasingly, PRC nationals turn to online platforms (Bilibili, Tencent Video, iQiyi, etc) to access PRC and international films and television shows. Video platforms have to abide by regulations issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which align with censorship policies from CCP propaganda authorities. (2022)
Internet country code: .cn
Internet users: total: 987 million (2020 est.)
percent of population: 70% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 483,549,500 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 56 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 2,890
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 436,183,969 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 611,439,830 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: B
Airports: total: 507 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 510
over 3,047 m: 87
2,438 to 3,047 m: 187
1,524 to 2,437 m: 109
914 to 1,523 m: 43
under 914 m: 84 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 0
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 13 (2021)
Heliports: 39 (2021)
Pipelines: 76,000 km gas, 30,400 km crude oil, 27,700 km refined petroleum products, 797,000 km water (2018)
Railways: total: 150,000 km (2021) 1.435-m gauge (100,000 km electrified); 104,0000 traditional, 40,000 high-speed
Roadways: total: 5.2 million km (2020)
paved: 4.578 million km (2020) (includes 168000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 622,000 km (2017)
Waterways: 27,700 km (2020) (navigable waterways)
Merchant marine: total: 6,662
by type: bulk carrier 1,558, container ship 341, general cargo 957, oil tanker 1,061, other 2,745 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin
container port(s) (TEUs): Dalian (8,760,000), Guangzhou (23,236,200), Ningbo (27,530,000), Qingdao (21,010,000), Shanghai (43,303,000), Shenzhen (25,770,000), Tianjin (17,264,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Tangshan, Zhejiang
river port(s): Guangzhou (Pearl)
Transportation - note: seven of the world’s ten largest container ports are in China
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (PLAN, includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (PLAAF, includes airborne forces), Rocket Force (strategic missile force), and Strategic Support Force (information, electronic, and cyber warfare, as well as space forces); People's Armed Police (PAP, includes Coast Guard, Border Defense Force, Internal Security Forces); PLA Reserve Force (2022)
note 1: the Strategic Support Force includes the Space Systems Department, which is responsible for nearly all PLA space operations, including space launch and support, space surveillance, space information support, space telemetry, tracking, and control, and space warfare
note 2: the PAP is a paramilitary police component of China’s armed forces that is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and charged with internal security, law enforcement, counterterrorism, and maritime rights protection
note 3: in 2018, the Coast Guard was moved from the State Oceanic Administration to the PAP; in 2013, China merged four of its five major maritime law enforcement agencies – the China Marine Surveillance (CMS), Maritime Police, Fishery Law Enforcement (FLE), and Anti-Smuggling Police – into a unified coast guard
Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2019) (approximately $290 billion)
1.7% of GDP (2018) (approximately $265 billion)
1.8% of GDP (2017) (approximately $260 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2 million active duty troops (approximately 1 million Ground; 250,000 Navy/Marines; 350-400,000 Air Force; 120,000 Rocket Forces; 150-175,000 Strategic Support Forces); estimated 600-650,000 People’s Armed Police (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the PLA is outfitted primarily with a wide mix of older and modern domestically-produced systems heavily influenced by technology derived from other countries; Russia is the top supplier of foreign military equipment since 2010; China's defense-industrial sector is large and capable of producing advanced weapons systems across all military domains (2022)
note: the PLA is in the midst of a decades-long modernization effort; in 2017, President XI set three developmental goals for the force - becoming a mechanized force with increased information and strategic capabilities by 2020, a fully modernized force by 2035, and a world-class military by mid-century
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for selective compulsory military service, with a 2-year service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (all officers are volunteers); 18-19 years of age for women high school graduates who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2022)
Military deployments: 425 Mali (MINUSMA); 225 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 420 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,050 South Sudan (UNMISS); up to 2,000 Djibouti (May 2022)
Military - note: established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making body the PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary: the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorism the MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence service the PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcement the militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the East and South China seas (2022)established in 1927, the PLA is the military arm of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which oversees the PLA through its Central Military Commission; the Central Military Commission is China’s top military decision making bodythe PRC's internal security forces consist primarily of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the Ministry of State Security (MSS), the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the militia; the PLA support the internal security forces as necessary:the MPS controls the civilian national police, which serves as the first-line force for public order; its primary mission is domestic law enforcement and maintaining order, including anti-rioting and anti-terrorismthe MSS is the PRC’s main civilian intelligence and counterintelligence servicethe PAP is a paramilitary component (or adjunct) of the PLA; its primary missions include internal security, maintaining public order, maritime security, and assisting the PLA in times of war; it is under the command of the Central Military Commission (CMC); the China Coast Guard (CCG) administratively falls under the PAP; the CCG has a variety of missions, such as maritime sovereignty enforcement, surveillance, resource protection, anti-smuggling, and general law enforcementthe militia is an armed reserve of civilians which serves as an auxiliary and reserve force for the PLA upon mobilization; it is distinct from the PLA’s reserve forces; militia units are organized around towns, villages, urban sub-districts, and enterprises, and vary widely in composition and mission; they have dual civilian-military command structures; a key component of the militia are the local maritime forces, commonly referred to as the People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM); the PAFMM consists of mariners (and their vessels) who receive training, equipment, and other forms of support from the Navy and CCG (although the PAFMM remains separate from both) to perform tasks such as maritime patrolling, surveillance and reconnaissance, emergency/disaster response, transportation, search and rescue, and auxiliary tasks in support of naval operations in wartime; the PAFMM’s tasks are often conducted in conjunction or coordination with the Navy and the CCG; it has been used to assert Beijing's maritime claims in the East and South China seas
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: China and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protestsChina and India continue their security and foreign policy dialogue started in 2005 related to a number of boundary disputes across the 2,000 mile shared border; India does not recognize Pakistan's 1964 ceding to China of the Aksai Chin, a territory designated as part of the princely state of Kashmir by the British Survey of India in 1865; China claims most of the Indian state Arunachal Pradesh to the base of the Himalayas, but the US recognizes the state of Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory; Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the most contentious of which lie in Bhutan's west along China's Chumbi salient; Chinese maps show an international boundary symbol (the so-called “nine-dash line”) off the coasts of the littoral states of the South China Sea, where China has interrupted Vietnamese hydrocarbon exploration; China asserts sovereignty over Scarborough Reef along with the Philippines and Taiwan, and over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei; the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea eased tensions in the Spratlys, and in 2017 China and ASEAN began confidential negotiations for an updated Code of Conduct for the South China Sea designed not to settle territorial disputes but establish rules and norms in the region; this still is not the legally binding code of conduct sought by some parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of facilities in the Spratlys and in early 2018 China began deploying advanced military systems to disputed Spratly outposts; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands are also claimed by China and Taiwan; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen Rivers are in dispute with North Korea; North Korea and China seek to stem illegal migration to China by North Koreans, fleeing privation and oppression; China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with their 2004 Agreement; China and Tajikistan have begun demarcating the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; the decade-long demarcation of the China-Vietnam land boundary was completed in 2009; citing environmental, cultural, and social concerns, China has reconsidered construction of 13 dams on the Salween River, but energy-starved Burma, with backing from Thailand, continues to consider building five hydro-electric dams downstream despite regional and international protests
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 303,107 (Vietnam), undetermined (North Korea) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: undetermined (2021)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in China and Chinese people abroad; Chinese men, women, and children are victims of forced labor and sex trafficking in at least 60 countries; traffickers also use China as a transit point to subject foreign individuals to trafficking in other countries throughout Asia and in international maritime industries; state-sponsored forced labor is intensifying under the government’s mass detention and political indoctrination campaign against Muslim minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; well-organized criminal syndicates and local gangs subject Chinese women and girls to sex trafficking within China; women and girls from South Asia, Southeast Asia, and several countries in Africa experience forced labor in domestic service, forced concubinism leading to forced childbearing, and sex trafficking via forced and fraudulent marriage to Chinese men; African and Asian men reportedly experience conditions indicative of forced labor aboard Chinese-flagged fishing vessels; many North Korean refugees and asylum-seekers living in China illegally are particularly vulnerable to trafficking
tier rating: Tier 3 — China does not fully meet the minimum standards for elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government prosecuted and convicted some traffickers and continued to cooperate with international authorities to address forced and fraudulent marriages in China; however, there was a government policy or pattern of widespread forced labor, including the continued mass arbitrary detention of more than one million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, ethnic Kyrgyz, and other Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region; the government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of law enforcement officials allegedly complicit despite continued reports of officials benefiting from, permitting, or directly facilitating sex trafficking; authorities did not report identifying any trafficking victims or referring them to protective services; it is likely that law enforcement arrested and detained unidentified trafficking victims for crimes traffickers compelled them to commit; for the third consecutive year, the government did not report the extent to which it funded anti-trafficking activities in furtherance of the 2013-2020 National Action Plan on Combating Human Trafficking (2020)
Illicit drugs: a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine; PRC criminal organizations, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe (2021)a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine; PRC criminal organizations, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe |
20220901 | countries-ecuador |
Topic: Photos of Ecuador
Topic: Introduction
Background: What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. Guillermo LASSO was elected president in April 2021 becoming the country's first center-right president in nearly two decades when he took office the following month.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 283,561 sq km
land: 276,841 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,237 km
border countries (2): Colombia 708 km; Peru 1529 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation: highest point: Chimborazo 6,267
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,117 m
note: because the earth is not a perfect sphere and has an equatorial bulge, the highest point on the planet farthest from its center is Mount Chimborazo not Mount Everest, which is merely the highest peak above sea level
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 29.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 38.9% (2018 est.)
other: 31.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,000 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Population distribution: nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior in the Andean intermontane basins and valleys, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiagofrequent earthquakes; landslides; volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughtsvolcanism: volcanic activity concentrated along the Andes Mountains; Sangay (5,230 m), which erupted in 2010, is mainland Ecuador's most active volcano; other historically active volcanoes in the Andes include Antisana, Cayambe, Chacana, Cotopaxi, Guagua Pichincha, Reventador, Sumaco, and Tungurahua; Fernandina (1,476 m), a shield volcano that last erupted in 2009, is the most active of the many Galapagos volcanoes; other historically active Galapagos volcanoes include Wolf, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Pinta, Marchena, and Santiago
Geography - note: note 1: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
note 2: genetic research indicates that the cherry-sized tomato originated in Ecuador without any human domestication; later domestication in Mexico transformed the plant into the large modern tomato; archeological research indicates that the cacao tree, whose seeds are used to make chocolate and which was long thought to have originated in Mesoamerica, was first domesticated in the upper Amazon region of northwest South America - present-day Ecuador - about 3,300 B.C.
Map description: Ecuador map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Pacific Ocean.Ecuador map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Pacific Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 17,289,554 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and White) 71.9%, Montubio 7.4%, Amerindian 7%, White 6.1%, Afroecuadorian 4.3%, Mulatto 1.9%, Black 1%, other 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages: Spanish (Castilian) 93% (official), Quechua 4.1%, other indigenous 0.7%, foreign 2.2%; note - (Quechua and Shuar are official languages of intercultural relations; other indigenous languages are in official use by indigenous peoples in the areas they inhabit) (2010 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 68.8%, Evangelical 15.4%, Adventist 1.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, other 1.3%, agnostic or atheist 1.4%, none 10.1%, don't know/no response 1% (2020 est.)
note: data represent persons at least 16 years of age from five Ecuadoran cities
Demographic profile: Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.An estimated 2 to 3 million Ecuadorians live abroad, but increased unemployment in key receiving countries - Spain, the United States, and Italy - is slowing emigration and increasing the likelihood of returnees to Ecuador. The first large-scale emigration of Ecuadorians occurred between 1980 and 2000, when an economic crisis drove Ecuadorians from southern provinces to New York City, where they had trade contacts. A second, nationwide wave of emigration in the late 1990s was caused by another economic downturn, political instability, and a currency crisis. Spain was the logical destination because of its shared language and the wide availability of low-skilled, informal jobs at a time when increased border surveillance made illegal migration to the US difficult. Ecuador has a small but growing immigrant population and is Latin America's top recipient of refugees; 98% are neighboring Colombians fleeing violence in their country.Ecuador's high poverty and income inequality most affect indigenous, mixed race, and rural populations. The government has increased its social spending to ameliorate these problems, but critics question the efficiency and implementation of its national development plan. Nevertheless, the conditional cash transfer program, which requires participants' children to attend school and have medical check-ups, has helped improve educational attainment and healthcare among poor children. Ecuador is stalled at above replacement level fertility and the population most likely will keep growing rather than stabilize.An estimated 2 to 3 million Ecuadorians live abroad, but increased unemployment in key receiving countries - Spain, the United States, and Italy - is slowing emigration and increasing the likelihood of returnees to Ecuador. The first large-scale emigration of Ecuadorians occurred between 1980 and 2000, when an economic crisis drove Ecuadorians from southern provinces to New York City, where they had trade contacts. A second, nationwide wave of emigration in the late 1990s was caused by another economic downturn, political instability, and a currency crisis. Spain was the logical destination because of its shared language and the wide availability of low-skilled, informal jobs at a time when increased border surveillance made illegal migration to the US difficult. Ecuador has a small but growing immigrant population and is Latin America's top recipient of refugees; 98% are neighboring Colombians fleeing violence in their country.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.82% (male 2,226,240/female 2,138,219)
15-24 years: 17.8% (male 1,531,545/female 1,478,222)
25-54 years: 40.31% (male 3,333,650/female 3,480,262)
55-64 years: 7.92% (male 647,718/female 691,759)
65 years and over: 8.15% (2020 est.) (male 648,761/female 728,491)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.8
youth dependency ratio: 42.1
elderly dependency ratio: 11.7
potential support ratio: 8.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 28.8 years
male: 28 years
female: 29.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.13% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 16.45 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: nearly half of the population is concentrated in the interior in the Andean intermontane basins and valleys, with large concentrations also found along the western coastal strip; the rainforests of the east remain sparsely populated
Urbanization: urban population: 64.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.092 million Guayaquil, 1.928 million QUITO (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 59 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 18.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78 years
male: 75.06 years
female: 81.1 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 80.1% (2007/12)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 87.1% of population
total: 95.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 12.9% of population
total: 4.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 2.22 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 1.4 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 96.9% of population
total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 3.1% of population
total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 45,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 11.3% (2020 est.)
male: 18.4% (2020 est.)
female: 4.2% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.2% (2018/19)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 3.8%
women married by age 18: 22.2% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 4.1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.6%
male: 94.8%
female: 92.5% (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.1%
male: 8.7%
female: 15.4% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 14.91 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 41.15 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 23.51 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Land use: agricultural land: 29.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 38.9% (2018 est.)
other: 31.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 64.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,297,211 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 683,340 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 12.9% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.293 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 549 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 8.076 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 442.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador
etymology: the country's position on the globe, straddling the Equator, accounts for its Spanish name
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
time zone note: Ecuador has two time zones, including the Galapagos Islands (UTC-6)
etymology: named after the Quitus, a Pre-Columbian indigenous people credited with founding the city
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution: history: many previous; latest approved 20 October 2008
amendments: proposed by the president of the republic through a referendum, by public petition of at least 1% of registered voters, or by agreement of at least one-third membership of the National Assembly; passage requires two separate readings a year apart and approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, and approval by absolute majority in a referendum; amendments such as changes to the structure of the state, constraints on personal rights and guarantees, or constitutional amendment procedures are not allowed; amended 2011, 2015, 2018
Legal system: civil law based on the Chilean civil code with modifications; traditional law in indigenous communities
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18-65 years of age; universal and compulsory; 16-18, over 65, and other eligible voters, voluntary
Executive branch: chief of state: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021); Vice President Alfredo Enrique BORRERO Vega (since 24 May 2021); the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (since 24 May 2021); Vice President Alfredo Enrique BORRERO Vega (since 24 May 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 February 2021 with a runoff on 11 April 2021 (next to be held in February 2025)
election results:
2021: Guillermo LASSO Mendoza elected president; first round election results: percent of vote - Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 32.72%, Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 19.74%, Yaku PEREZ Guartambel (MUPP) 19.38%, Xavier HERVAS Mora (Independent) 15.68%, other 12.48%; second round election results: percent of vote - Guillermo LASSO Mendoza (CREO) 52.5%, Andres ARAUZ (UNES) 47.5%
2017: Lenin MORENO Garces elected president in second round; percent of vote - Lenin MORENO Garces (Alianza PAIS Movement) 51.1%, Guillermo LASSO (CREO) 48.9%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (137 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 15 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote, and 6 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies for Ecuadorians living abroad by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms); note - all Assembly members have alternates from the same party who cast votes when a primary member is absent, resigns, or is removed from office
elections: last held on 7 February 2021 (next scheduled in February 2025)
election results: percent of vote by party - UNES 32.21%, MUPP 16.81%, ID 11.98%, PSC 9.73%, CREO 9.65%, MC-PSE 3.76%, other 15.86%; seats by party - UNES 49, MUPP 27, ID 18, PSC 18, CREO 12, MC-PSE 2, independents 3, other 8; composition as of March 2022 - men 84, women 53, percent of women 38.7%; note - defections by members of National Assembly are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch: highest courts: National Court of Justice or Corte Nacional de Justicia (consists of 21 judges, including the chief justice and organized into 5 specialized chambers); Constitutional Court or Corte Constitucional (consists of the court president and 8 judges)
judge selection and term of office: candidates for the National Court of Justice evaluated and appointed justices by the Judicial Council, a 9-member independent body of law professionals; justices elected for 9-year, non-renewable terms, with one-third of the membership renewed every 3 years; candidates for the Constitutional Court evaluated and appointed judges by a 6-member independent body of law professionals; judges appointed for 4-year renewable terms
subordinate courts: provincial courts (one for each province except Galapagos); fiscal, criminal, and administrative tribunals; Election Dispute Settlement Courts; cantonal courts
Political parties and leaders: Avanza Party or AVANZA [Ramiro GONZALEZ]
Central Democratic Movement or CD [Jimmy JAIRALA]
Citizen Revolution Movement or MRC [Marcela AGUINAGA]
Creating Opportunities Movement or CREO [Guillermo LASSO]
Democratic Left or ID
Forward Ecuador Movement [Alvaro NOBOA]
Pachakutik Plurinational Unity Movement or MUPP [Marlon Rene SANTI Gualinga]
Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Gilmar GUTIERREZ Borbua]
Popular Democracy Movement or MPD [Luis VILLACIS]
Social Christian Party or PSC [Alfredo SERRANO]
Socialist Party [Gustavo VALLEJO]
Society United for More Action or SUMA [Guillermo CELI]
International organization participation: CAN, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne Leila Juez De A-BAKI (since 6 February 2020)
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 333-2893
email address and website:
embassy@ecuador.org
http://www.ecuador.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Haven (CT), New Orleans, New York, Newark (NJ), Phoenix, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. FITZPATRICK (since 3 July 2019)
embassy: E12-170 Avenida Avigiras y Avenida Eloy Alfaro, Quito
mailing address: 3420 Quito Place, Washington DC 20521-3420
telephone: [593] (2) 398-5000
email address and website:
ACSQuito@state.gov
https://ec.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice
note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
National symbol(s): Andean condor; national colors: yellow, blue, red
National anthem: name: "Salve, Oh Patria!" (We Salute You, Our Homeland)
lyrics/music: Juan Leon MERA/Antonio NEUMANE
note: adopted 1948; Juan Leon MERA wrote the lyrics in 1865; only the chorus and second verse are sung
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 5 (3 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Quito (c); Galápagos Islands (n); Historic Cuenca (c); Qhapaq Ñan/Andean Road System (c); Sangay National Park (n)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which accounted for about a third of the country's export earnings in 2017. Remittances from overseas Ecuadorian are also important. In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis that lead to some reforms, including adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in most of the years that followed. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since 2008 and now accounts for 77.7% of the Ecuador’s bilateral debt. Various economic policies under the CORREA administration, such as an announcement in 2017 that Ecuador would terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties - including one with the US, generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador imposed tariff surcharges from 5% to 45% on an estimated 32% of imports. Ecuador’s economy fell into recession in 2015 and remained in recession in 2016. Declining oil prices and exports forced the CORREA administration to cut government oulays. Foreign investment in Ecuador is low as a result of the unstable regulatory environment and weak rule of law. n April of 2017, Lenin MORENO was elected President of Ecuador by popular vote. His immediate challenge was to reengage the private sector to improve cash flow in the country. Ecuador’s economy returned to positive, but sluggish, growth. In early 2018, the MORENO administration held a public referendum on seven economic and political issues in a move counter to CORREA-administration policies, reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, and revive employment and the economy. The referendum resulted in repeal of taxes associated with recovery from the earthquake of 2016, reduced restrictions on metal mining in the Yasuni Intangible Zone - a protected area, and several political reforms.Ecuador is substantially dependent on its petroleum resources, which accounted for about a third of the country's export earnings in 2017. Remittances from overseas Ecuadorian are also important. In 1999/2000, Ecuador's economy suffered from a banking crisis that lead to some reforms, including adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and positive growth returned in most of the years that followed. China has become Ecuador's largest foreign lender since 2008 and now accounts for 77.7% of the Ecuador’s bilateral debt. Various economic policies under the CORREA administration, such as an announcement in 2017 that Ecuador would terminate 13 bilateral investment treaties - including one with the US, generated economic uncertainty and discouraged private investment. Faced with a 2013 trade deficit of $1.1 billion, Ecuador imposed tariff surcharges from 5% to 45% on an estimated 32% of imports. Ecuador’s economy fell into recession in 2015 and remained in recession in 2016. Declining oil prices and exports forced the CORREA administration to cut government oulays. Foreign investment in Ecuador is low as a result of the unstable regulatory environment and weak rule of law. n April of 2017, Lenin MORENO was elected President of Ecuador by popular vote. His immediate challenge was to reengage the private sector to improve cash flow in the country. Ecuador’s economy returned to positive, but sluggish, growth. In early 2018, the MORENO administration held a public referendum on seven economic and political issues in a move counter to CORREA-administration policies, reduce corruption, strengthen democracy, and revive employment and the economy. The referendum resulted in repeal of taxes associated with recovery from the earthquake of 2016, reduced restrictions on metal mining in the Yasuni Intangible Zone - a protected area, and several political reforms.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $182.24 billion (2020 est.)
$197.55 billion (2019 est.)
$197.53 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0.06% (2019 est.)
1.29% (2018 est.)
2.37% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $10,300 (2020 est.)
$11,400 (2019 est.)
$11,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $107.436 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2019 est.)
-0.2% (2018 est.)
0.4% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B- (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 32.9% (2017 est.)
services: 60.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 60.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 14.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 20.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -21.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, bananas, milk, oil palm fruit, maize, rice, plantains, poultry, cocoa, potatoes
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (2017 est.)
note: excludes oil refining
Labor force: 8.086 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26.1%
industry: 18.4%
services: 55.5% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.71% (2019 est.)
5.26% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 11.1%
male: 8.7%
female: 15.4% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 45.4 (2018 est.)
48.5 (December 2017)
note: data are for urban households only
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 35.4% (2012 est.)
note: data are for urban households only
Budget: revenues: 33.43 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 38.08 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 45.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
43.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 32% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$53 million (2019 est.)
-$1.328 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $22.23 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$26.12 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$25.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 30%, China 13%, Panama 8%, Chile 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, crustaceans, bananas, fish, refined petroleum (2019)
Imports: $19.89 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$25.89 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$26.29 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 22%, China 18%, Colombia 9%, Panama 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, packaged medicines, soybean products (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.395 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.259 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $50.667 billion (2019 est.)
$43.224 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: 25,000 (2020 est.)
25,000 (2019 est.)
25,000 (2018 est.)
the US dollar became Ecuador's currency in 2001
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 97% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 9.354 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 26,353,430,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 1.826 billion kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 6 million kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.303 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 21% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 77.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 10,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 24 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 478,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 259,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 349,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 8.273 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 137,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 25,870 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 153,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 342.407 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 342.407 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 10.902 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 36.051 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 45,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 35.329 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 677,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 42.564 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,063,044 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 15,485,366 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 88 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Ecuador’s remote and mountainous geography lends challenges to tele-density; government-owned provider to improve fixed-line and LTE infrastructure, with emphasis on fiber expansion from urban to rural areas and installation of a 5G network; small telecom market dominated by the non-competitive mobile sector; inadequate fixed-line infrastructure and slowed fixed-line broadband services (2020). (2020)
domestic: according to 2021 statistics from the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50 percent of Ecuadorian homes do not have access to fixed internet. Ecuador’s telecoms regulator, ARCOTEL is currently evaluating and reorganizing the 3.5GHz, 2.5 GHz, 700 MHz and AWS spectrum for future government tenders. 2G/3G technologies have a 91.11 percent of penetration and 4G technologies has 60.74 percent (2021). (2021)
international: country code - 593; landing points for the SPSC (Mistral Submarine Cable), Panamerican Cable System (PAN-AM), Pacific Caribbean Cable System (PCCS), America Movil-Telxius West Coast Cable and SAm-1 submarine (SAm-1) cables that provide links to South and Central America, and extending onward to the Caribbean and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: the Communication Council, an official entity, carried out a media registry in Ecuador in December 2020. It registered 956 media outlets, 89% are private, 5% are public and 6% belong to small communities. The government controls most of the 44 public media, this includes national media and multiple local radio stations. In addition, of the 956 registered media, 58% are radio and 18% print. Two provinces have the largest number of media outlets: Guayas has 172 media outlets and Pichincha has 130 media outlets. (2020) so also sent to the National Assembly a new regulation proposal that is still under discussion. (2022)the Communication Council, an official entity, carried out a media registry in Ecuador in December 2020. It registered 956 media outlets, 89% are private, 5% are public and 6% belong to small communities. The government controls most of the 44 public media, this includes national media and multiple local radio stations. In addition, of the 956 registered media, 58% are radio and 18% print. Two provinces have the largest number of media outlets: Guayas has 172 media outlets and Pichincha has 130 media outlets. (2020) so also sent to the National Assembly a new regulation proposal that is still under discussion.
Internet country code: .ec
Internet users: total: 11,467,989 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 65% (2020 est.)
according to 2021 statistics from Ecuador's Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society, 50% of homes do not have access to fixed internet
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,371,297 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 7 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,365,261 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 64.2 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: HC
Airports: total: 432 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 104
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 51 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 328
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 291 (2021)
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 485 km extra heavy crude, 123 km gas, 2,131 km oil, 1,526 km refined products (2017)
Railways: total: 965 km (2022)
narrow gauge: 965 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
note: passenger service limited to certain sections of track, mostly for tourist trains
Roadways: total: 43,950 km (2022)
paved: 8,895 km (2022)
unpaved: 35,055 km (2022)
Waterways: 1,500 km (2012) (most inaccessible)
Merchant marine: total: 145
by type: container ship 1, general cargo 7, oil tanker 27, other 110 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
container port(s) (TEUs): Guayaquil (1,680,751) (2019)
river port(s): Guayaquil (Guayas)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Ecuadorian Armed Forces: the Ecuadorian Army (Ejército Ecuatoriano), Ecuadorian Navy (Armada del Ecuador, Fuerza Naval del Ecuador, FNE; includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast guard), Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE) (2022)
note: the National Police of Ecuador (Policía Nacional del Ecuador) is under the Ministry of Government
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $2.98 billion)
2.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $3.14 billion)
2.4% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.1 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 40,000 active military personnel (25,000 Army; 9,000 Navy; 6,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's equipment inventory is mostly older and derived from a wide variety of sources; since 2010, Ecuador has received limited amounts of military equipment from more than 15 countries, including Brazil, China, Russia, and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for selective conscript military service, although conscription was suspended in 2008; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; Ecuadorian birth requirement; 1-year service obligation; females have been allowed to serve in all branches since 2012 (2022)
note: in 2017, women made up an estimated 3% of the military
Military - note: border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2022, border security remained a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have shifted towards counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, has spilled over the border; troop deployments along the border with Colombia were scaled back following the 2016 signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group (see Appendix T), but recent violence associated with FARC dissidents to the agreement have led Ecuador and Colombia to reinforce their shared border; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has also expanded the military’s role in general public security and counter-narcotics operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectiveness the military has had a large role in Ecuador’s political history; it ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010border conflicts with Peru dominated the military’s focus until the late 1990s; as of 2022, border security remained a priority, but in more recent years, security challenges have shifted towards counterinsurgency and counter-narcotics operations, particularly in the northern border area where violence and other criminal activity related to terrorism, insurgency, and narco-trafficking in Colombia, as well as refugees from Venezuela, has spilled over the border; troop deployments along the border with Colombia were scaled back following the 2016 signing of a peace agreement between the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group (see Appendix T), but recent violence associated with FARC dissidents to the agreement have led Ecuador and Colombia to reinforce their shared border; since 2012, the Ecuadorian Government has also expanded the military’s role in general public security and counter-narcotics operations, in part due to rising violence, police corruption, and police ineffectivenessthe military has had a large role in Ecuador’s political history; it ruled the country from 1963-1966 and 1972-1979, and supported a dictatorship in 1970-1972; during the 1980s, the military remained loyal to the civilian government, but civilian-military relations were at times tenuous, and the military had considerable autonomy from civilian oversight; it was involved in coup attempts in 2000 and 2010
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau continues to report the territorial and offshore waters of Ecuador as at risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; vessels, including commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen; there has been a slight decrease with four attacks reported in 2021 and five in 2020; one ship was boarded while underway and two ships were fired upon
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared borderorganized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 65,854 (Colombia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021); 513,900 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022)
Illicit drugs: Ecuador is a major transit country for illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin and chemical precursors to process cocaine from Colombia and Peru; not a major drug producing country |
20220901 | field-total-water-withdrawal | This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic meters withdrawn for municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Municipal sector use refers to the annual quantity of water withdrawn primarily for direct use by the population through the public distribution network. Industrial sector use refers to the annual quantity of self-supplied water withdrawn for industrial purposes. Agricultural sector use refers to the annual quantity of self-supplied water withdrawn for irrigation, livestock, and aquaculture purposes.This entry provides the annual quantity of water in cubic meters withdrawn for municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes. Municipal sector use refers to the annual quantity of water withdrawn primarily for direct use by the population through the public distribution network. Industrial sector use refers to the annual quantity of self-supplied water withdrawn for industrial purposes. Agricultural sector use refers to the annual quantity of self-supplied water withdrawn for irrigation, livestock, and aquaculture purposes.
Topic: Afghanistanmunicipal: 203.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 20 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Albaniamunicipal: 283 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 231.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 905 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Algeriamunicipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 191 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 6.671 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Angolamunicipal: 319.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 239.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 146.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Antigua and Barbudamunicipal: 7.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Argentinamunicipal: 5.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 27.93 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Armeniamunicipal: 616.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 122.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.127 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Australiamunicipal: 3.392 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.662 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 10.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Austriamunicipal: 720 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.695 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 77.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijanmunicipal: 449.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.062 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.27 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, Themunicipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bahrainmunicipal: 275.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 144.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bangladeshmunicipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 770 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 31.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Barbadosmunicipal: 20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 54.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Belarusmunicipal: 523 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 443 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 431 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Belgiummunicipal: 739 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.21 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 45 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Belizemunicipal: 11.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 68.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Beninmunicipal: 145 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 59 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bhutanmunicipal: 17 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 318 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Boliviamunicipal: 136 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.92 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinamunicipal: 360.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 71.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Botswanamunicipal: 100.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 23.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Brazilmunicipal: 16.74 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 9.511 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 39.43 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bruneimunicipal: 151.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 5.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Bulgariamunicipal: 882 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.942 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 834.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Burkina Fasomunicipal: 375.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 21.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 420.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Burmamunicipal: 3.323 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 498.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 29.57 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Burundimunicipal: 43.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 222 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cabo Verdemunicipal: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cambodiamunicipal: 98 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 33 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.053 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cameroonmunicipal: 246.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 104.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 737 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Canadamunicipal: 4.888 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 28.07 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.639 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Central African Republicmunicipal: 60.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 12 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Chadmunicipal: 103.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 103.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 672.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Chilemunicipal: 1.267 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.744 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 29.42 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Chinamunicipal: 79.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 133.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 385.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Colombiamunicipal: 3.49 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.73 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 6.391 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Comorosmunicipal: 4.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 500,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of themunicipal: 464.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 146.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 71.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Congo, Republic of themunicipal: 63.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 24 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Costa Ricamunicipal: 652 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.302 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoiremunicipal: 320 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 242 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Croatiamunicipal: 455 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 184 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cubamunicipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.519 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Cyprusmunicipal: 110 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 17 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 184 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Czechiamunicipal: 616.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 967.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 46.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Denmarkmunicipal: 381.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 32.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 326.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Djiboutimunicipal: 16 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Dominicamunicipal: 19 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Dominican Republicmunicipal: 855 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 659.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 7.563 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Ecuadormunicipal: 1.293 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 549 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 8.076 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Egyptmunicipal: 10.75 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 5.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 61.35 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: El Salvadormunicipal: 474 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 213 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.431 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guineamunicipal: 15.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Eritreamunicipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 550 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Estoniamunicipal: 59.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.721 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Eswatinimunicipal: 41.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 20.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.006 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Ethiopiamunicipal: 810 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 51.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.687 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Fijimunicipal: 25.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 9.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Finlandmunicipal: 400 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.417 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Francemunicipal: 5.175 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 18.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.113 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Gabonmunicipal: 84.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 40.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Gambia, Themunicipal: 41.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 21.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 39.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Gaza Stripmunicipal: 181.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 162 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Topic: Georgiamunicipal: 359,974,627.7 cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 402,206,287.9 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1,060,819,084.4 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Germanymunicipal: 4.388 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 19.75 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 299.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Ghanamunicipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Greecemunicipal: 1.991 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 208.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.041 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Grenadamunicipal: 12 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Guatemalamunicipal: 835 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 603.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.886 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Guineamunicipal: 224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Guinea-Bissaumunicipal: 34.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 11.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 144 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Guyanamunicipal: 61.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 20.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.363 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Haitimunicipal: 190 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 51 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.209 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Hondurasmunicipal: 315 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.178 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Hungarymunicipal: 624.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.358 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 518.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Icelandmunicipal: 80 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 198 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Indiamunicipal: 56 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 688 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Indonesiamunicipal: 23.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 9.135 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 189.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Iranmunicipal: 6.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 86 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Iraqmunicipal: 1.23 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.05 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 35.27 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Irelandmunicipal: 631 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 51 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 179 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Israelmunicipal: 983 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 72 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.249 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Italymunicipal: 9.488 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 7.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Jamaicamunicipal: 140 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 114 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Japanmunicipal: 15.41 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 11.61 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 54.43 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Jordanmunicipal: 456.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 32.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 554.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Kazakhstanmunicipal: 2.347 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 6.984 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 15.12 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Kenyamunicipal: 495 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 303 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Korea, Northmunicipal: 902.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.145 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 6.61 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Korea, Southmunicipal: 6.672 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.45 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 15.96 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Kuwaitmunicipal: 448.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 23.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 778.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstanmunicipal: 224 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 336 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Laosmunicipal: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 170 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 7.02 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Latviamunicipal: 94.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 25.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 61.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Lebanonmunicipal: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 900 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Lesothomunicipal: 20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Liberiamunicipal: 80.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 53.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 12.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Libyamunicipal: 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 280 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Liechtensteinmunicipal: 7.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Lithuaniamunicipal: 130.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 69.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 58.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Luxembourgmunicipal: 43.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 400,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Madagascarmunicipal: 395 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 161.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 13 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Malawimunicipal: 143.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 47.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.166 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Malaysiamunicipal: 1.342 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.641 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.505 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Maldivesmunicipal: 5.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 300,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Malimunicipal: 107 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 5.075 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Maltamunicipal: 37.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritaniamunicipal: 95.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 31.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.223 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritiusmunicipal: 260 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 12 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 344 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Mexicomunicipal: 14.23 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 6.814 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 66.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Moldovamunicipal: 148 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 650 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 42 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Monacomunicipal: 5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Mongoliamunicipal: 45.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 166.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 250.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Montenegromunicipal: 96.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 62.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Moroccomunicipal: 1.063 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 212 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.156 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
note: data does not include former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambiquemunicipal: 372 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.076 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Namibiamunicipal: 73 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Nepalmunicipal: 147.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 29.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.32 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Netherlandsmunicipal: 1.26 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14.74 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 76.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: New Zealandmunicipal: 810 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.184 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.207 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Nicaraguamunicipal: 286 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 73.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.185 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Nigermunicipal: 178.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 36 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.536 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Nigeriamunicipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: North Macedoniamunicipal: 277.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 225,809,581.6 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 329,217,707.7 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Norwaymunicipal: 775.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 844.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Omanmunicipal: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 135 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.607 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Pakistanmunicipal: 9.65 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 172.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Panamamunicipal: 759.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 6.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 446.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guineamunicipal: 223.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 167.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Paraguaymunicipal: 362 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 154 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.897 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Perumunicipal: 2.797 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 206.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 13.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Philippinesmunicipal: 8.929 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 15.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 67.97 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Polandmunicipal: 2.028 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 7.035 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.018 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Portugalmunicipal: 914.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.497 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 8.767 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Puerto Ricomunicipal: 796 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.365 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 113.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Qatarmunicipal: 477.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 143.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 291.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Romaniamunicipal: 1.048 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.491 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Russiamunicipal: 17.71 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 28.04 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 18.66 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Rwandamunicipal: 61.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 20.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 102 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevismunicipal: 15.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 200,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Luciamunicipal: 12.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 30.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesmunicipal: 8.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principemunicipal: 14.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 600,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Saudi Arabiamunicipal: 3.15 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 19.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Senegalmunicipal: 98 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 58 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.065 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Serbiamunicipal: 659.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.057 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 660.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Seychellesmunicipal: 9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Sierra Leonemunicipal: 111 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 55.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 45.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Singaporemunicipal: 296.73 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 336.294 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 26.376 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Slovakiamunicipal: 293.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 231.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 31.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Sloveniamunicipal: 169.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 758 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Somaliamunicipal: 15 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.281 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: South Africamunicipal: 3.89 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 11.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: South Sudanmunicipal: 193 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 225 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 240 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Spainmunicipal: 4.89 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 5.966 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 20.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Sri Lankamunicipal: 805 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 831 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 11.31 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Sudanmunicipal: 950 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Surinamemunicipal: 49.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 135.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 431.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Swedenmunicipal: 955 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.345 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Switzerlandmunicipal: 931 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 642.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 160.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Syriamunicipal: 1.475 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 615.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 14.67 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Tajikistanmunicipal: 647 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 407.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 10.44 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Tanzaniamunicipal: 527 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 25 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.632 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Thailandmunicipal: 2.739 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.777 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 51.79 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Timor-Lestemunicipal: 99 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.071 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Togomunicipal: 140.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 6.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 76 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagomunicipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 16.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Tunisiamunicipal: 137 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 965 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.773 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkeymunicipal: 6.016 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.898 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 50.05 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkmenistanmunicipal: 755 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 839 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 26.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Ugandamunicipal: 328 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 259 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Ukrainemunicipal: 2.397 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.577 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.206 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: United Arab Emiratesmunicipal: 617 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 69 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.312 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: United Kingdommunicipal: 6.227 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.183 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: United Statesmunicipal: 58.39 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 209.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 176.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Uruguaymunicipal: 410 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 80 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistanmunicipal: 2.41 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.13 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 54.36 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Venezuelamunicipal: 5.123 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 793.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 16.71 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Vietnammunicipal: 1.206 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 3.074 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 77.75 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: West Bankmunicipal: 181.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 32 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 162 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
note: data represent combined total from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Topic: Yemenmunicipal: 265 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 65 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 3.235 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Zambiamunicipal: 290 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.152 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Zimbabwemunicipal: 487.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 81.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 2.77 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
20220901 | countries-monaco |
Topic: Photos of Monaco
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present day Monaco in 1215. The current ruling GRIMALDI family first seized control in 1297 but was not able to permanently secure its holding until 1419. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy
Geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 24 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 2 sq km
land: 2 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 6 km
border countries (1): France 6 km
Coastline: 4.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Terrain: hilly, rugged, rocky
Elevation: highest point: Chemin des Revoires on Mont Agel 162 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 99% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km
Natural hazards: none
Geography - note: second-smallest independent state in the world (after the Holy See); smallest country with a coastline; almost entirely urban
Map description: Monaco map identifies some of the major sites of the microstate surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea.Monaco map identifies some of the major sites of the microstate surrounded by France and the Mediterranean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 31,400 (2022 est.)
note: immigrants make up almost 68% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Nationality: noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan
Ethnic groups: Monegasque 32.1%, French 19.9%, Italian 15.3%, British 5%, Belgian 2.3%, Swiss 2%, German 1.9%, Russian 1.8%, American 1.1%, Dutch 1.1%, Moroccan 1%, other 16.6% (2016 est.)
note: data represent population by country of birth
Languages: French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 90% (official), other 10%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 9.41% (male 1,497/female 1,415)
15-24 years: 9.52% (male 1,538/female 1,406)
25-54 years: 30.46% (male 4,779/female 4,644)
55-64 years: 15.47% (male 2,370/female 2,417)
65 years and over: 35.15% (2020 est.) (male 4,817/female 6,057)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 55.4 years
male: 53.7 years
female: 57 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.6% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 6.66 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 10.7 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: the second most densely populated country in the world (after Macau); its entire population living on 2 square km
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 39,000 MONACO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 1.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 89.52 years
male: 85.7 years
female: 93.49 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.53 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 1.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 7.51 physicians/1,000 population (2014)
Hospital bed density: 13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7%
male: 25.7%
female: 27.9% (2016 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: no serious issues; actively monitors pollution levels in air and water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.05 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers
Land use: agricultural land: 1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 99% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 46,000 tons (2012 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,484 tons (2012 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.4% (2012 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco
etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation"
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: founded as a Greek colony in the 6th century B.C., the name derives from two Greek words "monos" (single, alone) and "oikos" (house) to convey the sense of a people "living apart" or in a "single habitation"
Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco
Independence: 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)
National holiday: National Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Constitution: history: previous 1911 (suspended 1959); latest adopted 17 December 1962
amendments: proposed by joint agreement of the chief of state (the prince) and the National Council; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of National Council members; amended 2002
Legal system: civil law system influenced by French legal tradition
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Monaco; in the case of a child born out of wedlock, the mother must be a citizen and father unknown
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Pierre DARTOUT (since 1 September 2020)
cabinet: Council of Government under the authority of the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 8 directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 February 2018 (next to be held on 28 February 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - Priorite Monaco 57.7%, Horizon Monaco 26.1%, Union Monegasque 16.2%; seats by party - Priorite Monaco 21, Horizon Monaco 2, Union Monegasque 1; composition - men 16, women 8, percent of women 33.3%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 5 permanent members and 2 substitutes)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court members appointed by the monarch upon the proposals of the National Council, State Council, Crown Council, Court of Appeal, and Trial Court
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Civil Court of First Instance
Political parties and leaders: Horizon Monaco [Laurent NOUVION]
Priorite Monaco [Stephane VALERI]
Union Monegasque [Jean-Francois ROBILLON]
International organization participation: CD, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maguy MACCARIO-DOYLE (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 234-1530
FAX: [1] (202) 244-7656
email address and website:
info@monacodc.org
https://monacodc.org/index.html
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France), under the authority of the US Ambassador to France, handles diplomatic and consular matters concerning Monaco; +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22, enter zero "0" after the automated greeting; US Embassy Paris, 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, France
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners
note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red
National symbol(s): red and white lozenges (diamond shapes); national colors: red, white
National anthem: name: "A Marcia de Muneghu" (The March of Monaco)
lyrics/music: Louis NOTARI/Charles ALBRECHT
note: music adopted 1867, lyrics adopted 1931; although French is commonly spoken, only the Monegasque lyrics are official; the French version is known as "Hymne Monegasque" (Monegasque Anthem); the words are generally only sung on official occasions
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain.Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. The principality also is a banking center and has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. Monaco, however, is not a tax-free shelter; it charges nearly 20% value-added tax, collects stamp duties, and companies face a 33% tax on profits unless they can show that three-quarters of profits are generated within the principality. Monaco was formally removed from the OECD's "grey list" of uncooperative tax jurisdictions in late 2009, but continues to face international pressure to abandon its banking secrecy laws and help combat tax evasion. In October 2014, Monaco officially became the 84th jurisdiction participating in the OECD’s Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an effort to combat offshore tax avoidance and evasion. Monaco's reliance on tourism and banking for its economic growth has left it vulnerable to downturns in France and other European economies which are the principality's main trade partners. In 2009, Monaco's GDP fell by 11.5% as the euro-zone crisis precipitated a sharp drop in tourism and retail activity and home sales. A modest recovery ensued in 2010 and intensified in 2013, with GDP growth of more than 9%, but Monaco's economic prospects remain uncertain.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $7.672 billion (2015 est.)
$7.279 billion (2014 est.)
$6.79 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2015 est.)
7.2% (2014 est.)
9.6% (2013 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $115,700 (2015 est.)
$109,200 (2014 est.)
$101,900 (2013 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.006 billion (2015 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2010)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2013)
industry: 14% (2013)
services: 86% (2013)
Agricultural products: none
Industries: banking, insurance, tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (2015)
Labor force: 52,000 (2014 est.)
note: includes all foreign workers
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0%
industry: 16.1%
services: 83.9% (2012 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2% (2012)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.7%
male: 25.7%
female: 27.9% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 896.3 million (2011 est.)
expenditures: 953.6 million (2011 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1% (of GDP) (2011 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.9% (of GDP) (2011 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $964.6 million (2017 est.)
$1.115 billion (2011)
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Exports - partners: Italy 19%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 9%, Switzerland 9%, Spain 8%, United States 6%, Belgium 5% (2019)Italy 19%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 9%, Switzerland 9%, Spain 8%, United States 6%, Belgium 5%
Exports - commodities: jewelry, perfumes, watches, packaged medicines, plastic products (2019)
Imports: $1.371 billion (2017 est.)
$1.162 billion (2011 est.)
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France
Imports - partners: Italy 34%, Switzerland 16%, Germany 9%, United Kingdom 7% (2019)
Imports - commodities: jewelry, recreational boats, cars and vehicle parts, watches, general wares (2019)
Debt - external: NA NA
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.885 (2017 est.)
0.903 (2016 est.)
0.9214 (2015 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 43,706 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,485 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 90 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern automatic telephone system; the country's sole fixed-line operator offers a full range of services to residential and business customers; competitive mobile telephony market; 4G LTE widely available (2020)
domestic: fixed-line a little over 111 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 90 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 377; landing points for the EIG and Italy-Monaco submarine cables connecting Monaco to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: TV Monte-Carlo operates a TV network; cable TV available; Radio Monte-Carlo has extensive radio networks in France and Italy with French-language broadcasts to France beginning in the 1960s and Italian-language broadcasts to Italy beginning in the 1970s; other radio stations include Riviera Radio and Radio Monaco
Internet country code: .mc
Internet users: total: 37,798 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 97% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 20,877 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3A
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Railways: note: Monaco has a single railway station but does not operate its own train service; the French operator SNCF operates rail services in Monaco
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Hercules Port
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Ministry of Interior: Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince (Prince’s Company of Carabiniers (Palace Guard)), Corps des Sapeurs-pompiers de Monaco (Fire and Emergency), Police Department (2022)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | field-ports-and-terminals | This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered. Most ports service multiple classes of vessels including bulk carriers (dry and liquid), break bulk cargoes (goods loaded individually in bags, boxes, crates, or drums; sometimes palletized), containers, roll-on/roll-off, and passenger ships. The listing leads off with major seaports handling all types of cargo. Inland river/lake ports are listed separately along with the river or lake name. Ports configured specifically to handle bulk cargoes are designated as oil terminals or dry bulk cargo ports. LNG terminals handle liquefied natural gas (LNG) and are differentiated as either export, where the gas is chilled to a liquid state to reduce its volume for transport on specialized gas carriers, or import, where the off-loaded LNG undergoes a regasification process before entering pipelines for distribution. As break bulk cargoes are largely transported by containers today, the entry also includes a listing of major container ports with the corresponding throughput measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) referring to a standard container size. Some ports are significant for handling passenger traffic and are listed as cruise/ferry ports. In addition to commercial traffic, many seaports also provide important military infrastructure such as naval bases or dockyards.
Topic: Afghanistanriver port(s): Hairatan, Qizil Qal`ah (Amu Darya)
Topic: Albaniamajor seaport(s): Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Topic: Algeriamajor seaport(s): Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda
LNG terminal(s) (export): Arzew, Bethioua, Skikda
Topic: American Samoamajor seaport(s): Pago Pago
Topic: Angolamajor seaport(s): Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
LNG terminal(s) (export): Angola Soyo
Topic: Anguillamajor seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay
Topic: Antarcticamost coastal stations have sparse and intermittent offshore anchorages; a few stations have basic wharf facilities
Topic: Antigua and Barbudamajor seaport(s): Saint John's
Topic: Arctic Oceanmajor seaport(s): Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Topic: Argentinamajor seaport(s): Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Ushuaia
container port(s) (TEUs): Buenos Aires (1,485,328) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Bahia Blanca
river port(s): Arroyo Seco, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin (Parana)
Topic: Arubamajor seaport(s): Barcadera, Oranjestad
oil terminal(s): Sint Nicolaas
cruise port(s): Oranjestad
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Atlantic Oceanmajor seaport(s): Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Topic: Australiamajor seaport(s):
Indian Ocean: Adelaide, Darwin, Fremantle, Geelong, Melbourne
Pacific Ocean: Brisbane, Cairns, Gladstone, Hobart, Newcastle, Port Port Kembla, Sydney
container port(s) (TEUs): Melbourne (2,967,315), Sydney (2,572,714) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Australia Pacific, Barrow Island, Burrup (Pluto), Curtis Island, Darwin, Karratha, Bladin Point (Ichthys), Gladstone, Prelude (offshore FLNG), Wheatstone
dry bulk cargo port(s): Dampier (iron ore), Dalrymple Bay (coal), Hay Point (coal), Port Hedland (iron ore), Port Walcott (iron ore)
Topic: Austriariver port(s): Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna (Danube)
Topic: Azerbaijanmajor seaport(s): Baku (Baki) located on the Caspian Sea
Topic: Bahamas, Themajor seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
cruise port(s): Nassau
container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,396,568) (2019)
Topic: Bahrainmajor seaport(s): Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Topic: Bangladeshmajor seaport(s): Chattogram (Chittagong)
container port(s) (TEUs): Chattogram (Chittagong) (3,088,187) (2019)
river port(s): Mongla Port (Sela River)
Topic: Barbadosmajor seaport(s): Bridgetown
Topic: Belarusriver port(s): Mazyr (Prypyats')
Topic: Belgiummajor seaport(s): Oostende, Zeebrugge
container port(s) (TEUs): Antwerp (11,860,204) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Zeebrugge
river port(s): Antwerp, Gent (Schelde River)
Brussels (Senne River) Liege (Meuse River)
Topic: Belizemajor seaport(s): Belize City, Big Creek
Topic: Beninmajor seaport(s): Cotonou
LNG terminal(s) (import): Cotonou
Topic: Bermudamajor seaport(s): Hamilton, Ireland Island, Saint George
Topic: Boliviariver port(s): Puerto Aguirre (Paraguay/Parana)
note: Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinariver port(s): Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, Brcko, Orasje (Sava River)
Topic: Bouvet Islandnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Brazilmajor seaport(s): Belem, Itajai, Paranagua, Rio Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Sao Sebastiao, Tubarao
oil terminal(s): DTSE/Gegua oil terminal, Ilha Grande (Gebig), Guaiba Island terminal, Guamare oil terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Itajai (1,223,262), Paranagua (865,110), Santos (4,165,248) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Pecem, Rio de Janiero
river port(s): Manaus (Amazon)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Sepetiba ore terminal, Tubarao
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorymajor seaport(s): Diego Garcia
Topic: British Virgin Islandsmajor seaport(s): Road Harbor
Topic: Bruneimajor seaport(s): Muara
oil terminal(s): Lumut, Seria
LNG terminal(s) (export): Lumut
Topic: Bulgariamajor seaport(s): Burgas, Varna (Black Sea)
Topic: Burmamajor seaport(s): Mawlamyine (Moulmein), Sittwe
river port(s): Rangoon (Yangon) (Rangoon River)
Topic: Burundilake port(s): Bujumbura (Lake Tanganyika)
Topic: Cabo Verdemajor seaport(s): Porto Grande
Topic: Cambodiamajor seaport(s): Sihanoukville (Kampong Saom)
river port(s): Phnom Penh (Mekong)
Topic: Cameroonoil terminal(s): Limboh Terminal
river port(s): Douala (Wouri)
Garoua (Benoue)
Topic: Canadamajor seaport(s): Halifax, Saint John (New Brunswick), Vancouver
oil terminal(s): Lower Lakes terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Montreal (1,745,244), Vancouver (3,398,860) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Saint John
river and lake port(s): Montreal, Quebec City, Sept-Isles (St. Lawrence)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Port-Cartier (iron ore and grain),
Fraser River Port (Fraser) Hamilton (Lake Ontario)
Topic: Cayman Islandsmajor seaport(s): Cayman Brac, George Town
Topic: Central African Republicriver port(s): Bangui (Oubangui)
Nola (Sangha)
Topic: Chilemajor seaport(s): Coronel, Huasco, Lirquen, Puerto Ventanas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso
container port(s) (TEUs): San Antonio (1,709,635), Valparaiso (898,715) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Mejillones, Quintero
Topic: Chinamajor seaport(s): Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin
container port(s) (TEUs): Dalian (8,760,000), Guangzhou (23,236,200), Ningbo (27,530,000), Qingdao (21,010,000), Shanghai (43,303,000), Shenzhen (25,770,000), Tianjin (17,264,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Tangshan, Zhejiang
river port(s): Guangzhou (Pearl)
Topic: Christmas Islandmajor seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
Topic: Clipperton Islandnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsmajor seaport(s): Port Refuge
Topic: Colombiamajor seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Cartagena, Santa Marta, Turbo
Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura
oil terminal(s): Covenas offshore terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Buenaventura (1,121,267), Cartagena (2,995,031) (2019)
river port(s): Barranquilla (Rio Magdalena)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Puerto Bolivar (coal)
Pacific Ocean - Buenaventura
Topic: Comorosmajor seaport(s): Moroni, Moutsamoudou
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of themajor seaport(s): Banana
river or lake port(s): Boma, Bumba, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka (Congo); Kindu (Lualaba); Bukavu, Goma (Lake Kivu); Kalemie (Lake Tanganyika)
Topic: Congo, Republic of themajor seaport(s): Pointe-Noire
oil terminal(s): Djeno
river port(s): Brazzaville (Congo)
Impfondo (Oubangui) Ouesso (Sangha) Oyo (Alima)
Topic: Cook Islandsmajor seaport(s): Avatiu
Topic: Coral Sea Islandsnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Costa Ricamajor seaport(s): Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean) - Puerto Limon
Pacific Ocean - Caldera
Topic: Cote d'Ivoiremajor seaport(s): Abidjan, San-Pedro
oil terminal(s): Espoir Offshore Terminal
Topic: Croatiamajor seaport(s): Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Split
oil terminal(s): Omisalj
river port(s): Vukovar (Danube)
Topic: Cubamajor seaport(s): Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas Bay, Santiago de Cuba
Topic: Curacaomajor seaport(s): Willemstad
oil terminal(s): Bullen Baai (Curacao Terminal)
bulk cargo port(s): Fuik Bay (phosphate rock)
Topic: Cyprusmajor seaport(s): area under government control: Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: Famagusta, Kyrenia
Topic: Czechiariver port(s): Prague (Vltava)
Decin, Usti nad Labem (Elbe)
Topic: Denmarkmajor seaport(s): Baltic Sea - Aarhus, Copenhagen, Fredericia, Kalundborg
cruise port(s): Copenhagen
river port(s): Aalborg (Langerak)
dry bulk cargo port(s): Ensted (coal)
North Sea - Esbjerg,
Topic: Djiboutimajor seaport(s): Djibouti
Topic: Dominicamajor seaport(s): Portsmouth, Roseau
Topic: Dominican Republicmajor seaport(s): Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo
oil terminal(s): Punta Nizao oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Andres LNG terminal (Boca Chica)
Topic: Ecuadormajor seaport(s): Esmeraldas, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
container port(s) (TEUs): Guayaquil (1,680,751) (2019)
river port(s): Guayaquil (Guayas)
Topic: Egyptmajor seaport(s): Mediterranean Sea - Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said
oil terminal(s): Ain Sukhna terminal, Sidi Kerir terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Port Said (East) (3,816,084) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Damietta, Idku (Abu Qir Bay)
Gulf of Suez - Suez
Topic: El Salvadormajor seaport(s): Puerto Cutuco
oil terminal(s): Acajutla offshore terminal
Topic: Equatorial Guineamajor seaport(s): Bata, Luba, Malabo
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bioko Island
Topic: Eritreamajor seaport(s): Assab, Massawa
Topic: Estoniamajor seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn
Topic: EthiopiaEthiopia is landlocked and uses the ports of Djibouti in Djibouti and Berbera in Somalia
Topic: European Unionmajor port(s): Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen (Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen (Denmark), Galati (Romania), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Split (Croatia), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia), Tulcea (Romania), Varna (Bulgaria)
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)major seaport(s): Stanley
Topic: Faroe Islandsmajor seaport(s): Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur
Topic: Fijimajor seaport(s): Lautoka, Levuka, Suva
Topic: Finlandmajor seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma
Topic: Francemajor seaport(s):
Atlantic Ocean: Brest, Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Nantes
Mediterranean Sea: Marseille
container port(s) (TEUs): Le Havre (2,822,910) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Fos Cavaou, Fos Tonkin, Montoir de Bretagne
river port(s): Bordeaux (Garronne); Nantes - Saint Nazaire (Loire); Paris, Rouen (Seine); Strasbourg (Rhine)
cruise/ferry port(s): Calais, Cherbourg, Le Havre
Topic: French Polynesiamajor seaport(s): Papeete
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Gabonmajor seaport(s): Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil
oil terminal(s): Gamba, Lucina
Topic: Gambia, Themajor seaport(s): Banjul
Topic: Gaza Stripmajor seaport(s): Gaza
Topic: Georgiamajor seaport(s): Black Sea - Batumi, Poti
Topic: Germanymajor seaport(s):
Baltic Sea: Kiel, Rostock
North Sea: Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Emden, Hamburg, Wilhelmshaven
oil terminal(s): Brunsbuttel Canal terminals
container port(s) (TEUs): Bremen/Bremerhaven (4,856,900), Hamburg (9,274,215) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Hamburg
river port(s): Bremen (Weser); Bremerhaven (Geeste); Duisburg, Karlsruhe, Neuss-Dusseldorf (Rhine); Lubeck (Wakenitz); Brunsbuttel, Hamburg (Elbe)
Topic: Ghanamajor seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema
Topic: Gibraltarmajor seaport(s): Gibraltar
Topic: Greecemajor seaport(s): Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
oil terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
container port(s) (TEUs): Piraeus (5,648,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Revithoussa
Topic: Greenlandmajor seaport(s): Sisimiut
Topic: Grenadamajor seaport(s): Saint George's
Topic: Guammajor seaport(s): Apra Harbor
Topic: Guatemalamajor seaport(s): Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Topic: Guernseymajor seaport(s): Braye Bay, Saint Peter Port
Topic: Guineamajor seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar
Topic: Guinea-Bissaumajor seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Topic: Guyanamajor seaport(s): Georgetown
Topic: Haitimajor seaport(s): Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Hondurasmajor seaport(s): La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela
Topic: Hong Kongmajor seaport(s): Hong Kong
container port(s) (TEUs): Hong Kong (18,361,000) (2019)
Topic: Hungaryriver port(s): Baja, Csepel (Budapest), Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Mohacs (Danube)
Topic: Icelandmajor seaport(s): Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Reykjavik
Topic: Indiamajor seaport(s): Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam
container port(s) (TEUs): Jawaharal Nehru Port (5,100,891), Mundra (4,732,699) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira
Topic: Indian Oceanmajor seaport(s): Chennai (Madras, India); Colombo (Sri Lanka); Durban (South Africa); Jakarta (Indonesia); Kolkata (Calcutta, India); Melbourne (Australia); Mumbai (Bombay, India); Richards Bay (South Africa)
Topic: Indonesiamajor seaport(s): Banjarmasin, Belawan, Kotabaru, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok
container port(s) (TEUs): Tanjung Perak (3,900,000), Tanjung Priok (7,600,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bontang, Tangguh
LNG terminal(s) (import): Arun, Lampung, West Java
Topic: Iranmajor seaport(s): Bandar-e Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni
container port(s) (TEUs): Bandar Abbas
Topic: Iraqriver port(s): Al Basrah (Shatt al Arab); Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr (Khawr az Zubayr waterway)
Topic: Irelandmajor seaport(s): Dublin, Shannon Foynes
cruise port(s): Cork (250,000), Dublin (359,966) (2020)
container port(s) (TEUs): Dublin (529,563) (2016)
river port(s): Cork (Lee), Waterford (Suir)
Topic: Isle of Manmajor seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey
Topic: Israelmajor seaport(s): Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
container port(s) (TEUs): Ashdod (1,584,000) (2019)
Topic: Italymajor seaport(s): Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice
oil terminal(s): Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Genoa (2,621,472), Gioia Tauro (2,523,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): La Spezia, Panigaglia, Porto Levante
Topic: Jamaicamajor seaport(s): Discovery Bay (Port Rhoades), Kingston, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Rocky Point
container port(s) (TEUs): Kingston (1,647,609) (2019)
Topic: Jan Mayennone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Japanmajor seaport(s): Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Tomakomai, Yokohama
container port(s) (TEUs): Kobe (2,871,642), Nagoya (2,844,004), Osaka (2,456,028), Tokyo (4,510,000), Yokohama (2,990,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Chita, Fukwoke, Futtsu, Hachinone, Hakodate, Hatsukaichi, Higashi Ohgishima, Higashi Niigata, Himeiji, Joetsu, Kagoshima, Kawagoe, Kita Kyushu, Mizushima, Nagasaki, Naoetsu, Negishi, Ohgishima, Oita, Sakai, Sakaide, Senboku, Shimizu, Shin Minato, Sodegaura, Tobata, Yanai, Yokkaichi
Okinawa - Nakagusuku
Topic: Jerseymajor seaport(s): Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Topic: Jordanmajor seaport(s): Al 'Aqabah
Topic: Kazakhstanmajor seaport(s): Caspian Sea - Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev)
river port(s): Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk) (Irtysh River)
Topic: Kenyamajor seaport(s): Kisumu, Mombasa
LNG terminal(s) (import): Mombasa
Topic: Kiribatimajor seaport(s): Betio (Tarawa Atoll), Canton Island, English Harbor
Topic: Korea, Northmajor seaport(s): Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam, Namp'o, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Wonsan
Topic: Korea, Southmajor seaport(s): Busan, Incheon, Gunsan, Kwangyang, Mokpo, Pohang, Ulsan, Yeosu
container port(s) (TEUs): Busan (21,992,001), Incheon (3,091,955), Kwangyang (2,378,337) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Incheon, Kwangyang, Pyeongtaek, Samcheok, Tongyeong, Yeosu
Topic: Kuwaitmajor seaport(s): Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi
Topic: Kyrgyzstanlake port(s): Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)(Lake Ysyk-Kol)
Topic: Latviamajor seaport(s): Riga, Ventspils
Topic: Lebanonmajor seaport(s): Beirut, Tripoli
container port(s) (TEUs): Beirut (1,229,100) (2019)
Topic: Liberiamajor seaport(s): Buchanan, Monrovia
Topic: Libyamajor seaport(s): Marsa al Burayqah (Marsa el Brega), Tripoli
oil terminal(s): Az Zawiyah, Ra's Lanuf
LNG terminal(s) (export): Marsa el Brega
Topic: Lithuaniamajor seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda
Topic: Luxembourgriver port(s): Mertert (Moselle)
Topic: Macaumajor seaport(s): Macau
Topic: Madagascarmajor seaport(s): Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara (Tulear)
Topic: Malawilake port(s): Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba (Lake Nyasa)
Topic: Malaysiamajor seaport(s): Bintulu, Johor Bahru, George Town (Penang), Pelabuhan Klang (Port Klang), Tanjung Pelepas
container port(s) (TEUs): Port Kelang (Port Klang) (13,580,717), Tanjung Pelepas (9,100,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bintulu (Sarawak)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Sungei Udang
Topic: Maldivesmajor seaport(s): Male
Topic: Maliriver port(s): Koulikoro (Niger)
Topic: Maltamajor seaport(s): Marsaxlokk (Malta Freeport), Valletta
container port(s) (TEUs): Marsaxlokk (2,722,889) (2019)
Topic: Marshall Islandsmajor seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
Topic: Mauritaniamajor seaport(s): Nouadhibou, Nouakchott
Topic: Mauritiusmajor seaport(s): Port Louis
Topic: Mexicomajor seaport(s): Altamira, Coatzacoalcos, Lazaro Cardenas, Manzanillo, Veracruz
oil terminal(s): Cayo Arcas terminal, Dos Bocas terminal
cruise port(s): Cancun, Cozumel, Ensenada
container port(s) (TEUs): Lazaro Cardenas (1,318,732), Manzanillo (3,069,189), Veracruz (1,144,156) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Altamira, Ensenada
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofmajor seaport(s): Colonia (Tamil Harbor), Molsron Lele Harbor, Pohnepi Harbor
Topic: Monacomajor seaport(s): Hercules Port
Topic: Montenegromajor seaport(s): Bar
Topic: Montserratmajor seaport(s): Little Bay, Plymouth
Topic: Moroccomajor seaport(s): Ad Dakhla, Agadir, Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, Laayoune (El Aaiun), Mohammedia, Safi, Tangier
container port(s) (TEUs): Tangier (4,801,713) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Jorf Lasfar (planned)
Topic: Mozambiquemajor seaport(s): Beira, Maputo, Nacala
Topic: Namibiamajor seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Topic: Naurumajor seaport(s): Nauru
Topic: Navassa Islandnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Netherlandsmajor seaport(s): IJmuiden, Vlissingen
container port(s) (TEUs): Rotterdam (14,810,804) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Rotterdam
river port(s): Amsterdam (Nordsee Kanaal); Moerdijk (Hollands Diep River); Rotterdam (Rhine River); Terneuzen (Western Scheldt River)
Topic: New Caledoniamajor seaport(s): Noumea
Topic: New Zealandmajor seaport(s): Auckland, Lyttelton, Manukau Harbor, Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington
Topic: Nicaraguamajor seaport(s): Bluefields, Corinto
Topic: Nigeriamajor seaport(s): Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos
oil terminal(s): Bonny Terminal, Brass Terminal, Escravos Terminal, Forcados Terminal, Pennington Terminal, Qua Iboe Terminal
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bonny Island
Topic: Niuemajor seaport(s): Alofi
Topic: Norfolk Islandmajor seaport(s): Kingston
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsmajor seaport(s): Saipan, Tinian, Rota
Topic: Norwaymajor seaport(s): Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture
LNG terminal(s) (export): Kamoy, Kollsnes, Melkoya Island
LNG terminal(s) (import): Fredrikstad, Mosjoen
Topic: Omanmajor seaport(s): Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar
container port(s) (TEUs): Salalah (4,109,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Qalhat
Topic: Pacific Oceanmajor seaport(s): Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
Topic: Pakistanmajor seaport(s): Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim
container port(s) (TEUs): Karachi (2,097,855) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Port Qasim
Topic: Palaumajor seaport(s): Koror
Topic: Panamamajor seaport(s): Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
container port(s) (TEUs): Balboa (2,894,654), Colon (4,379,477) (2019)
Topic: Papua New Guineamajor seaport(s): Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Moresby
Topic: Paracel Islandssmall Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
Topic: Paraguayriver port(s): Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)
Topic: Perumajor seaport(s): Callao, Matarani, Paita
oil terminal(s): Conchan oil terminal, La Pampilla oil terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Callao (2,313,907) (2019)
river port(s): Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas (Amazon)
Topic: Philippinesmajor seaport(s): Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila
container port(s) (TEUs): Manila (5,315,500) (2019)
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsmajor seaport(s): Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Topic: Polandmajor seaport(s): Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie
container port(s) (TEUs): Gdansk (2,073,215) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Swinoujscie
river port(s): Szczecin (River Oder)
Topic: Portugalmajor seaport(s): Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
container port(s) (TEUs): Sines (1,420,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Sines
Topic: Puerto Ricomajor seaport(s): Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
container port(s) (TEUs): San Juan (2,142,662) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Guayanilla Bay
Topic: Qatarmajor seaport(s): Doha, Musay'id, Ra's Laffan
LNG terminal(s) (export): Ras Laffan
Topic: Romaniamajor seaport(s): Constanta, Midia
river port(s): Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River)
Topic: Russiamajor seaport(s):
Arctic Ocean: Arkhangelsk, Murmansk
Baltic Sea: Kaliningrad, Primorsk, Saint Petersburg
Black Sea: Novorossiysk
Pacific Ocean: Nakhodka, Vladivostok, Vostochnyy
oil terminal(s): Kavkaz oil terminal, Primorsk
container port(s) (TEUs): Saint Petersburg (2,221,724) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Sabetta, Sakhalin Island
river port(s): Astrakhan, Kazan (Volga River); Rostov-on-Don (Don River); Saint Petersburg (Neva River)
Topic: Rwandalake port(s): Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye (Lake Kivu)
Topic: Saint Barthelemymajor seaport(s): Gustavia
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhamajor seaport(s): Saint Helena
Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor (Edinburgh)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevismajor seaport(s): Basseterre, Charlestown
Topic: Saint Luciamajor seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonmajor seaport(s): Saint-Pierre
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesmajor seaport(s): Kingstown
Topic: Samoamajor seaport(s): Apia
Topic: Sao Tome and Principemajor seaport(s): Sao Tome
Topic: Saudi Arabiamajor seaport(s): Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jeddah, King Abdulla, Yanbu'
container port(s) (TEUs): Ad Dammam (1,822,642), Jeddah (4,433,991), King Abdulla (2,020,683) (2019)
Topic: Senegalmajor seaport(s): Dakar
Topic: Serbiariver port(s): Belgrade (Danube)
Topic: Seychellesmajor seaport(s): Victoria
Topic: Sierra Leonemajor seaport(s): Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Topic: Singaporemajor seaport(s): Singapore
container port(s) (TEUs): Singapore (37,195,636) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Singapore
Topic: Sint Maartenmajor seaport(s): Philipsburg
oil terminal(s): Coles Bay oil terminal
Topic: Slovakiariver port(s): Bratislava, Komarno (Danube)
Topic: Sloveniamajor seaport(s): Koper
Topic: Solomon Islandsmajor seaport(s): Honiara, Malloco Bay, Viru Harbor, Tulagi
Topic: Somaliamajor seaport(s): Berbera, Kismaayo
Topic: South Africamajor seaport(s): Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay
container port(s) (TEUs): Durban (2,769,869) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Mossel Bay
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsmajor seaport(s): Grytviken
Topic: Southern Oceanmajor seaport(s): McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of the Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most to short periods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most Antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private vessels
Topic: Spainmajor seaport(s):
Atlantic Ocean: Bilbao, Huelva; Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands)
Mediterranean Sea: Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Tarragona, Valencia
container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (5,125,385), Barcelona (3,324,650), Valencia (5,439,827) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto
river port(s): Seville (Guadalquivir River)
Topic: Spratly Islandsnone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Sri Lankamajor seaport(s): Colombo
container port(s) (TEUs): Colombo (7,228,337) (2019)
Topic: Sudanmajor seaport(s): Port Sudan
Topic: Surinamemajor seaport(s): Paramaribo, Wageningen
Topic: Svalbardmajor seaport(s): Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Topic: Swedenmajor seaport(s): Brofjorden, Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby
LNG terminal(s) (import): Brunnsviksholme, Lysekil
Topic: Switzerlandriver port(s): Basel (Rhine)
Topic: Syriamajor seaport(s): Baniyas, Latakia, Tartus
Topic: Taiwanmajor seaport(s): Keelung (Chi-lung), Kaohsiung, Hualian, Taichung
container port(s) (TEUs): Kaohsiung (10,428,634), Taichung (1,793,966), Taipei (1,620,392) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Yung An (Kaohsiung), Taichung
Topic: Tanzaniamajor seaport(s): Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
Topic: Thailandmajor seaport(s): Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Map Ta Phut, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
container port(s) (TEUs): Laem Chabang (8,106,928) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Map Ta Phut
Topic: Timor-Lestemajor seaport(s): Dili
Topic: Togomajor seaport(s): Kpeme, Lome
Topic: Tokelaunone; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Tongamajor seaport(s): Nuku'alofa, Neiafu, Pangai
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagomajor seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal
LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin
Topic: Tunisiamajor seaport(s): Bizerte, Gabes, Rades, Sfax, Skhira
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)major seaport(s): Aliaga, Ambarli, Diliskelesi, Eregli, Izmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Mersin (Icel), Limani, Yarimca
container port(s) (TEUs): Ambarli (3,104,882), Mersin (Icel) (1,854,312), Izmet (1,715,193) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Izmir Aliaga, Marmara Ereglisi
Topic: Turkmenistanmajor seaport(s): Caspian Sea - Turkmenbasy
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsmajor seaport(s): Cockburn Harbour, Grand Turk, Providenciales
Topic: Tuvalumajor seaport(s): Funafuti
Topic: Ugandalake port(s): Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell (Lake Victoria)
Topic: Ukrainemajor seaport(s): Feodosiia, Chornomorsk, Mariupol, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Yuzhne
river port(s): Kherson, Kyiv (Dnieper River), Mykolaiv (Pivdennyy Buh River)
Topic: United Arab Emiratesmajor seaport(s): Al Fujayrah, Mina' Jabal 'Ali (Dubai), Khor Fakkan (Khawr Fakkan) (Sharjah), Mubarraz Island (Abu Dhabi), Mina' Rashid (Dubai), Mina' Saqr (Ra's al Khaymah)
container port(s) (TEUs): Dubai Port (14,111,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Das Island
Topic: United Kingdommajor seaport(s): Dover, Felixstowe, Immingham, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Teesport (England); Forth Ports (Scotland); Milford Haven (Wales)
oil terminal(s): Fawley Marine terminal, Liverpool Bay terminal (England); Braefoot Bay terminal, Finnart oil terminal, Hound Point terminal (Scotland)
container port(s) (TEUs): Felixstowe (3,584,000), London (2,790,000), Southampton (1,924,847) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Isle of Grain, Milford Haven, Teesside
Topic: United Statesmajor seaport(s):
Atlantic Ocean: Charleston, Hampton Roads, New York/New Jersey, Savannah
Pacific Ocean: Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma
Gulf of Mexico: Houston
oil terminal(s): LOOP terminal, Haymark terminal
container port(s) (TEUs): Charleston (2,436,185), Hampton Roads (2,937,962), Houston (2,987,291), Long Beach (7,632,032), Los Angeles (9,337,632), New York/New Jersey (7,471,131), Oakland (2,500,431), Savannah (4,599,177), Seattle/Tacoma (3,775,303) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (export): Cameron (LA), Corpus Christi (TX), Cove Point (MD), Elba Island (GA), Freeport (TX), Sabine Pass (LA)
note - two additional export facilities are under construction and expected to begin commercial operations in 2023-2024
LNG terminal(s) (import): Cove Point (MD), Elba Island (GA), Everett (MA), Freeport (TX), Golden Pass (TX), Hackberry (LA), Lake Charles (LA), Neptune (offshore), Northeast Gateway (offshore), Pascagoula (MS), Sabine Pass (TX)
river port(s): Baton Rouge, Plaquemines, New Orleans (Mississippi River)
cargo ports: Baton Rouge, Corpus Christi, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Plaquemines (LA), Tampa, Texas City
cruise departure ports (passengers): Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Seattle, Long Beach
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesmajor seaport(s): Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef: none; offshore anchorage only
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island
Midway Islands: Sand Island
Palmyra Atoll: West Lagoon
Topic: Uruguaymajor seaport(s): Montevideo
Topic: Uzbekistanriver port(s): Termiz (Amu Darya)
Topic: Vanuatumajor seaport(s): Forari Bay, Luganville (Santo, Espiritu Santo), Port-Vila
Topic: Venezuelamajor seaport(s): La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
oil terminal(s): Jose terminal
Topic: Vietnammajor seaport(s): Cam Pha Port, Da Nang, Haiphong, Phu My, Quy Nhon
container port(s) (TEUs): Saigon (7,220,377), Cai Mep (3,742,384), Haiphong (5,133,150) (2019)
river port(s): Ho Chi Minh (Mekong)
Topic: Virgin Islandsmajor seaport(s): Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Frederiksted, Limetree Bay
Topic: Wake Islandnone; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Topic: Wallis and Futunamajor seaport(s): Leava, Mata-Utu
Topic: Worldtop twenty container ports as measured by Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) throughput: Shanghai (China) - 43,303,000; Singapore (Singapore) - 37,195,636; Ningbo (China) - 27,530,000; Shenzhen (China) - 25,770,000; Guangzhou (China) - 23,236,200; Busan (South Korea) - 21,992,001; Qingdao (China) - 21,010,000; Hong Kong (China) - 18,361,000; Tianjin (China) - 17,264,000; Rotterdam (Netherlands) - 14,810,804; Dubai (UAE) - 14,111,000; Port Kelang (Malaysia) - 13,580,717; Antwerp (Belgium) - 11,860,204; Xiamen (China) - 11,122,200; Kaohsiung (Taiwan) - 10,428,634; Los Angeles (US) - 9,337,632; Hamburg (Germany) - 9,274,215; Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) - 9,100,000; Dalian (China) - 8,760,000; Laem Chabang (Thailand) - 8,106,928 (2019)
Topic: Yemenmajor seaport(s): Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla
Topic: Zambiariver port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Topic: Zimbabweriver port(s): Binga, Kariba (Zambezi) |
20220901 | field-political-structure | This entry, which appears only in the European Union, Government category, provides a definition for the entity that is the European Union.
Topic: European Uniona hybrid and unique intergovernmental and supranational organization |
20220901 | countries-trinidad-and-tobago |
Topic: Photos of Trinidad and Tobago
Topic: Introduction
Background: First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing. The government is struggling to reverse a surge in violent crime.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation: highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 83 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 44% (2018 est.)
other: 45.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Geography - note: Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt
Map description: Trinidad and Tobago map showing the major population centers of these islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.Trinidad and Tobago map showing the major population centers of these islands in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,405,646 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
note: Trinbagonian is used on occasion to describe a citizen of the country without specifying the island of origin
Ethnic groups: East Indian 35.4%, African descent 34.2%, mixed - other 15.3%, mixed - African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
Languages: English (official), Trinidadian Creole English, Tobagonian Creole English, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Trinidadian Creole French, Spanish, Chinese
Religions: Protestant 32.1% (Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.01% (male 116,953/female 112,805)
15-24 years: 11.28% (male 70,986/female 65,389)
25-54 years: 43.77% (male 276,970/female 252,108)
55-64 years: 13.83% (male 83,650/female 83,585)
65 years and over: 12.11% (2020 est.) (male 64,092/female 82,251)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.1
youth dependency ratio: 29.3
elderly dependency ratio: 16.8
potential support ratio: 7.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 37.8 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 38.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.14% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.79 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population on Trinidad is concentrated in the western half of the island, on Tobago in the southern half
Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 545,000 PORT-OF-SPAIN (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 67 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 15.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.94 years
male: 74.02 years
female: 77.93 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 40.3% (2011)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019)
Physicians density: 4.48 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.9% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 10,000 (2020 est.)
note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <200
note: estimate does not include children
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 18.6% (2016)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 4.9% (2011)
Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.7%
male: 8.9%
female: 8.4% (2016 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 43.87 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 1.35 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Land use: agricultural land: 10.6% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 44% (2018 est.)
other: 45.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.23% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 727,874 tons (2010 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 237.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 128.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 16.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 3.84 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
etymology: explorer Christopher COLUMBUS named the larger island "La Isla de la Trinidad" (The Island of the Trinity) on 31 July 1498 on his third voyage; the tobacco grown and smoked by the natives of the smaller island or its elongated cigar shape may account for the "tobago" name, which is spelled "tobaco" in Spanish
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Port of Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name dates to the period of Spanish colonial rule (16th to late 18th centuries) when the city was referred to as "Puerto de Espana"; the name was anglicized following the British capture of Trinidad in 1797
Administrative divisions: 9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando ward: Tobago9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 wardregions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarcoborough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortincities: Port of Spain, San Fernandoward: Tobago
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution: history: previous 1962; latest 1976
amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments affecting constitutional provisions, such as human rights and freedoms or citizenship, requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and assent of the president; passage of amendments, such as the powers and authorities of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, and the procedure for amending the constitution, requires at least three-quarters majority vote by the House membership, two-thirds majority vote by the Senate membership, and assent of the president; amended many times, last in 2007
Legal system: English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Paula-Mae WEEKES (since 19 March 2018)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith ROWLEY (since 9 September 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among members of Parliament
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of selected Senate and House of Representatives members for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 January 2018 (next to be held by February 2023); the president usually appoints the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives as prime minister
election results: Paula-Mae WEEKES (independent) elected president; ran unopposed and was elected without a vote; she is Trinidad and Tobago's first female head of state
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the president, and 6 by the opposition party; members serve 5-year terms;)
House of Representatives (42 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and the house speaker - usually designated from outside Parliament; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last appointments on 28 August 2020 (next appointments in August 2025)
House of Representatives - last held on 10 August 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
election results: Senate - percent by party - NA; seats by party - NA; composition as of May 2020 - men 19, women 13, percent of women 40.6%
House of Representatives - percent by party - NA; seats by party - PNM 22, UNC 19; composition - as of May 2022 - men 31, women 11, percent of women 26.2%; note - overall Parliament percent of women 32.4%
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly (19 seats; 15 assemblymen directly elected by simple majority vote and 4 appointed councilors - 3 on the advice of the chief secretary and 1 on the advice of the minority leader; members serve 4-year terms)
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of the Judicature (consists of a chief justice for both the Court of Appeal with 12 judges and the High Court with 24 judges); note - Trinidad and Tobago can file appeals beyond its Supreme Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the parliamentary leader of the opposition; other judges appointed by the Judicial Legal Services Commission, headed by the chief justice and 5 members with judicial experience; all judges serve for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65
subordinate courts: Courts of Summary Criminal Jurisdiction; Petty Civil Courts; Family Court
Political parties and leaders: Congress of the People or COP [Kirt SINNETTE]
People's National Movement or PNM [Keith ROWLEY]
Progressive Democratic Patriots (Tobago) [Watson DUKE]
United National Congress or UNC [Kamla PERSAD-BISSESSAR]
International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club (associate), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony Wayne Jerome PHILLIPS-SPENCER, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) (since 27 June 2016)
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036-1975
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
email address and website:
embdcinfo@foreign.gov.tt
https://foreign.gov.tt/missions-consuls/tt-missions-abroad/diplomatic-missions/embassy-washington-dc-us/
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shante MOORE (since 20 January 2021)
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port of Spain
mailing address: 3410 Port of Spain Place, Washington DC 20521-3410
telephone: (868) 622-6371
FAX: (868) 822-5905
email address and website:
acspos@state.gov
https://tt.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people
National symbol(s): scarlet ibis (bird of Trinidad), cocrico (bird of Tobago), Chaconia flower; national colors: red, white, black
National anthem: name: "Forged From the Love of Liberty"
lyrics/music: Patrick Stanislaus CASTAGNE
note: adopted 1962; song originally created to serve as an anthem for the West Indies Federation; adopted by Trinidad and Tobago following the Federation's dissolution in 1962
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages. Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports. Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.Trinidad and Tobago relies on its energy sector for much of its economic activity, and has one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America. Economic growth between 2000 and 2007 averaged slightly over 8% per year, significantly above the regional average of about 3.7% for that same period; however, GDP has slowed down since then, contracting during 2009-12, making small gains in 2013 and contracting again in 2014-17. Trinidad and Tobago is buffered by considerable foreign reserves and a sovereign wealth fund that equals about one-and-a-half times the national budget, but the country is still in a recession and the government faces the dual challenge of gas shortages and a low price environment. Large-scale energy projects in the last quarter of 2017 are helping to mitigate the gas shortages. Energy production and downstream industrial use dominate the economy. Oil and gas typically account for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports but less than 5% of employment. Trinidad and Tobago is home to one of the largest natural gas liquefaction facilities in the Western Hemisphere. The country produces about nine times more natural gas than crude oil on an energy equivalent basis with gas contributing about two-thirds of energy sector government revenue. The US is the country’s largest trading partner, accounting for 28% of its total imports and 48% of its exports. Economic diversification is a longstanding government talking point, and Trinidad and Tobago has much potential due to its stable, democratic government and its educated, English speaking workforce. The country is also a regional financial center with a well-regulated and stable financial system. Other sectors the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has targeted for increased investment and projected growth include tourism, agriculture, information and communications technology, and shipping. Unfortunately, a host of other factors, including low labor productivity, inefficient government bureaucracy, and corruption, have hampered economic development.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $33.21 billion (2020 est.)
$36.03 billion (2019 est.)
$36.48 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -2.6% (2017 est.)
-6.1% (2016 est.)
1.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $23,700 (2020 est.)
$25,800 (2019 est.)
$26,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $24.031 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (2017 est.)
3.1% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Ba1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 47.8% (2017 est.)
services: 51.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 78.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 8.2% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 45.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -48.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: poultry, fruit, coconuts, citrus fruit, milk, plantains, maize, oranges, eggs, gourds
Industries: petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas, methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -4.3% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 629,400 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 11.5%
services: 85.4% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (2017 est.)
4% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 8.7%
male: 8.9%
female: 8.4% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20% (2014 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 5.581 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 7.446 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -8.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 41.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
37% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 24.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Current account balance: $2.325 billion (2017 est.)
-$653 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $9.57 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$11.57 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 33%, Guyana 9%, Spain 6%, China 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: natural gas, industrial alcohols, crude petroleum, ammonia, iron products, refined petroleum (2019)
Imports: $7.93 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$9.16 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 40%, Guyana 19%, China 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, excavation machinery, shipping containers, iron, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $8.892 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$9.995 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $8.238 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$8.746 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD) per US dollar -
6.78 (2017 est.)
6.669 (2016 est.)
6.669 (2015 est.)
6.4041 (2014 est.)
6.4041 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 2.123 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 8,213,020,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 424 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 1,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 81,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 35,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 22,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 64,700 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 243 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 134,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 106,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 30,886,691,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
consumption: 16,247,415,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 14,662,269,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 298.063 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 39.652 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 10,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.631 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 35.011 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 323,905 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,163,730 (2019)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155.11 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: excellent international service; good local service; broadband access; expanded FttP (Fiber to the Home) markets; LTE launch; regulatory development; major growth in mobile telephony and data segments which attacks operation investment in fiber infrastructure; moves to end roaming charges (2020)
domestic: fixed-line over 23 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity 142 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 1-868; landing points for the EC Link, ECFS, Southern Caribbean Fiber, SG-SCS and Americas II submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US, parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana (2020)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 6 free-to-air TV networks, 2 of which are state-owned; 24 subscription providers (cable and satellite); over 36 radio frequencies (2019)
Internet country code: .tt
Internet users: total: 1,074,126 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 77% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 376,771 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 19
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 2,525,130 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 41.14 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9Y
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 257 km condensate, 11 km condensate/gas, 1,567 km gas, 587 km oil (2013)
Merchant marine: total: 105
by type: general cargo 1, other 104 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Point Fortin, Point Lisas, Port of Spain, Scarborough
oil terminal(s): Galeota Point terminal
LNG terminal(s) (export): Port Fortin
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (TTDF): Army/Land Forces (Trinidad and Tobago Regiment), Coast Guard, Air Guard, Defense Force Reserves; Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) (2022)
note: the Ministry of National Security oversees defense, immigration, and the police
Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
1% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $350 million)
1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $340 million)
1.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $420 million)
1.4% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $460 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 4,500 TTDF personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the TTDF's ground force inventory includes only light weapons, while the Coast Guard and Air Guard field mostly second-hand equipment from a mix of countries, including Australia, China, the Netherlands, the UK, and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women; some age variations between services, reserves); no conscription (2022)
note: as of 2017, women comprised about 14% of the active military
Military - note: the primary responsibilities for the TTDF are conducting border and maritime security, providing disaster relief, and countering narcotics trafficking in support of law enforcement (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Trinidad and Tobago-Barbados: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZ Trinidad and Tobago-Barbados-Guyana-Venezuela: in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its watersTrinidad and Tobago-Barbados: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's EEZTrinidad and Tobago-Barbados-Guyana-Venezuela: in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration, as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may also extend into its waters
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 28,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Illicit drugs: a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs; marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs; marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug |
20220901 | field-refugees-and-internally-displaced-persons | This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or stateless persons. Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a UN Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." The term internally displaced person is not specifically covered in the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state. A stateless person is defined as someone who is not considered a national by any state under the operation of its law, according to the 1954 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.
Topic: Afghanistanrefugees (country of origin): 72,188 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 3.547 million (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in the south and west due to natural disasters and political instability) (2020)
Topic: Albaniastateless persons: 1,528 (mid-year 2021)
note: 11,827 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-January 2021)
Topic: Algeriarefugees (country of origin): more than 100,000 (Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf) (2018); 6,750 (Syria) (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Angolarefugees (country of origin): 37,082 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 9,272 (Guinea), 6,357 (Cote d'Ivoire), 5,725 (Mauritania) (2022)
Topic: Argentinarefugees (country of origin): 170,517 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Topic: Armeniarefugees (country of origin): 38,774 (Azerbaijan), 5,205 (Syria - ethnic Armenians) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: 892 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Arubarefugees (country of origin): 17,000 (Venezuela) (2021)
Topic: Australiarefugees (country of origin): 12,701 (Iran), 10,108 (Afghanistan), 5,400 (Pakistan) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: 5,770 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Austriarefugees (country of origin): 57,887 (Syria), 41,037 (Afghanistan), 9,661 (Iraq), 8,212 (Somalia), 7,046 (Iran), 7,003 (Russia) (mid-year 2021); 70,153 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 3,229 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Azerbaijanrefugees (country of origin): 5,062 (Ukraine) (as of 31 May 2022)
IDPs: 735,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh; IDPs are mainly ethnic Azerbaijanis but also include ethnic Kurds, Russians, and Turks predominantly from occupied territories around Nagorno-Karabakh; includes IDPs' descendants, returned IDPs, and people living in insecure areas and excludes people displaced by natural disasters; around half the IDPs live in the capital Baku) (2020)
stateless persons: 3,585 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Bangladeshrefugees (country of origin): 925,380 (Burma) (2022) (includes an estimated 773,972 Rohingya refugees who have fled conflict since 25 August 2017)
IDPs: 427,000 (conflict, development, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2020)
stateless persons: 889,704 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Belarusrefugees (country of origin): 16,654 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 13 June 2022)
stateless persons: 6,104 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Belgiumrefugees (country of origin): 18,493 (Syria), 5,094 (Iraq) (2020); 45,882 (Ukraine) (as of 6 June 2022)
stateless persons: 1,159 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Boliviarefugees (country of origin): 12,400 (Venezuela) (2022)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinarefugees (country of origin): 5,112 (Croatia) (2020)
IDPs: 99,000 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Bosniaks displaced by inter-ethnic violence, human rights violations, and armed conflict during the 1992-95 war) (2020)
stateless persons: 149 (mid-year 2021)
note: 91,361 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022)
Topic: Brazilrefugees (country of origin): 261,441 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2020)
stateless persons: 14 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Bruneistateless persons: 20,863 (mid-year 2021); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land
Topic: Bulgariarefugees (country of origin): 19,014 (Syria) (mid-year 2021); 78,291 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 1,143 (mid-year 2021)
note: 74,107 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2022); Bulgaria is predominantly a transit country
Topic: Burkina Fasorefugees (country of origin): 24,756 (Mali) (2022)
IDPs: 1,850,293 (2022)1,850,293 (2022)
Topic: BurmaIDPs: 505,000 (government offensives against armed ethnic minority groups near its borders with China and Thailand, natural disasters, forced land evictions) (2020)
stateless persons: 600,000 (mid-year 2021); note - Rohingya Muslims, living predominantly in Rakhine State, are Burma's main group of stateless people; the Burmese Government does not recognize the Rohingya as a "national race" and stripped them of their citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law, categorizing them as "non-nationals" or "foreign residents"; under the Rakhine State Action Plan drafted in October 2014, the Rohingya must demonstrate their family has lived in Burma for at least 60 years to qualify for a lesser naturalized citizenship and the classification of Bengali or be put in detention camps and face deportation; native-born but non-indigenous people, such as Indians, are also stateless; the Burmese Government does not grant citizenship to children born outside of the country to Burmese parents who left the country illegally or fled persecution, such as those born in Thailand; the number of stateless persons has decreased dramatically because hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since 25 August 2017 to escape violence
note: estimate does not include stateless IDPs or stateless persons in IDP-like situations because they are included in estimates of IDPs (2017)
Topic: Burundirefugees (country of origin): 84,961 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 109,169 (some ethnic Tutsis remain displaced from intercommunal violence that broke out after the 1,993 coup and fighting between government forces and rebel groups; violence since April 2015) (2021)
stateless persons: 767 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Cabo Verdestateless persons: 115 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Cambodiastateless persons: 57,444 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Cameroonrefugees (country of origin): 345,798 (Central African Republic), 138,381 (Nigeria) (2022)
IDPs: 936,767 (2022) (includes far north, northwest, and southwest)
Topic: Canadarefugees (country of origin): 22,400 (Venezuela) (refugees and migrants) (2020); 9,883 (Nigeria), 7,571 (Turkey), 7,385 (Iran), 6,965 (Pakistan), 6,287 (China), 5,244 (Colombia) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: 3,823 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Central African Republicrefugees (country of origin): 5,702 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2022)
IDPs: 652,036 (clashes between army and rebel groups since 2005; tensions between ethnic groups) (2022)
Topic: Chadrefugees (country of origin): 388,550 (Sudan), 122,958 (Central African Republic), 42,549 (Cameroon), 19,886 (Nigeria) (2022)
IDPs: 406,573 (majority are in the east) (2022)
Topic: Chilerefugees (country of origin): 448,138 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2020)
Topic: Chinarefugees (country of origin): 303,107 (Vietnam), undetermined (North Korea) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: undetermined (2021)
Topic: Colombiarefugees (country of origin): 1,842,390 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2022)
IDPs: 8,244,835 (conflict between government and illegal armed groups and drug traffickers since 1985) (2022)
stateless persons: 11 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of therefugees (country of origin): 210,476 (Rwanda), 210,357 (Central African Republic), 56,356 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 40,522 (Burundi) (2022)
IDPs: 5.61 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; conflict in Kasai region since 2016) (2021)
Topic: Congo, Republic of therefugees (country of origin): 29,090 (Central African Republic), 22,114 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 304,430 (multiple civil wars since 1992) (2021)
Topic: Costa Ricarefugees (country of origin): 29,906 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2021)
stateless persons: 205 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Cote d'IvoireIDPs: 308,000 (post-election conflict in 2010-11, as well as civil war from 2002-04; land disputes; most pronounced in western and southwestern regions) (2019)
stateless persons: 952,969 (mid-year 2021); note - many Ivoirians lack documentation proving their nationality, which prevent them from accessing education and healthcare; birth on Ivorian soil does not automatically result in citizenship; disputes over citizenship and the associated rights of the large population descended from migrants from neighboring countries is an ongoing source of tension and contributed to the country's 2002 civil war; some observers believe the government's mass naturalizations of thousands of people over the last couple of years is intended to boost its electoral support base; the government in October 2013 acceded to international conventions on statelessness and in August 2013 reformed its nationality law, key steps to clarify the nationality of thousands of residents; since the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration to eradicate statelessness in West Africa in February 2015, 6,400 people have received nationality papers; in September 2020, Cote d'Ivoire adopted Africa's first statelessness determination procedure to regularize the status of stateless people
Topic: Croatiarefugees (country of origin): 13,759 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 2,910 (mid-year 2021)
note: 741,049 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022)
Topic: Curacaorefugees (country of origin): 14,200 (Venezuela) (2021)
Topic: Cyprusrefugees (country of origin): 9,820 (Syria) (mid-year 2021); 12,500 (Ukraine) (as of 6 June 2022)
IDPs: 228,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2020)
stateless persons: 66 (mid-year 2021)
note: 39,022 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022)
Topic: Czechiarefugees (country of origin): 366,632 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 1,498 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Denmarkrefugees (country of origin): 19,833 (Syria), 5,634 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2021); 29,191 (Ukraine) (as of 22 May 2022)
stateless persons: 11,608 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Djiboutirefugees (country of origin): 5,972 (Yemen) (mid-year 2021); 14,227 (Somalia) (2021)
Topic: Dominican Republicrefugees (country of origin): 115,283 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
stateless persons: 133,770 (2016); note - a September 2013 Constitutional Court ruling revoked the citizenship of those born after 1929 to immigrants without proper documentation, even though the constitution at the time automatically granted citizenship to children born in the Dominican Republic and the 2010 constitution provides that constitutional provisions cannot be applied retroactively; the decision overwhelmingly affected people of Haitian descent whose relatives had come to the Dominican Republic since the 1890s as a cheap source of labor for sugar plantations; a May 2014 law passed by the Dominican Congress regularizes the status of those with birth certificates but will require those without them to prove they were born in the Dominican Republic and to apply for naturalization; the government has issued documents to thousands of individuals who may claim citizenship under this law, but no official estimate has been released
note: revised estimate includes only individuals born to parents who were both born abroad; it does not include individuals born in the country to one Dominican-born and one foreign-born parent or subsequent generations of individuals of foreign descent; the estimate, as such, does not include all stateless persons (2015)
Topic: Ecuadorrefugees (country of origin): 65,854 (Colombia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2021); 513,900 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022)
Topic: Egyptrefugees (country of origin): 70,022 (West Bank and Gaza Strip) (mid-year 2021); 141,303 (Syria), 52,446 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 20,970 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 21,105 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 15,585 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 10,025 (Yemen) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,815 (Iraq) (refugees and asylum seekers), 6,802 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
stateless persons: 7 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: El SalvadorIDPs: 71,500 (2021)
Topic: Estoniarefugees (country of origin): 39,802 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 71,873 (mid-year 2021); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old
Topic: Ethiopiarefugees (country of origin): 402,099 (South Sudan), 246,427 (Somalia), 159,369 (Eritrea), 47,179 (Sudan) (2022)
IDPs: 1,990,168 (includes conflict- and climate-induced IDPs, excluding unverified estimates from the Amhara region; border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000; ethnic clashes; and ongoing fighting between the Ethiopian military and separatist rebel groups in the Somali and Oromia regions; natural disasters; intercommunal violence; most IDPs live in Sumale state) (2021)
Topic: Finlandrefugees (country of origin): 9,053 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021); 26,196 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 3,416 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Francerefugees (country of origin): 37,744 (Afghanistan), 23,980 (Sri Lanka), 23,510 (Syria), 21,070 (Sudan), 19,007 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 16,995 (Russia), 15,090 (Guinea), 14,296 (Serbia and Kosovo), 13,180 (Turkey), 10,849 (Cambodia), 9,328 (Iraq) 8,519 (China), 8,338 (Cote d'Ivoire), 8,218 (Eritrea), 7,628 (Vietnam), 6,947 (Bangladesh), 6,649 (Somalia), 6,642 (Albania), 6,371 (Laos), 6,074 (Mauritania), 5,908 (Mali) (mid-year 2021); 43,300 (Ukraine) (as of 27 April 2022)
stateless persons: 2,094 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Gaza Striprefugees (country of origin): 1,476,706 (Palestinian refugees) (2020)
IDPs: 131,000 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza Strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2020)
data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank
Topic: Georgiarefugees (country of origin): 19,690 (Ukraine) (as of 22 May 2022)
IDPs: 304,000 (displaced in the 1990s as a result of armed conflict in the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; displaced in 2008 by fighting between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia) (2019)
stateless persons: 534 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Germanyrefugees (country of origin): 616,325 (Syria), 152,677 (Afghanistan), 147,400 (Iraq), 62,152 (Eritrea), 45,704 (Iran), 34,465 (Turkey), 29,137 (Somalia), 9,329 (Russia), 9,323 (Nigeria), 8,600 (Pakistan), 7,503 (Serbia and Kosovo), 6,057 (Ethiopia) (mid-year 2021); 780,000 (Ukraine) (as of 2 June 2022)
stateless persons: 26,980 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Ghanarefugees (country of origin): 5,779 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2022)
Topic: Greecerefugees (country of origin): 38,496 (Syria), 25,188 (Afghanistan), 12,657 (Iraq), 5,002 (West Bank and Gaza) (mid-year 2021); 14,887 (Ukraine) (as of 5 June 2022)
stateless persons: 5,552 (mid-year 2021)
note: 1,216,968 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-June 2022); as of the end of February 2022, Greece hosted an estimated 161,419 refugees and asylum seekers
Topic: GuatemalaIDPs: 242,000 (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2020)
Topic: Guinea-Bissaurefugees (country of origin): 7,757 (Senegal) (2022)
Topic: Guyanarefugees (country of origin): 24,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Topic: HaitiIDPs: 17,105 (violence among armed gangs in the metropolitan area os Port-au-Prince) (2021)
stateless persons: 2,992 (2018); note - individuals without a nationality who were born in the Dominican Republic prior to January 2010
Topic: HondurasIDPs: 247,090 (violence, extortion, threats, forced recruitment by urban gangs between 2004 and 2018) (2021)
Topic: Hungaryrefugees (country of origin): 764,216 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 13 June 2022)
stateless persons: 130 (mid-year 2021)
note: 432,744 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-December 2018); Hungary is predominantly a transit country and hosts 137 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of June 2018; 1,626 migrant arrivals in 2017
Topic: Icelandstateless persons: 73 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Indiarefugees (country of origin): 92,885 (Sri Lanka), 73,407 (Tibet/China), 20,325 (Burma), 8,537 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 473,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2020)
stateless persons: 19,677 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Indonesiarefugees (country of origin): 5,792 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 40,000 (inter-communal, inter-faith, and separatist violence between 1998 and 2004 in Aceh and Papua; religious attacks and land conflicts in 2007 and 2013; most IDPs in Aceh, Maluku, East Nusa Tengarra) (2020)
stateless persons: 668 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Iranrefugees (country of origin): 2.6 million undocumented Afghans, 780,000 Afghan refugee card holders, 20,000 Iraqi refugee card holders (2020)
stateless persons: 34 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Iraqrefugees (country of origin): 15,272 (Turkey), 7,881 (West Bank and Gaza Strip) (mid-year 2021); 260,686 (Syria) (2022)
IDPs: 1,198,940 (displacement in central and northern Iraq since January 2014) (2021)
stateless persons: 47,253 (mid-year 2021); note - in the 1970s and 1980s under SADDAM Husayn's regime, thousands of Iraq's Faili Kurds, followers of Shia Islam, were stripped of their Iraqi citizenship, had their property seized by the government, and many were deported; some Faili Kurds had their citizenship reinstated under the 2,006 Iraqi Nationality Law, but others lack the documentation to prove their Iraqi origins; some Palestinian refugees persecuted by the SADDAM regime remain stateless
note: estimate revised to reflect the reduction of statelessness in line with Law 26 of 2006, which allows stateless persons to apply for nationality in certain circumstances; more accurate studies of statelessness in Iraq are pending (2015)
Topic: Irelandrefugees (country of origin): 34,842 (Ukraine) (as of 2 June 2022)
stateless persons: 107 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Israelrefugees (country of origin): 12,181 (Eritrea), 5,061 (Ukraine) (2019)
stateless persons: 42 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Italyrefugees (country of origin): 19,441 (Nigeria), 15,337 (Pakistan), 12,962 (Afghanistan), 10,609 (Mali), 7,901 (Somalia), 5,845 (Gambia), 5,079 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021); 125,907 (Ukraine) (as of 31 May 2022)
stateless persons: 3,000 (mid-year 2021)
note: 610,671 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-June 2022)
Topic: Japanstateless persons: 707 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Jordanrefugees (country of origin): 2,307,011 (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 66,665 (Iraq), 12,866 (Yemen), 6,013 Sudan (2021); 675,040 (Syria) (2022)
stateless persons: 63 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Kazakhstanstateless persons: 7,915 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Kenyarefugees (country of origin): 279,197 (Somalia), 142,113 (South Sudan), 21,001 (Ethiopia), 19,036 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 7,521 (Burundi) (2022)
IDPs: 190,000 (election-related violence, intercommunal violence, resource conflicts, al-Shabaab attacks in 2017 and 2018) (2020)
stateless persons: 16,820 (mid-year 2021); note - the stateless population consists of Nubians, Kenyan Somalis, and coastal Arabs; the Nubians are descendants of Sudanese soldiers recruited by the British to fight for them in East Africa more than a century ago; Nubians did not receive Kenyan citizenship when the country became independent in 1963; only recently have Nubians become a formally recognized tribe and had less trouble obtaining national IDs; Galjeel and other Somalis who have lived in Kenya for decades are included with more recent Somali refugees and denied ID cards
Topic: Korea, NorthIDPs: undetermined (2021)
Topic: Korea, Southstateless persons: 204 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: KosovoIDPs: 16,000 (primarily ethnic Serbs displaced during the 1998-1999 war fearing reprisals from the majority ethnic-Albanian population; a smaller number of ethnic Serbs, Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptians fled their homes in 2,004 as a result of violence) (2020)
note: 7,794 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022)
Topic: Kuwaitstateless persons: 92,020 (mid-year 2021); note - Kuwait's 1959 Nationality Law defined citizens as persons who settled in the country before 1920 and who had maintained normal residence since then; one-third of the population, descendants of Bedouin tribes, missed the window of opportunity to register for nationality rights after Kuwait became independent in 1961 and were classified as bidun (meaning "without"); since the 1980s Kuwait's bidun have progressively lost their rights, including opportunities for employment and education, amid official claims that they are nationals of other countries who have destroyed their identification documents in hopes of gaining Kuwaiti citizenship; Kuwaiti authorities have delayed processing citizenship applications and labeled biduns as "illegal residents," denying them access to civil documentation, such as birth and marriage certificates
Topic: Kyrgyzstanstateless persons: 16 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Latviarefugees (country of origin): 23,382 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 209,168 (mid-year 2021); note - individuals who were Latvian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants were recognized as Latvian citizens when the country's independence was restored in 1991; citizens of the former Soviet Union residing in Latvia who have neither Latvian nor other citizenship are considered non-citizens (officially there is no statelessness in Latvia) and are entitled to non-citizen passports; children born after Latvian independence to stateless parents are entitled to Latvian citizenship upon their parents' request; non-citizens cannot vote or hold certain government jobs and are exempt from military service but can travel visa-free in the EU under the Schengen accord like Latvian citizens; non-citizens can obtain naturalization if they have been permanent residents of Latvia for at least five years, pass tests in Latvian language and history, and know the words of the Latvian national anthem
Topic: Lebanonrefugees (country of origin): 479,537 (Palestinian refugees) (2020); 839,086 (Syria) (2022)
IDPs: 7,000 (2020)
stateless persons: undetermined (2016); note - tens of thousands of persons are stateless in Lebanon, including many Palestinian refugees and their descendants, Syrian Kurds denaturalized in Syria in 1962, children born to Lebanese women married to foreign or stateless men; most babies born to Syrian refugees, and Lebanese children whose births are unregistered
Topic: Liberiarefugees (country of origin): 8,054 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2022)
Topic: Libyarefugees (country of origin): 18,675 (Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 14,919 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 168,011 (conflict between pro-QADHAFI and anti-QADHAFI forces in 2011; post-QADHAFI tribal clashes 2014) (2022)
Topic: Lithuaniarefugees (country of origin): 53,913 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 2,721 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Luxembourgrefugees (country of origin): 5,300 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 194 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Malawirefugees (country of origin): 33,606 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 12,377 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers), 7,526 (Rwanda) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
Topic: Malaysiarefugees (country of origin): 120,126 (Burma) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: 112,003 (mid-year 2021); note - Malaysia's stateless population consists of Rohingya refugees from Burma, ethnic Indians, and the children of Filipino and Indonesian illegal migrants; Burma stripped the Rohingya of their nationality in 1982; Filipino and Indonesian children who have not been registered for birth certificates by their parents or who received birth certificates stamped "foreigner" are not eligible to attend government schools; these children are vulnerable to statelessness should they not be able to apply to their parents' country of origin for passports
Topic: Malirefugees (country of origin): 17,124 (Burkina Faso), 14,951 (Mauritania), 12,845 (Niger) (2022)
IDPs: 350,110 (Tuareg rebellion since 2012) (2021)
Topic: Maltastateless persons: 11 (mid-year 2021)
note: 8,120 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-April 2022)
Topic: Mauritaniarefugees (country of origin): 26,001 (Sahrawis) (mid-year 2021); 84,526 (Mali) (2022)
Topic: Mexicorefugees (country of origin): 22,254 (Honduras), 10,662 (El Salvador) (mid-year 2021); 82,976 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
IDPs: 357,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region; drug cartel violence and government's military response since 2007; violence between and within indigenous groups) (2020)
stateless persons: 13 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Moldovarefugees (country of origin): 494,421 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 9 June 2022)
stateless persons: 3,372 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Mongoliastateless persons: 17 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Montenegrorefugees (country of origin): 7,355 (Ukraine) (as of 30 May 2022)
stateless persons: 458 (mid-year 2021)
note: 21,794 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-June 2022)
Topic: Mozambiquerefugees (country of origin): 10,911 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,558 (Burundi) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 881,047 (violence between the government and an opposition group, violence associated with extremists groups in 2018, political violence 2019) (2022)
Topic: Namibiarefugees (country of origin): 5,883 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
Topic: Naurustateless persons: 133 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Nepalrefugees (country of origin): 12,540 (Tibet/China), 6,365 (Bhutan) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: undetermined (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Netherlandsrefugees (country of origin): 37,792 (Syria), 14,787 (Eritrea), 8,368 (Somalia), 6,636 (Iraq), 5,346 (Iran) (mid-year 2021); 62,970 (Ukraine) (as of 6 June 2022)
stateless persons: 2,087 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Nigerrefugees (country of origin): 187,139 (Nigeria), 62,077 (Mali) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 264,257 (includes the regions of Diffa, Tillaberi, and Tahoua; unknown how many of the 11,000 people displaced by clashes between government forces and the Tuareg militant group, Niger Movement for Justice, in 2007 are still displaced; inter-communal violence; Boko Haram attacks in southern Niger, 2015) (2022)
Topic: Nigeriarefugees (country of origin): 77,878 (Cameroon) (2022)
IDPs: 3,030,544 (northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2022)
Topic: North Macedoniastateless persons: 553 (mid-year 2021)
note: 533,438 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-May 2022)
Topic: Norwayrefugees (country of origin): 15,542 (Syria), 11,965 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2021); 16,708 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 4,154 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Omanrefugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Yemen) (2017)
Topic: Pakistanrefugees (country of origin): 2.74-3 million (1.4 million registered, 1.34-1.6 million undocumented or otherwise categorized) (Afghanistan) (2022)
IDPs: 104,000 (primarily those who remain displaced by counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations and violent conflict between armed non-state groups in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber-Paktunkwa Province; more than 1 million displaced in northern Waziristan in 2014; individuals also have been displaced by repeated monsoon floods) (2020)
stateless persons: 47 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Panamarefugees (country of origin): 80,021 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Topic: Papua New Guinearefugees (country of origin): 11,601 (Indonesia) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 14,000 (natural disasters, tribal conflict, inter-communal violence, development projects) (2020)
stateless persons: 9 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Paraguayrefugees (country of origin): 5,900 (Venezuela) (2022)
Topic: Perurefugees (country of origin): 1,286,434 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions; as of 2011, no new information on the situation of these IDPs) (2020)
Topic: PhilippinesIDPs: 153,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; armed attacks, political violence, and communal tensions in Mindanao) (2020)
stateless persons: 392 (mid-year 2021); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants
Topic: Polandrefugees (country of origin): 9,870 (Russia) (2019); 3,954,957 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 13 June 2022)
stateless persons: 1,389 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Portugalrefugees (country of origin): 41,456 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 45 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Qatarstateless persons: 1,200 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Romaniarefugees (country of origin): 642,159 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 13 June 2022)
stateless persons: 314 (mid-year 2021)
note: 10,157 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-June 2022)
Topic: Russiarefugees (country of origin): 1,136,243 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 9 June 2022)
stateless persons: 56,960 (mid-year 2021); note - Russia's stateless population consists of Roma, Meskhetian Turks, and ex-Soviet citizens from the former republics; between 2003 and 2010 more than 600,000 stateless people were naturalized; most Meskhetian Turks, followers of Islam with origins in Georgia, fled or were evacuated from Uzbekistan after a 1989 pogrom and have lived in Russia for more than the required five-year residency period; they continue to be denied registration for citizenship and basic rights by local Krasnodar Krai authorities on the grounds that they are temporary illegal migrants
Topic: Rwandarefugees (country of origin): 77,288 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 48,123 (Burundi) (2022)
stateless persons: 9,500 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Saudi Arabiastateless persons: 70,000 (mid-year 2021); note - thousands of biduns (stateless Arabs) are descendants of nomadic tribes who were not officially registered when national borders were established, while others migrated to Saudi Arabia in search of jobs; some have temporary identification cards that must be renewed every five years, but their rights remain restricted; most Palestinians have only legal resident status; some naturalized Yemenis were made stateless after being stripped of their passports when Yemen backed Iraq in its invasion of Kuwait in 1990; Saudi women cannot pass their citizenship on to their children, so if they marry a non-national, their children risk statelessness
Topic: Senegalrefugees (country of origin): 18,375 (Mauritania) (2022)
IDPs: 8,400 (2020)
Topic: Serbiarefugees (country of origin): 17,336 (Croatia), 7,997 (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (mid-year 2021); 7,704 (Ukraine) (includes Kosovo; as of 7 June 2022)
IDPs: 196,995 (most are Kosovar Serbs, some are Roma, Ashkalis, and Egyptian (RAE); some RAE IDPs are unregistered) (2021)
stateless persons: 2,113 (includes stateless persons in Kosovo) (mid-year 2021)
note: 837,861 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-June 2022); Serbia is predominantly a transit country and hosts an estimated 4,650 migrants and asylum seekers as of February 2022
Topic: Sierra LeoneIDPs: 5,500 (displacement caused by post-electoral violence in 2018 and clashes in the Pujehun region in 2019) (2020)
Topic: Singaporestateless persons: 1,109 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Slovakiarefugees (country of origin): 501,335 (border crossings from Ukraine as of 13 June 2022)
stateless persons: 1,532 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Sloveniarefugees (country of origin): 6,937 (Ukraine) (as of 1 June 2022)
stateless persons: 10 (2020)
note: 538,973 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-April 2022)
Topic: Somaliarefugees (country of origin): 6,979 (Yemen) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 2.968 million (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources; 2011 famine; insecurity because of fighting between al-Shabaab and the Transitional Federal Government's allied forces) (2022)
Topic: South Africarefugees (country of origin): 23,054 (Somalia), 15,629 (Ethiopia) (mid-year 2021); 56,735 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022)
IDPs: 5,000 (2020)
Topic: South Sudanrefugees (country of origin): 311,819 (Sudan), 18,407 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2022)
IDPs: 1,436,000 (alleged coup attempt and ethnic conflict beginning in December 2013; information is lacking on those displaced in earlier years by: fighting in Abyei between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) in May 2011; clashes between the SPLA and dissident militia groups in South Sudan; inter-ethnic conflicts over resources and cattle; attacks from the Lord's Resistance Army; floods and drought) (2020)
stateless persons: 10,000 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Spainrefugees (country of origin): 14,823 (Syria) (mid-year 2021); 418,200 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021); 118,199 (Ukraine) (as of 5 June 2022)
stateless persons: 6,.92 (mid-year 2021)
note: 260,873 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals, including Canary Islands (January 2015-June 2022)
Topic: Sri LankaIDPs: 27,000 (civil war; more than half displaced prior to 2008; many of the more than 480,000 IDPs registered as returnees have not reached durable solutions) (2020)
Topic: Sudanrefugees (country of origin): 805,989 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 128,996 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,482 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 73,335 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 28,033 (Central African Republic) (2022)
IDPs: 2,276,000 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2020)
Topic: Swedenrefugees (country of origin): 114,995 (Syria), 28,744 (Afghanistan), 26,911 (Eritrea), 11,574 (Somalia), 11,153 (Iraq), 7,516 (Iran) (2020); 39,592 (Ukraine) (as of 25 May 2022)
stateless persons: 50,098 (mid-year 2021); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia
Topic: Switzerlandrefugees (country of origin): 38,219 (Eritrea), 20,043 (Syria), 14,649 (Afghanistan), 6,069 (Sri Lanka), 6,197 (Turkey) (mid-year 2021); 53,120 (Ukraine) (as of 7 June 2022)
stateless persons: 684 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Syriarefugees (country of origin): 568,730 (Palestinian Refugees) (2020); 12,435 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021)
IDPs: 6.662 million (ongoing civil war since 2011) (2021)
stateless persons: 160,000 (mid-year 2021); note - Syria's stateless population consists of Kurds and Palestinians; stateless persons are prevented from voting, owning land, holding certain jobs, receiving food subsidies or public healthcare, enrolling in public schools, or being legally married to Syrian citizens; in 1962, some 120,000 Syrian Kurds were stripped of their Syrian citizenship, rendering them and their descendants stateless; in 2011, the Syrian Government granted citizenship to thousands of Syrian Kurds as a means of appeasement; however, resolving the question of statelessness is not a priority given Syria's ongoing civil war
note: the ongoing civil war has resulted in more than 5.7 million registered Syrian refugees - dispersed in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey - as of June 2022
Topic: Tajikistanrefugees (country of origin): 6,775 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2021)
stateless persons: 6,141 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Tanzaniarefugees (country of origin): 127,104 (Burundi), 80,599 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2022)
Topic: Thailandrefugees (country of origin): 91,349 (Burma) (2022)
IDPs: 41,000
stateless persons: 554,103 (mid-year 2021) (estimate represents stateless persons registered with the Thai Government; actual number may be as high as 3.5 million); note - about half of Thailand's northern hill tribe people do not have citizenship and make up the bulk of Thailand's stateless population; most lack documentation showing they or one of their parents were born in Thailand; children born to Burmese refugees are not eligible for Burmese or Thai citizenship and are stateless; most Chao Lay, maritime nomadic peoples, who travel from island to island in the Andaman Sea west of Thailand are also stateless; stateless Rohingya refugees from Burma are considered illegal migrants by Thai authorities and are detained in inhumane conditions or expelled; stateless persons are denied access to voting, property, education, employment, healthcare, and driving
note: Thai nationality was granted to more than 23,000 stateless persons between 2012 and 2016; in 2016, the Government of Thailand approved changes to its citizenship laws that could make 80,000 stateless persons eligible for citizenship, as part of its effort to achieve zero statelessness by 2024 (2018)
Topic: Togorefugees (country of origin): 8,391 (Ghana) (2022)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagorefugees (country of origin): 28,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2021)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)refugees (country of origin): 3,763,864 (Syria) (2022); 85,000 (Ukraine) (as of 25 April 2022)
IDPs: 1.099 million (displaced from 1984-2005 because of fighting between the Kurdish PKK and Turkish military; most IDPs are Kurds from eastern and southeastern provinces; no information available on persons displaced by development projects) (2020)
stateless persons: 117 (2018)
Topic: Turkmenistanstateless persons: 4,107 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Ugandarefugees (country of origin): 951,713 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 462,120 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 42,036 (Burundi), 56,894 (Somalia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 25,915 (Rwanda), 22,505 (Eritrea) (2022)
Topic: UkraineIDPs: 1,461,700 (Russian-sponsored separatist violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine) (2021); 6.48 million (Russian invasion), according to the UN (2022); note – the more recent invasion total may reflect some double counting, since it is impossible to determine how many of the recent IDPs may also include IDPs from the earlier Russian-sponsored violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine
stateless persons: 35,875 (mid-year 2021); note - citizens of the former USSR who were permanently resident in Ukraine were granted citizenship upon Ukraine's independence in 1991, but some missed this window of opportunity; people arriving after 1991, Crimean Tatars, ethnic Koreans, people with expired Soviet passports, and people with no documents have difficulty acquiring Ukrainian citizenship; following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, thousands of Crimean Tatars and their descendants deported from Ukraine under the STALIN regime returned to their homeland, some being stateless and others holding the citizenship of Uzbekistan or other former Soviet republics; a 1998 bilateral agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan simplified the process of renouncing Uzbek citizenship and obtaining Ukrainian citizenship1,461,700 (Russian-sponsored separatist violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine) (2021); 6.48 million (Russian invasion), according to the UN (2022); note – the more recent invasion total may reflect some double counting, since it is impossible to determine how many of the recent IDPs may also include IDPs from the earlier Russian-sponsored violence in Crimea and eastern Ukraine
Topic: United Arab Emiratesstateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: United Kingdomrefugees (country of origin): 21,011 (Iran), 14,503 (Eritrea), 11,251 (Sudan), 11,412 (Syria), 9,469 (Afghanistan), 8,357 (Pakistan), 6,933 (Iraq), 5,200 (Sri Lanka) (2020); 37,400 (Ukraine) (as of 3 May 2022)
stateless persons: 3,968 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: United Statesrefugees (country of origin): the US admitted 11,411 refugees during FY2021 including: 4,891 (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 1,246 (Syria), 872 (Afghanistan), 803 (Ukraine), 772 (Burma), 513 (Sudan)
stateless persons: 47 (mid-year 2021)
note: 72,722 Venezuelans have claimed asylum since 2014 because of the economic and political crisis (2018)
Topic: Uruguayrefugees (country of origin): 19,000 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum or have received alternative legal stay) (2022)
stateless persons: 5 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Uzbekistanstateless persons: 59,136 (mid-year 2021)
Topic: Venezuelarefugees (country of origin): 67,935 (Colombia) (2020)
note: As of December 2020, more than 800,000 Venezuelans have applied for asylum worldwide
Topic: Vietnamstateless persons: 30,581 (mid-year 2021); note - Vietnam's stateless ethnic Chinese Cambodian population dates to the 1970s when thousands of Cambodians fled to Vietnam to escape the Khmer Rouge and were no longer recognized as Cambodian citizens; Vietnamese women who gave up their citizenship to marry foreign men have found themselves stateless after divorcing and returning home to Vietnam; the government addressed this problem in 2009, and Vietnamese women are beginning to reclaim their citizenship
Topic: West Bankrefugees (country of origin): 871,537 (Palestinian refugees) (2020)
IDPs: 131,000 (includes persons displaced within the Gaza strip due to the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since June 2014 and other Palestinian IDPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank who fled as long ago as 1967, although confirmed cumulative data do not go back beyond 2006) (2020)
data represent Gaza Strip and West Bank
Topic: Worldthe UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2020 there were 82.4 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 48 million conflict IDPs, 26.4 million refugees, 4.1 million asylum seekers, and 3.9 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently at least 10 million stateless personsthe UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2020 there were 82.4 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 48 million conflict IDPs, 26.4 million refugees, 4.1 million asylum seekers, and 3.9 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently at least 10 million stateless persons
Topic: Yemenrefugees (country of origin): 68,986 (Somalia), 17,705 (Ethiopia) (2022)
IDPs: 4,288,739 (conflict in Sa'ada Governorate; clashes between al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula and government forces) (2022)
Topic: Zambiarefugees (country of origin): 66,675 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,240 (Burundi) (2022)
Topic: Zimbabwerefugees (country of origin): 11,344 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 8,247 (Mozambique) (2022) |
20220901 | countries-saint-kitts-and-nevis-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in St. Kitts and Nevis. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 89 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000; US Embassy in Bridgetown, Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, WI; BridgetownACS@state.gov;
https://bb.usembassy.gov
Telephone Code: 869
Local Emergency Phone: 911
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Currency (Code): East Caribbean dollars (XCD)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): D, G
Major Languages: English
Major Religions: Protestant 74.4%, Roman Catholic 6.7%, Rastafarian 1.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%
Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Yes, but some opt for bottled water outside the cities
International Driving Permit: Suggested; additionally, traveler will need to present their US driver's license & IDP to local police to pay a special registration fee
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park; National Museum; Alexander Hamilton House; Mount Liamuiga Volcano; Clay Villa Plantation House & Gardens; Timothy Hill Overlook; Romney Manor
Major Sports: Cricket, rugby, netball, soccer, cue sports
Cultural Practices: Avoid wearing shorts except on the beach. Professional, modest attire is expected in a business setting.
Tipping Guidelines: Most hotels and restaurants add a service charge of 10% to cover tipping. If not, add a tip of 10-15% of the total bill.
Souvenirs: Conch-shell and coconut-shell decorative items, leather goods, batik fabric, jewelry, pottery and glass artPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Tuesday, May 10, 2022 |
20220901 | field-geographic-coordinates | This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
Topic: Afghanistan33 00 N, 65 00 E
Topic: Akrotiri34 37 N, 32 58 E
Topic: Albania41 00 N, 20 00 E
Topic: Algeria28 00 N, 3 00 E
Topic: American Samoa14 20 S, 170 00 W
Topic: Andorra42 30 N, 1 30 E
Topic: Angola12 30 S, 18 30 E
Topic: Anguilla18 15 N, 63 10 W
Topic: Antarctica90 00 S, 0 00 E
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda17 03 N, 61 48 W
Topic: Arctic Ocean90 00 N, 0 00 E
Topic: Argentina34 00 S, 64 00 W
Topic: Armenia40 00 N, 45 00 E
Topic: Aruba12 30 N, 69 58 W
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islands12 25 S, 123 20 E
note - Ashmore Reef - 12 14 S, 123 05 E; Cartier Islet - 12 32 S, 123 32 E
Topic: Atlantic Ocean0 00 N, 25 00 W
Topic: Australia27 00 S, 133 00 E
Topic: Austria47 20 N, 13 20 E
Topic: Azerbaijan40 30 N, 47 30 E
Topic: Bahamas, The24 15 N, 76 00 W
Topic: Bahrain26 00 N, 50 33 E
Topic: Bangladesh24 00 N, 90 00 E
Topic: Barbados13 10 N, 59 32 W
Topic: Belarus53 00 N, 28 00 E
Topic: Belgium50 50 N, 4 00 E
Topic: Belize17 15 N, 88 45 W
Topic: Benin9 30 N, 2 15 E
Topic: Bermuda32 20 N, 64 45 W
Topic: Bhutan27 30 N, 90 30 E
Topic: Bolivia17 00 S, 65 00 W
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina44 00 N, 18 00 E
Topic: Botswana22 00 S, 24 00 E
Topic: Bouvet Island54 26 S, 3 24 E
Topic: Brazil10 00 S, 55 00 W
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territory6 00 S, 71 30 E;note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Topic: British Virgin Islands18 30 N, 64 30 W
Topic: Brunei4 30 N, 114 40 E
Topic: Bulgaria43 00 N, 25 00 E
Topic: Burkina Faso13 00 N, 2 00 W
Topic: Burma22 00 N, 98 00 E
Topic: Burundi3 30 S, 30 00 E
Topic: Cabo Verde16 00 N, 24 00 W
Topic: Cambodia13 00 N, 105 00 E
Topic: Cameroon6 00 N, 12 00 E
Topic: Canada60 00 N, 95 00 W
Topic: Cayman Islands19 30 N, 80 30 W
Topic: Central African Republic7 00 N, 21 00 E
Topic: Chad15 00 N, 19 00 E
Topic: Chile30 00 S, 71 00 W
Topic: China35 00 N, 105 00 E
Topic: Christmas Island10 30 S, 105 40 E
Topic: Clipperton Island10 17 N, 109 13 W
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands12 30 S, 96 50 E
Topic: Colombia4 00 N, 72 00 W
Topic: Comoros12 10 S, 44 15 E
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the0 00 N, 25 00 E
Topic: Congo, Republic of the1 00 S, 15 00 E
Topic: Cook Islands21 14 S, 159 46 W
Topic: Coral Sea Islands18 00 S, 152 00 E
Topic: Costa Rica10 00 N, 84 00 W
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire8 00 N, 5 00 W
Topic: Croatia45 10 N, 15 30 E
Topic: Cuba21 30 N, 80 00 W
Topic: Curacao12 10 N, 69 00 W12 10 N, 69 00 W
Topic: Cyprus35 00 N, 33 00 E
Topic: Czechia49 45 N, 15 30 E
Topic: Denmark56 00 N, 10 00 E
Topic: Dhekelia34 59 N, 33 45 E
Topic: Djibouti11 30 N, 43 00 E
Topic: Dominica15 25 N, 61 20 W
Topic: Dominican Republic19 00 N, 70 40 W
Topic: Ecuador2 00 S, 77 30 W
Topic: Egypt27 00 N, 30 00 E
Topic: El Salvador13 50 N, 88 55 W
Topic: Equatorial Guinea2 00 N, 10 00 E
Topic: Eritrea15 00 N, 39 00 E
Topic: Estonia59 00 N, 26 00 E
Topic: Eswatini26 30 S, 31 30 E
Topic: Ethiopia8 00 N, 38 00 E
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)51 45 S, 59 00 W
Topic: Faroe Islands62 00 N, 7 00 W
Topic: Fiji18 00 S, 175 00 E
Topic: Finland64 00 N, 26 00 E
Topic: Francemetropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E; French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W; Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W; Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W; Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E; Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 Emetropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E; French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W; Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W; Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W; Mayotte: 12 50 S, 45 10 E; Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Topic: French Polynesia15 00 S, 140 00 W
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 EIle Amsterdam (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 37 50 S, 77 32 E; Ile Saint-Paul (Ile Amsterdam et Ile Saint-Paul): 38 72 S, 77 53 E; Iles Crozet: 46 25 S, 51 00 E; Iles Kerguelen: 49 15 S, 69 35 E; Bassas da India (Iles Eparses): 21 30 S, 39 50 E; Europa Island (Iles Eparses): 22 20 S, 40 22 E; Glorioso Islands (Iles Eparses): 11 30 S, 47 20 E; Juan de Nova Island (Iles Eparses): 17 03 S, 42 45 E; Tromelin Island (Iles Eparses): 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Topic: Gabon1 00 S, 11 45 E
Topic: Gambia, The13 28 N, 16 34 W
Topic: Gaza Strip31 25 N, 34 20 E
Topic: Georgia42 00 N, 43 30 E
Topic: Germany51 00 N, 9 00 E
Topic: Ghana8 00 N, 2 00 W
Topic: Gibraltar36 08 N, 5 21 W
Topic: Greece39 00 N, 22 00 E
Topic: Greenland72 00 N, 40 00 W
Topic: Grenada12 07 N, 61 40 W
Topic: Guam13 28 N, 144 47 E
Topic: Guatemala15 30 N, 90 15 W
Topic: Guernsey49 28 N, 2 35 W
Topic: Guinea11 00 N, 10 00 W
Topic: Guinea-Bissau12 00 N, 15 00 W
Topic: Guyana5 00 N, 59 00 W
Topic: Haiti19 00 N, 72 25 W
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islands53 06 S, 72 31 E
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)41 54 N, 12 27 E
Topic: Honduras15 00 N, 86 30 W
Topic: Hong Kong22 15 N, 114 10 E
Topic: Hungary47 00 N, 20 00 E
Topic: Iceland65 00 N, 18 00 W
Topic: India20 00 N, 77 00 E
Topic: Indian Ocean20 00 S, 80 00 E
Topic: Indonesia5 00 S, 120 00 E
Topic: Iran32 00 N, 53 00 E
Topic: Iraq33 00 N, 44 00 E
Topic: Ireland53 00 N, 8 00 W
Topic: Isle of Man54 15 N, 4 30 W
Topic: Israel31 30 N, 34 45 E
Topic: Italy42 50 N, 12 50 E
Topic: Jamaica18 15 N, 77 30 W
Topic: Jan Mayen71 00 N, 8 00 W
Topic: Japan36 00 N, 138 00 E
Topic: Jersey49 15 N, 2 10 W
Topic: Jordan31 00 N, 36 00 E
Topic: Kazakhstan48 00 N, 68 00 E
Topic: Kenya1 00 N, 38 00 E
Topic: Kiribati1 25 N, 173 00 E
Topic: Korea, North40 00 N, 127 00 E
Topic: Korea, South37 00 N, 127 30 E
Topic: Kosovo42 35 N, 21 00 E
Topic: Kuwait29 30 N, 45 45 E
Topic: Kyrgyzstan41 00 N, 75 00 E
Topic: Laos18 00 N, 105 00 E
Topic: Latvia57 00 N, 25 00 E
Topic: Lebanon33 50 N, 35 50 E
Topic: Lesotho29 30 S, 28 30 E
Topic: Liberia6 30 N, 9 30 W
Topic: Libya25 00 N, 17 00 E
Topic: Liechtenstein47 16 N, 9 32 E
Topic: Lithuania56 00 N, 24 00 E
Topic: Luxembourg49 45 N, 6 10 E
Topic: Macau22 10 N, 113 33 E
Topic: Madagascar20 00 S, 47 00 E
Topic: Malawi13 30 S, 34 00 E
Topic: Malaysia2 30 N, 112 30 E
Topic: Maldives3 15 N, 73 00 E
Topic: Mali17 00 N, 4 00 W
Topic: Malta35 50 N, 14 35 E
Topic: Marshall Islands9 00 N, 168 00 E
Topic: Mauritania20 00 N, 12 00 W
Topic: Mauritius20 17 S, 57 33 E
Topic: Mexico23 00 N, 102 00 W
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of6 55 N, 158 15 E
Topic: Moldova47 00 N, 29 00 E
Topic: Monaco43 44 N, 7 24 E
Topic: Mongolia46 00 N, 105 00 E
Topic: Montenegro42 30 N, 19 18 E
Topic: Montserrat16 45 N, 62 12 W
Topic: Morocco28 30 N, 10 00 W
Topic: Mozambique18 15 S, 35 00 E
Topic: Namibia22 00 S, 17 00 E
Topic: Nauru0 32 S, 166 55 E
Topic: Navassa Island18 25 N, 75 02 W
Topic: Nepal28 00 N, 84 00 E
Topic: Netherlands52 31 N, 5 46 E
Topic: New Caledonia21 30 S, 165 30 E
Topic: New Zealand41 00 S, 174 00 E
Topic: Nicaragua13 00 N, 85 00 W
Topic: Niger16 00 N, 8 00 E
Topic: Nigeria10 00 N, 8 00 E
Topic: Niue19 02 S, 169 52 W
Topic: Norfolk Island29 02 S, 167 57 E
Topic: North Macedonia41 50 N, 22 00 E
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands15 12 N, 145 45 E
Topic: Norway62 00 N, 10 00 E
Topic: Oman21 00 N, 57 00 E
Topic: Pacific Ocean0 00 N, 160 00 W
Topic: Pakistan30 00 N, 70 00 E
Topic: Palau7 30 N, 134 30 E
Topic: Panama9 00 N, 80 00 W
Topic: Papua New Guinea6 00 S, 147 00 E
Topic: Paracel Islands16 30 N, 112 00 E
Topic: Paraguay23 00 S, 58 00 W
Topic: Peru10 00 S, 76 00 W
Topic: Philippines13 00 N, 122 00 E
Topic: Pitcairn Islands25 04 S, 130 06 W
Topic: Poland52 00 N, 20 00 E
Topic: Portugal39 30 N, 8 00 W
Topic: Puerto Rico18 15 N, 66 30 W
Topic: Qatar25 30 N, 51 15 E
Topic: Romania46 00 N, 25 00 E
Topic: Russia60 00 N, 100 00 E
Topic: Rwanda2 00 S, 30 00 E
Topic: Saint Barthelemy17 90 N, 62 85 W
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaSaint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 WSaint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W; Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W; Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis17 20 N, 62 45 W
Topic: Saint Lucia13 53 N, 60 58 W
Topic: Saint Martin18 05 N, 63 57 W
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon46 50 N, 56 20 W
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines13 15 N, 61 12 W
Topic: Samoa13 35 S, 172 20 W
Topic: San Marino43 46 N, 12 25 E
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe1 00 N, 7 00 E
Topic: Saudi Arabia25 00 N, 45 00 E
Topic: Senegal14 00 N, 14 00 W
Topic: Serbia44 00 N, 21 00 E
Topic: Seychelles4 35 S, 55 40 E
Topic: Sierra Leone8 30 N, 11 30 W
Topic: Singapore1 22 N, 103 48 E
Topic: Sint Maarten18 4 N, 63 4 W18 4 N, 63 4 W
Topic: Slovakia48 40 N, 19 30 E
Topic: Slovenia46 07 N, 14 49 E
Topic: Solomon Islands8 00 S, 159 00 E
Topic: Somalia10 00 N, 49 00 E
Topic: South Africa29 00 S, 24 00 E
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands54 30 S, 37 00 W
Topic: South Sudan8 00 N, 30 00 E
Topic: Southern Ocean60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Topic: Spain40 00 N, 4 00 W
Topic: Spratly Islands8 38 N, 111 55 E
Topic: Sri Lanka7 00 N, 81 00 E
Topic: Sudan15 00 N, 30 00 E
Topic: Suriname4 00 N, 56 00 W
Topic: Svalbard78 00 N, 20 00 E
Topic: Sweden62 00 N, 15 00 E
Topic: Switzerland47 00 N, 8 00 E
Topic: Syria35 00 N, 38 00 E
Topic: Taiwan23 30 N, 121 00 E
Topic: Tajikistan39 00 N, 71 00 E
Topic: Tanzania6 00 S, 35 00 E
Topic: Thailand15 00 N, 100 00 E
Topic: Timor-Leste8 50 S, 125 55 E
Topic: Togo8 00 N, 1 10 E
Topic: Tokelau9 00 S, 172 00 W
Topic: Tonga20 00 S, 175 00 W
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago11 00 N, 61 00 W
Topic: Tunisia34 00 N, 9 00 E
Topic: Turkey39 00 N, 35 00 E
Topic: Turkmenistan40 00 N, 60 00 E
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands21 45 N, 71 35 W
Topic: Tuvalu8 00 S, 178 00 E
Topic: Uganda1 00 N, 32 00 E
Topic: Ukraine49 00 N, 32 00 E
Topic: United Arab Emirates24 00 N, 54 00 E
Topic: United Kingdom54 00 N, 2 00 W
Topic: United States38 00 N, 97 00 W
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W; Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W; Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W; Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W; Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W; Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W; Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 WBaker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W; Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W; Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W; Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W; Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W; Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W; Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W
Topic: Uruguay33 00 S, 56 00 W
Topic: Uzbekistan41 00 N, 64 00 E
Topic: Vanuatu16 00 S, 167 00 E
Topic: Venezuela8 00 N, 66 00 W
Topic: Vietnam16 10 N, 107 50 E
Topic: Virgin Islands18 20 N, 64 50 W
Topic: Wake Island19 17 N, 166 39 E
Topic: Wallis and Futuna13 18 S, 176 12 W
Topic: West Bank32 00 N, 35 15 E
Topic: Yemen15 00 N, 48 00 E
Topic: Zambia15 00 S, 30 00 E
Topic: Zimbabwe20 00 S, 30 00 E |
20220901 | countries-maldives-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Maldives due to terrorism. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 30 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Maldives; US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, is accredited to both countries; US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the Embassy to Sri Lanka +94 (11) 249-8500; US Embassy Colombo, 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka; colomboacs@state.gov; https://lk.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 960
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 102; Fire: 999; Police: 119
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)
Currency (Code): Rufiyaa (MVR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, D, G, J, K, L
Major Languages: Dhivehi, English
Major Religions: Sunni Muslim
Time Difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: National Museum; Sultan Park; Tsunami Monument; Republic Square; Rasfannu; Male Waterfront; Friday Mosque; Muleeaage Palace
Major Sports: Soccer, tennis, baseball, badminton, basketball, table tennis
Cultural Practices: While beachwear is acceptable in resorts, it is typically frowned upon in other locations.
Tipping Guidelines: If staying in a hotel for a few days or more and the staff has demonstrated good service, a gratuity of $2 (USD) per day is suggested. Tipping guides $10 (USD) per day is appropriate.
Souvenirs: Hand-woven wicker and reed mats, woven baskets, shell and stone jewelry, tree-sap-carved lacquered boxes and other carved wooden items
Traditional Cuisine: Garudiya — a clear fish (typically tuna) brothPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 |
20220901 | field-environment-current-issues | This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.
Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.
Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.
Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."
Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the roughly 150,000 Inuits of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.
Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.
Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.
Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment.
Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.
Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
Waterborne diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.
Topic: Afghanistanlimited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution in overcrowded urban areas
Topic: Akrotirihunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Topic: Albaniadeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents; air pollution from industrial and power plants; loss of biodiversity due to lack of resources for sound environmental management
Topic: Algeriaair pollution in major cities; soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water
Topic: American Samoalimited supply of drinking water; pollution; waste disposal; coastal and stream alteration; soil erosion
Topic: Andorradeforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Topic: Angolaoveruse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
Topic: Anguillasupplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Topic: Antarcticathe discovery of a large Antarctic ozone hole in the earth's stratosphere (the ozone layer) - first announced in 1985 - spurred the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an international agreement phasing out the use of ozone-depleting chemicals; the ozone layer prevents most harmful wavelengths of ultra-violet (UV) light from passing through the earth's atmosphere; ozone depletion has been shown to harm a variety of Antarctic marine plants and animals (plankton); in 2016, a gradual trend toward "healing" of the ozone hole was reported; since the 1990s, satellites have shown accelerating ice loss driven by ocean change; although considerable uncertainty remains, scientists are increasing our understanding and ability to model potential impacts of ice loss
Topic: Antigua and Barbudawater management - a major concern because of limited natural freshwater resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
Topic: Arctic Oceanclimate change; changes in biodiversity; use of toxic chemicals; endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack
Topic: Argentinaenvironmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation (erosion, salinization), desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
Topic: Armeniasoil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; deforestation; pollution of Hrazdan and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone
Topic: Arubadifficulty in properly disposing of waste produced by large numbers of tourists; waste burning that occurs in the landfill causes air pollution and poses an environmental and health risk; ocean environmental damage due to plastic pollution
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsillegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems; sea level rise, changes in sea temperature, and ocean acidification are concerns; marine debris
Topic: Atlantic Oceanendangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; unsustainable exploitation of fisheries (over fishing, bottom trawling, drift net fishing, discards, catch of non-target species); pollution (maritime transport, discharges, offshore drilling, oil spills); municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Topic: Australiasoil erosion from overgrazing, deforestation, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; limited natural freshwater resources; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; drought, desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; disruption of the fragile ecosystem has resulted in significant floral extinctions; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; overfishing, pollution, and invasive species are also problems
Topic: Austriasome forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe; water pollution; the Danube, as well as some of Austria’s other rivers and lakes, are threatened by pollution
Topic: Azerbaijanlocal scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton; surface and underground water are polluted by untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and agricultural run-off
Topic: Bahamas, Thecoral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Topic: Bahraindesertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs); lowered water table leaves aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination; desalinization provides some 90% of the country's freshwater
Topic: Bangladeshmany people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; destruction of wetlands; severe overpopulation with noise pollution
Topic: Barbadospollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Topic: Belarussoil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine
Topic: Belgiumintense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries
Topic: Belizedeforestation; water pollution, including pollution of Belize's Barrier Reef System, from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; inability to properly dispose of solid waste
Topic: Benininadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification (the spread of the desert into agricultural lands in the north is accelerated by regular droughts)
Topic: Bermudadense population and heavy vehicle traffic create serious congestion and air pollution problems; water resources scarce (most obtained as rainwater or from wells); solid waste disposal; hazardous waste disposal; sewage disposal; overfishing; oil spills
Topic: Bhutansoil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
Topic: Boliviathe clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinaair pollution; deforestation and illegal logging; inadequate wastewater treatment and flood management facilities; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; land mines left over from the 1992-95 civil strife are a hazard in some areas
Topic: Botswanaovergrazing; desertification; limited freshwater resources; air pollution
Topic: Bouvet Islandnone; almost entirely ice covered
Topic: Brazildeforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; illegal wildlife trade; illegal poaching; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territorywastewater discharge into the lagoon on Diego Garcia
Topic: British Virgin Islandslimited natural freshwater resources except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola; most of the islands' water supply comes from desalination plants; sewage and mining/industry waste contribute to water pollution, threatening coral reefs
Topic: Bruneino major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia
Topic: Bulgariaair pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes
Topic: Burkina Fasorecent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation (2019)
Topic: Burmadeforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease; rapid depletion of the country's natural resources
Topic: Burundisoil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Topic: Cabo Verdedeforestation due to demand for firewood; water shortages; prolonged droughts and improper use of land (overgrazing, crop cultivation on hillsides lead to desertification and erosion); environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Topic: Cambodiaillegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing; coastal ecosystems choked by sediment washed loose from deforested areas inland
Topic: Cameroonwaterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation and overgrazing result in erosion, desertification, and reduced quality of pastureland; poaching; overfishing; overhunting
Topic: Canadametal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting agricultural and forest productivity; air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
Topic: Cayman Islandsno natural freshwater resources; drinking water supplies are met by reverse osmosis desalination plants and rainwater catchment; trash washing up on the beaches or being deposited there by residents; no recycling or waste treatment facilities; deforestation (trees being cut down to create space for commercial use)
Topic: Central African Republicwater pollution; tap water is not potable; poaching and mismanagement have diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation; soil erosion
Topic: Chadinadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas and poor farming practices contribute to soil and water pollution; desertification
Topic: Chileair pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; noise pollution; improper garbage disposal; soil degradation; widespread deforestation and mining threaten the environment; wildlife conservation
Topic: Chinaair pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; China is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; coastal destruction due to land reclamation, industrial development, and aquaculture; deforestation and habitat destruction; poor land management leads to soil erosion, landslides, floods, droughts, dust storms, and desertification; trade in endangered species
Topic: Christmas Islandloss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Topic: Clipperton Islandno natural resources, guano deposits depleted; the ring-shaped atoll encloses a stagnant fresh-water lagoon
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsfreshwater resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs; illegal fishing a concern
Topic: Colombiadeforestation resulting from timber exploitation in the jungles of the Amazon and the region of Chocó; illicit drug crops grown by peasants in the national parks; soil erosion; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Topic: Comorosdeforestation; soil degradation and erosion results from forest loss and from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; marine biodiversity affected as soil erosion leads to the silting of coral reefs
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thepoaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation (forests endangered by fires set to clean the land for agricultural purposes; forests also used as a source of fuel); soil erosion; mining (diamonds, gold, coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors for electronic devices) causing environmental damage
Topic: Congo, Republic of theair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation; wildlife protection
Topic: Cook Islandslimited land presents solid and liquid waste disposal problems; soil destruction and deforestation; environmental degradation due to indiscriminant use of pesticides; improper disposal of pollutants; overfishing and destructive fishing practices; over dredging of lagoons and coral rubble beds; unregulated building
Topic: Coral Sea Islandsno permanent freshwater resources; damaging activities include coral mining, destructive fishing practices (overfishing, blast fishing)
Topic: Costa Ricadeforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution
Topic: Cote d'Ivoiredeforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage, and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents
Topic: Croatiaair pollution improving but still a concern in urban settings and in emissions arriving from neighboring countries; surface water pollution in the Danube River Basin
Topic: Cubasoil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters) are the main environmental problems; biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution
Topic: Curacaoproblems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; the refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela; it has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls; the release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly closeproblems in waste management that threaten environmental sustainability on the island include pollution of marine areas from domestic sewage, inadequate sewage treatment facilities, industrial effluents and agricultural runoff, the mismanagement of toxic substances, and ineffective regulations; the refinery in Sint Anna Bay, at the eastern edge of Willemstad’s large natural harbor, processes heavy crude oil from Venezuela; it has caused significant environmental damage to the surrounding area because of neglect and a lack of strict environmental controls; the release of noxious fumes and potentially hazardous particles causes schools downwind to regularly close
Topic: Cypruswater resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage, industrial wastes, and pesticides; coastal degradation; erosion; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Topic: Czechiaair and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; land pollution caused by industry, mining, and agriculture
Topic: Denmarkair pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides; much of country's household and industrial waste is recycled
Topic: Dhekelianetting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Topic: Djiboutiinadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution; limited arable land; deforestation (forests threatened by agriculture and the use of wood for fuel); desertification; endangered species
Topic: Dominicawater shortages a continuing concern; pollution from agrochemicals and from untreated sewage; forests endangered by the expansion of farming; soil erosion; pollution of the coastal zone by agricultural and industrial chemicals, and untreated sewage
Topic: Dominican Republicwater shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
Topic: Ecuadordeforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Topic: Egyptagricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
Topic: El Salvadordeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Topic: Equatorial Guineadeforestation (forests are threatened by agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution (tap water is non-potable); wildlife preservation
Topic: Eritreadeforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing
Topic: Estoniaair polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations
Topic: Eswatinilimited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; population growth, deforestation, and overgrazing lead to soil erosion and soil degradation
Topic: Ethiopiadeforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; loss of biodiversity; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management; industrial pollution and pesticides contribute to air, water, and soil pollution
Topic: European Unionvarious forms of air, soil, and water pollution; see individual country entries
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires
Topic: Faroe Islandscoastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
Topic: Fijithe widespread practice of waste incineration is a major contributor to air pollution in the country, as are vehicle emissions in urban areas; deforestation and soil erosion are significant problems; a contributory factor to erosion is clearing of land by bush burning, a widespread practie that threatens biodiversity
Topic: Finlandlimited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Topic: Francesome forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Topic: French Polynesiasea level rise; extreme weather events (cyclones, storms, and tsunamis producing floods, landslides, erosion, and reef damage); droughts; fresh water scarcity
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsintroduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen
Topic: Gabondeforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging); burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste; oil industry contributing to water pollution; wildlife poaching
Topic: Gambia, Thedeforestation due to slash-and-burn agriculture; desertification; water pollution; water-borne diseases
Topic: Gaza Stripsoil degradation; desertification; water pollution from chemicals and pesticides; salination of fresh water; improper sewage treatment; water-borne disease; depletion and contamination of underground water resources
Topic: Georgiaair pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy water pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals; land and forest degradation; biodiversity loss; waste management
Topic: Germanyemissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power by 2022; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive
Topic: Ghanarecurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Topic: Gibraltarlimited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services
Topic: Greeceair pollution; air emissions from transport and electricity power stations; water pollution; degradation of coastal zones; loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems; increasing municipal and industrial waste
Topic: Greenlandespecially vulnerable to climate change and disruption of the Arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Topic: Grenadadeforestation causing habitat destruction and species loss; coastal erosion and contamination; pollution and sedimentation; inadequate solid waste management
Topic: Guamfresh water scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; extermination of native bird populations by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Topic: Guatemaladeforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Topic: Guernseycoastal erosion, coastal flooding; declining biodiversity due to land abandonment and succession to scrub or woodland
Topic: Guineadeforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal
Topic: Guinea-Bissaudeforestation (rampant felling of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Topic: Guyanawater pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Topic: Haitiextensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; overpopulation leads to inadequate supplies of potable water and and a lack of sanitation; natural disasters
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsnone; uninhabited and mostly ice covered
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)some air pollution from the surrounding city of Rome
Topic: Hondurasurban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals
Topic: Hong Kongair and water pollution from rapid urbanization; urban waste pollution; industrial pollution
Topic: Hungaryair and water pollution are some of Hungary's most serious environmental problems; water quality in the Hungarian part of the Danube has improved but is still plagued by pollutants from industry and large-scale agriculture; soil pollution
Topic: Icelandwater pollution from fertilizer runoff
Topic: Indiadeforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources; preservation and quality of forests; biodiversity loss
Topic: Indian Oceanmarine pollution caused by ocean dumping, waste disposal, and oil spills; deep sea mining; oil pollution in Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea; coral reefs threatened due climate change, direct human pressures, and inadequate governance, awareness, and political will; loss of biodiversity; endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales
Topic: Indonesialarge-scale deforestation (much of it illegal) and related wildfires cause heavy smog; over-exploitation of marine resources; environmental problems associated with rapid urbanization and economic development, including air pollution, traffic congestion, garbage management, and reliable water and waste water services; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage
Topic: Iranair pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization
Topic: Iraqgovernment water control projects drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification; military and industrial infrastructure has released heavy metals and other hazardous substances into the air, soil, and groundwater; major sources of environmental damage are effluents from oil refineries, factory and sewage discharges into rivers, fertilizer and chemical contamination of the soil, and industrial air pollution in urban areas
Topic: Irelandwater pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff; acid rain kills plants, destroys soil fertility, and contributes to deforestation
Topic: Isle of Manair pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial)
Topic: Israellimited arable land and restricted natural freshwater resources; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides
Topic: Italyair pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
Topic: Jamaicaheavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston from vehicle emissions; land erosion
Topic: Jan Mayenpollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds, ocean currents, and rivers accumulate in the food chains of native animals; climate change
Topic: Japanair pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere; following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan originally planned to phase out nuclear power, but it has now implemented a new policy of seeking to restart nuclear power plants that meet strict new safety standards; waste management is an ongoing issue; Japanese municipal facilities used to burn high volumes of trash, but air pollution issues forced the government to adopt an aggressive recycling policy
Topic: Jerseyhabitat and species depletion due to human encroachment; water pollution; improper solid waste disposal
Topic: Jordanlimited natural freshwater resources; declining water table; salinity; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; biodiversity and ecosystem damage/loss
Topic: Kazakhstanradioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; desertification; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Topic: Kenyawater pollution from urban and industrial wastes; water shortage and degraded water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; flooding; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Topic: Kiribatiheavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to overcrowding mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk; potential for water shortages, disease; coastal erosion
Topic: Korea, Northwater pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Topic: Korea, Southair pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing; solid waste disposal; transboundary pollution
Topic: Kosovoair pollution (pollution from power plants and nearby lignite mines take a toll on people's health); water scarcity and pollution; land degradation
Topic: Kuwaitlimited natural freshwater resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification; loss of biodiversity
Topic: Kyrgyzstanwater pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices; air pollution due to rapid increase of traffic
Topic: Laosunexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to potable water
Topic: Latviawhile land, water, and air pollution are evident, Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; improvements have occurred in drinking water quality, sewage treatment, household and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; concerns include nature protection and the management of water resources and the protection of the Baltic Sea
Topic: Lebanondeforestation; soil deterioration, erosion; desertification; species loss; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills; waste-water management
Topic: Lesothopopulation pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Topic: Liberiatropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste
Topic: Libyadesertification; limited natural freshwater resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, brings water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities; water pollution is a significant problem; the combined impact of sewage, oil byproducts, and industrial waste threatens Libya's coast and the Mediterranean Sea
Topic: Liechtensteinsome air pollution generated locally, some transfered from surrounding countries
Topic: Lithuaniawater pollution; air pollution; deforestation; threatened animal and plant species; chemicals and waste materials released into the environment contaminate soil and groundwater; soil degradation and erosion
Topic: Luxembourgair and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland; unsustainable patterns of consumption (transport, energy, recreation, space) threaten biodiversity and landscapes
Topic: Macauair pollution; coastal waters pollution; insufficient policies in reducing and recycling solid wastes; increasing population density worsening noise pollution
Topic: Madagascarerosion and soil degredation results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; agricultural fires; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; wildlife preservation (endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island)
Topic: Malawideforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations; negative effects of climate change (extreme high temperatures, changing precipatation pattens)
Topic: Malaysiaair pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires; endangered species; coastal reclamation damaging mangroves and turtle nesting sites
Topic: Maldivesdepletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; inadequate sewage treatment; coral reef bleaching
Topic: Malideforestation; soil erosion; desertification; loss of pasture land; inadequate supplies of potable water
Topic: Maltalimited natural freshwater resources; increasing reliance on desalination; deforestation; wildlife preservation
Topic: Marshall Islandsinadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea level rise
Topic: Mauritaniaovergrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural freshwater resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation
Topic: Mauritiuswater pollution, degradation of coral reefs; soil erosion; wildlife preservation; solid waste disposal
Topic: Mexicoscarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural freshwater resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofoverfishing; climate change; water pollution, toxic pollution from mining; solid waste disposal
Topic: Moldovaheavy use of agricultural chemicals, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion and declining soil fertility from poor farming methods
Topic: Monacono serious issues; actively monitors pollution levels in air and water
Topic: Mongolialimited natural freshwater resources in some areas; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws leads to air pollution in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation and overgrazing increase soil erosion from wind and rain; water pollution; desertification and mining activities have a deleterious effect on the environment
Topic: Montenegropollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; serious air pollution in Podgorica, Pljevlja and Niksie; air pollution in Pljevlja is caused by the nearby lignite power plant and the domestic use of coal and wood for household heating
Topic: Montserratland erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Topic: Moroccoin the north, land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water and soil pollution due to dumping of industrial wastes into the ocean and inland water sources, and onto the land; in the south, desertification; overgrazing; sparse water and lack of arable land
note: data does not include former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambiqueincreased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; soil erosion; deforestation; water pollution caused by artisanal mining; pollution of surface and coastal waters; wildlife preservation (elephant poaching for ivory)
Topic: Namibiadepletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching
Topic: Naurulimited natural freshwater resources, roof storage tanks that collect rainwater and desalination plants provide water; a century of intensive phosphate mining beginning in 1906 left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland; cadmium residue, phosphate dust, and other contaminants have caused air and water pollution with negative impacts on health; climate change has brought on rising sea levels and inland water shortages
Topic: Navassa Islandsome coral bleaching
Topic: Nepaldeforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); forest degradation; soil erosion; contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); unmanaged solid-waste; wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Topic: Netherlandswater and air pollution are significant environmental problems; pollution of the country's rivers from industrial and agricultural chemicals, including heavy metals, organic compounds, nitrates, and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities
Topic: New Caledoniapreservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
Topic: New Zealandwater quality and availability; rapid urbanisation; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species; negative effects of climate change
Topic: Nicaraguadeforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; drought
Topic: Nigerovergrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; contaminated water; inadequate potable water; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Topic: Nigeriaserious overpopulation and rapid urbanization have led to numerous environmental problems; urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; oil pollution - water, air, and soil have suffered serious damage from oil spills
Topic: Niueincreasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Topic: Norfolk Islandinadequate solid waste management; most freshwater obtained through rainwater catchment; preservation of unique ecosystem
Topic: North Macedoniaair pollution from metallurgical plants; Skopje has severe air pollution problems every winter as a result of industrial emissions, smoke from wood-buring stoves, and exhaust fumes from old cars
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandscontamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Topic: Norwaywater pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
Topic: Omanlimited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents seeping into the water tables and aquifers; desertificaiton due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands
Topic: Pacific Oceanpollution (such as sewage, runoff from land and toxic waste); habitat destruction; over-fishing; climate change leading to sea level rise, ocean acidification, and warming; endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Topic: Pakistanwater pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural freshwater resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution and noise pollution in urban areas
Topic: Palauinadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal and destructive fishing practices, and overfishing; climate change contributes to rising sea level and coral bleaching; drought
Topic: Panamawater pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources
Topic: Papua New Guinearain forest loss as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; unsustainable logging practices result in soil erosion, water quality degredation, and loss of habitat and biodiversity; large-scale mining projects cause adverse impacts on forests and water quality (discharge of heavy metals, cyanide, and acids into rivers); severe drought; inappropriate farming practices accelerate land degradion (soil erosion, siltation, loss of soil fertility); destructive fishing practices and coastal pollution due to run-off from land-based activities and oil spills
Topic: Paracel IslandsChina's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; ongoing human activities, including military operations, infrastructure construction, and tourism endangers local ecosystem including birds, fish, marine mammals, and marine reptiles
Topic: Paraguaydeforestation; water pollution; rivers suffer from toxic dumping; tanneries release mercury and chromium into rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents
Topic: Perudeforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes; overfishing
Topic: Philippinesuncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsdeforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Topic: Polanddecreased emphasis on heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-communist governments has improved environment; air pollution remains serious because of emissions from burning low-quality coals in homes and from coal-fired power plants; the resulting acid rain causes forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes
Topic: Portugalsoil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in urban centers and coastal areas
Topic: Puerto Ricosoil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution
Topic: Qatarair, land, and water pollution are significant environmental issues; limited natural freshwater resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities; other issues include conservation of oil supplies and preservation of the natural wildlife heritage
Topic: Romaniasoil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Topic: Russiaair pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; nuclear waste disposal; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides
Topic: Rwandadeforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; land degradation; soil erosion; a decline in soil fertility (soil exhaustion); wetland degradation and loss of biodiversity; widespread poaching
Topic: Saint Barthelemyland-based pollution; urbanization; with no natural rivers or streams, fresh water is in short supply, especially in summer, and is provided by the desalination of sea water, the collection of rain water, or imported via water tanker; overfishing
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhadevelopment threatens unique biota on Saint Helena
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisdeforestation; soil erosion and silting affects marine life on coral reefs; water pollution from uncontrolled dumping of sewage
Topic: Saint Luciadeforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Topic: Saint Martinexcessive population pressure (increasing settlement); waste management; salinity intrusions into the main land of the island; fresh water supply is dependent on desalination of sea water; over exploitation of marine resources (reef fisheries, coral and shell); indiscriminate anchoring of boats damages coral reefs,causing underwater pollution and changes the sediment dynamics of Saint Martin's Island
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonoverfishing; recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinespollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive; poor land use planning; deforestation; watershed management and squatter settlement control
Topic: Samoasoil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Topic: San Marinoair pollution; urbanization decreasing rural farmlands; water shortage
Topic: Sao Tome and Principedeforestation and illegal logging; soil erosion and exhaustion; inadequate sewage treatment in cities; biodiversity preservation
Topic: Saudi Arabiadesertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills; air pollution; waste management
Topic: Senegaldeforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; periodic droughts; seasonal flooding; overfishing; weak environmental protective laws; wildlife populations threatened by poaching
Topic: Serbiaair pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube; inadequate management of domestic, industrial, and hazardous waste
Topic: Seychelleswater supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance
Topic: Sierra Leonerapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing
Topic: Singaporewater pollution; industrial pollution; limited natural freshwater resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; air pollution; deforestation; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Topic: Sint Maartenscarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefsscarcity of potable water (increasing percentage provided by desalination); inadequate solid waste management; pollution from construction, chemical runoff, and sewage harms reefs
Topic: Slovakiaair pollution and acid rain present human health risks and damage forests; land erosion caused by agricultural and mining practices; water pollution
Topic: Sloveniaair pollution from road traffic, domestic heating (wood buring), power generation, and industry; water pollution; biodiversity protection
Topic: Solomon Islandsdeforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying; effects of climate change and rising sea levels
Topic: Somaliawater scarcity; contaminated water contributes to human health problems; improper waste disposal; deforestation; land degradation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Topic: South Africalack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; desertification; solid waste pollution; disruption of fragile ecosystem has resulted in significant floral extinctions
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsreindeer - introduced to the islands in the 20th century - devastated the native flora and bird species; some reindeer were translocated to the Falkland Islands in 2001, the rest were exterminated (2013-14); a parallel effort (2010-15) eradicated rats and mice that came to the islands as stowaways on ships as early as the late 18th century
Topic: South Sudanwater pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife conservation and loss of biodiversity; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought
Topic: Southern Oceanchanges to the ocean's physical, chemical, and biological systems have taken place because of climate change, ocean acidification, and commercial exploitation
Topic: Spainpollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
Topic: Spratly IslandsChina's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams
Topic: Sri Lankadeforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; coral reef destruction; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Topic: Sudanwater pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity
Topic: Surinamedeforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Topic: Svalbardice floes are a maritime hazard; past exploitation of mammal species (whale, seal, walrus, and polar bear) severely depleted the populations, but a gradual recovery seems to be occurring
Topic: Swedenmarine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practicesmarine pollution (Baltic Sea and North Sea); acid rain damage to soils and lakes; air pollution; inappropriate timber harvesting practices
Topic: Switzerlandair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from agricultural fertilizers; chemical contaminants and erosion damage the soil and limit productivity; loss of biodiversity
Topic: Syriadeforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; depletion of water resources; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water
Topic: Taiwanair pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Topic: Tajikistanareas of high air pollution from motor vehicles and industry; water pollution from agricultural runoff and disposal of untreated industrial waste and sewage; poor management of water resources; soil erosion; increasing levels of soil salinity
Topic: Tanzaniawater polution; improper management of liquid waste; indoor air pollution caused by the burning of fuel wood or charcoal for cooking and heating is a large environmental health issue; soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory; loss of biodiversity; solid waste disposal
Topic: Thailandair pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; water scarcity; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting; hazardous waste disposal
Topic: Timor-Lesteair pollution and deterioration of air quality; greenhouse gas emissions; water quality, scarcity, and access; land and soil degradation; forest depletion; widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion; loss of biodiversity
Topic: Togodeforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; very little rain forest still present and what remains is highly degraded; desertification; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
Topic: Tokelauoverexploitation of certain fish and other marine species, coastal sand, and forest resources; pollution of freshwater lenses and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
Topic: Tongadeforestation from land being cleared for agriculture and settlement; soil exhaustion; water pollution due to salinization, sewage, and toxic chemicals from farming activities; coral reefs and marine populations threatened
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagowater pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; widespread pollution of waterways and coastal areas; illegal dumping; deforestation; soil erosion; fisheries and wildlife depletion
Topic: Tunisiatoxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural freshwater resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; land degradation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic; conservation of biodiversity
Topic: Turkmenistancontamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; soil erosion; desertification
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandslimited natural freshwater resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Topic: Tuvaluwater needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; rising sea levels threaten water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary
Topic: Ugandadraining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial discharge and water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
Topic: Ukraineair and water pollution; land degradation; solid waste management; biodiversity loss; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
Topic: United Arab Emiratesair pollution; rapid population growth and high energy demand contribute to water scarcity; lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; land degradation and desertification; waste generation, beach pollution from oil spills
Topic: United Kingdomair pollution improved but remains a concern, particularly in the London region; soil pollution from pesticides and heavy metals; decline in marine and coastal habitats brought on by pressures from housing, tourism, and industry
Topic: United Statesair pollution; large emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural freshwater resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; deforestation; mining; desertification; species conservation; invasive species (the Hawaiian Islands are particularly vulnerable)
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesBaker Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in 1937 during a short-lived colonization effort, ravaged the avian population and were eradicated in 1965
Howland Island: no natural freshwater resources; the island habitat has suffered from invasive exotic species; black rats, introduced in 1854, were eradicated by feral cats within a year of their introduction in 1937; the cats preyed on the bird population and were eliminated by 1985
Jarvis Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in the 1930s during a short-lived colonization venture, were not completely removed until 1990
Johnston Atoll: no natural freshwater resources; the seven decades under US military administration (1934-2004) left the atoll environmentally degraded and required large-scale remediation efforts; a swarm of Anoplolepis (crazy) ants invaded the island in 2010 damaging native wildlife; eradication has been largely, but not completely, successful
Midway Islands: many exotic species introduced, 75% of the roughly 200 plant species on the island are non-native; plastic pollution harms wildlife, via entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contamination Kingman Reef: none
Palmyra Atoll: black rats, believed to have been introduced to the atoll during the US military occupation of the 1940s, severely degraded the ecosystem outcompeting native species (seabirds, crabs); following a successful rat removal project in 2011, native flora and fauna have begun to recoverBaker Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in 1937 during a short-lived colonization effort, ravaged the avian population and were eradicated in 1965
Howland Island: no natural freshwater resources; the island habitat has suffered from invasive exotic species; black rats, introduced in 1854, were eradicated by feral cats within a year of their introduction in 1937; the cats preyed on the bird population and were eliminated by 1985
Jarvis Island: no natural freshwater resources; feral cats, introduced in the 1930s during a short-lived colonization venture, were not completely removed until 1990
Johnston Atoll: no natural freshwater resources; the seven decades under US military administration (1934-2004) left the atoll environmentally degraded and required large-scale remediation efforts; a swarm of Anoplolepis (crazy) ants invaded the island in 2010 damaging native wildlife; eradication has been largely, but not completely, successful
Midway Islands: many exotic species introduced, 75% of the roughly 200 plant species on the island are non-native; plastic pollution harms wildlife, via entanglement, ingestion, and toxic contaminationKingman Reef: none
Palmyra Atoll: black rats, believed to have been introduced to the atoll during the US military occupation of the 1940s, severely degraded the ecosystem outcompeting native species (seabirds, crabs); following a successful rat removal project in 2011, native flora and fauna have begun to recover
Topic: Uruguaywater pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; heavy metal pollution; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal; deforestation
Topic: Uzbekistanshrinkage of the Aral Sea has resulted in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification and respiratory health problems; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Topic: Vanuatupopulation growth; water pollution, most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; inadequate sanitation; deforestation
Topic: Venezuelasewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Topic: Vietnamlogging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; air pollution; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Topic: Virgin Islandslack of natural freshwater resources; protection of coral reefs; solid waste management; coastal development; increased boating and overfishing
Topic: Wake Islandpotable water obtained through a catchment rainwater system and a desalinization plant for brackish ground water; hazardous wastes moved to an accumulation site for storage and eventual transport off site via barge
Topic: Wallis and Futunadeforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural freshwater resources; lack of soil fertility on the islands of Uvea and Futuna negatively impacts agricultural productivity
Topic: West Bankadequacy of freshwater supply; sewage treatment
Topic: Worldlarge areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of biodiversity; soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; ozone layer depletion; waste disposal; global warming becoming a greater concern
Topic: Yemenlimited natural freshwater resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Topic: Zambiaair pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
Topic: Zimbabwedeforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution |
20220901 | countries-romania |
Topic: Photos of Romania
Topic: Introduction
Background: The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they were de facto linked in 1859 and formally united in 1862 under the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 238,391 sq km
land: 229,891 sq km
water: 8,500 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Pennsylvania; slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,844 km
border countries (5): Bulgaria 605 km; Hungary 424 km; Moldova 683 km; Serbia 531 km; Ukraine 601 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain: 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
Elevation: highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 414 m
Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 28.7% (2018 est.)
other: 10.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,490 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Danube river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania
Natural hazards: earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Geography - note: controls the most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine; the Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of the country, while the Danube River forms much of the southern boundary with Serbia and Bulgaria
Map description: Romania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea.Romania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Black Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 18,519,899 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: Romanian 83.4%, Hungarian 6.1%, Romani 3.1%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.2%, other 0.7%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
note: Romani populations are usually underestimated in official statistics and may represent 5–11% of Romania's population
Languages: Romanian (official) 85.4%, Hungarian 6.3%, Romani 1.2%, other 1%, unspecified 6.1% (2011 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Cartea informativa a lumii, sursa indispensabila pentru informatii de baza. (Romanian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 81.9%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformed and Pentecostal) 6.4%, Roman Catholic 4.3%, other (includes Muslim) 0.9%, none or atheist 0.2%, unspecified 6.3% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.12% (male 1,545,196/female 1,463,700)
15-24 years: 10.31% (male 1,126,997/female 1,068,817)
25-54 years: 46.26% (male 4,993,886/female 4,860,408)
55-64 years: 11.73% (male 1,176,814/female 1,322,048)
65 years and over: 17.58% (2020 est.) (male 1,516,472/female 2,228,555)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.3
youth dependency ratio: 23.8
elderly dependency ratio: 29.5
potential support ratio: 3.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 42.5 years
male: 41 years
female: 44 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.09% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 8.76 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 15.26 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: urbanization is not particularly high, and a fairly even population distribution can be found throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations; Hungarians, the country's largest minority, have a particularly strong presence in eastern Transylvania
Urbanization: urban population: 54.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1.785 million BUCHAREST (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 27.1 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.75 years
male: 72.3 years
female: 79.4 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.7% (2019)
Physicians density: 2.98 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.9% of population
rural: 76% of population
total: 87.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.1% of population
rural: 24% of population
total: 12.7% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 19,000 (2020 est.)
note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500
note: estimate does not include children
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 22.5% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 28% (2020 est.)
male: 35.9% (2020 est.)
female: 20% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 3.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.6% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3%
male: 17.9%
female: 16.5% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: soil erosion, degradation, and desertification; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 14.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 69.26 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 27.62 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Land use: agricultural land: 60.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 39.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 1.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 19.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 28.7% (2018 est.)
other: 10.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 54.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.16% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.03% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4.895 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 277,547 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5.7% (2015 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Danube river mouth (shared with Germany [s], Austria, Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine) - 2,888 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.048 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 4.234 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.491 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 212.01 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
former: Kingdom of Romania, Romanian People's Republic, Socialist Republic of Romania
etymology: the name derives from the Latin "Romanus" meaning "citizen of Rome" and was used to stress the common ancient heritage of Romania's three main regions - Moldavia, Transylvania, and Wallachia - during their gradual unification between the mid-19th century and early 20th century
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital: name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: related to the Romanian word "bucura" that is believed to be of Dacian origin and whose meaning is "to be glad (happy)"; Bucharest's meaning is thus akin to "city of joy"
Administrative divisions: 41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea
Independence: 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Unification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 21 November 1991, approved by referendum and effective 8 December 1991
amendments: initiated by the president of Romania through a proposal by the government, by at least one fourth of deputies or senators in Parliament, or by petition of eligible voters representing at least half of Romania’s counties; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by both chambers or – if mediation is required - by three-fourths majority vote in a joint session, followed by approval in a referendum; articles, including those on national sovereignty, form of government, political pluralism, and fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended; amended 2003
Legal system: civil law system
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Romania
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Klaus Werner IOHANNIS (since 21 December 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Nicolae CIUCA (since 25 November 2021); Deputy Prime Ministers Sorin GRINDEANU (since 25 November 2021) and Kelemen HUNOR (since 23 December 2020)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 November 2019 with a runoff on 24 November 2019 (next to be held in November 2024); prime minister appointed by the president with consent of Parliament
election results: Klaus IOHANNIS reelected president in second round; percent of vote - Klaus IOHANNIS (PNL) 66.1%, Viorica DANCILA (PSD) 33.9%; Nicolae CIUCA approved as prime minister with 318 votes
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of:
Senate or Senat (136 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 2 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Chamber of Deputies or Camera Deputatilor (330 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies - including 4 seats for diaspora - by party-list, proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 6 December 2020 (next to be held in 2024)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - PSD 29.3%, PNL 25.6%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.9%, AUR 9.2%, UDMR 5.9%, other 14.1%; seats by party - PSD 47, PNL 41, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 25, AUR 14, UDMR 9; composition - men 111, women 25, percent of women 18.4%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSD 28.9%, PNL 25.2%, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 15.4%, AUR 9.1%, UDMR 5.7%, other 15.7%; seats by party - PSD 110, PNL 93, 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance 55, AUR 33, UDMR 21, other 18; composition - men 267, women 63, percent of women 19.1%; note - total Parliament percent of women 18.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: High Court of Cassation and Justice (consists of 111 judges organized into civil, penal, commercial, contentious administrative and fiscal business, and joint sections); Supreme Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
judge selection and term of office: High Court of Cassation and Justice judges appointed by the president upon nomination by the Superior Council of Magistracy, a 19-member body of judges, prosecutors, and law specialists; judges appointed for 6-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court members - 6 elected by Parliament and 3 appointed by the president; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; regional tribunals; first instance courts; military and arbitration courts
Political parties and leaders: 2020 USR-PLUS Alliance [Dan BARNA and Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021)
Alliance for the Fatherland or APP [Codrin STEFANESCU]
Alliance for the Unity of Romanians or AUR [George SIMION]
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats or ALDE [Daniel OLTEANU]
Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party or PNT-CD [Aurelian PAVELESCU]
Civic Hungarian Party [Zsolt BIRO]
Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Hunor KELEMEN]
Ecologist Party of Romania or PER [Danut POP]
Force of the Right [Ludovic ORBAN]
Greater Romania Party or PRM [Victor IOVICI]
Green Party [Silviu DUMITRU]
National Liberal Party or PNL [Nicolae CIUCA]
Our Romania Alliance [Marian MUNTEANU]
Party of Liberty, Unity, and Solidarity or PLUS [Dacian CIOLOS] (dissolved 16 April 2021)
Popular Movement Party or PMP [Eugen TOMAC]
PRO Romania [Victor PONTA]
Romanian Nationhood Party [Ninel PEIA]
Save Romania Union Party or USR [Catalin DRULA]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Marcel CIOLACU]
Social Liberal Humanist Party or PUSL [Daniel IONASCU] (formerly Humanist Power Party (Social-Liberal) or PPU-SL)
United Romania Party or PRU [Robert BUGA]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andrei MURARU (since 15 September 2021)
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4829; [1] (202) 332-4846
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
email address and website:
washington@mae.ro (chancery)
contact@informatiiconsulare.ro (consular section)
https://washington.mae.ro/en
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David MUNIZ (since 20 January 2021)
embassy: 4-6, Dr. Liviu Librescu Blvd., District 1, Bucharest, 015118
mailing address: 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
email address and website:
ACSBucharest@state.gov
https://ro.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of cobalt blue (hoist side), chrome yellow, and vermilion red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1862 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed
note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
National symbol(s): golden eagle; national colors: blue, yellow, red
National anthem: name: "Desteapta-te romane!" (Wake up, Romanian!)
lyrics/music: Andrei MURESIANU/Anton PANN
note: adopted 1990; the anthem was written during the 1848 Revolution
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Danube Delta (n); Churches of Moldavia (c); Monastery of Horezu (c); Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (c); Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains (c); Historic Center of Sighişoara (c); Wooden Churches of Maramureş (c); Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians (n); Roșia Montană Mining Landscape (c)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks. Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest’s annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018. An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania’s long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities.Romania, which joined the EU on 1 January 2007, began the transition from communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. Romania's macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and to address Romania's widespread poverty. Corruption and red tape continue to permeate the business environment. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, Romania signed a $26 billion emergency assistance package from the IMF, the EU, and other international lenders, but GDP contracted until 2011. In March 2011, Romania and the IMF/EU/World Bank signed a 24-month precautionary standby agreement, worth $6.6 billion, to promote fiscal discipline, encourage progress on structural reforms, and strengthen financial sector stability; no funds were drawn. In September 2013, Romanian authorities and the IMF/EU agreed to a follow-on standby agreement, worth $5.4 billion, to continue with reforms. This agreement expired in September 2015, and no funds were drawn. Progress on structural reforms has been uneven, and the economy still is vulnerable to external shocks. Economic growth rebounded in the 2013-17 period, driven by strong industrial exports, excellent agricultural harvests, and, more recently, expansionary fiscal policies in 2016-2017 that nearly quadrupled Bucharest’s annual fiscal deficit, from +0.8% of GDP in 2015 to -3% of GDP in 2016 and an estimated -3.4% in 2017. Industry outperformed other sectors of the economy in 2017. Exports remained an engine of economic growth, led by trade with the EU, which accounts for roughly 70% of Romania trade. Domestic demand was the major driver, due to tax cuts and large wage increases that began last year and are set to continue in 2018. An aging population, emigration of skilled labor, significant tax evasion, insufficient health care, and an aggressive loosening of the fiscal package compromise Romania’s long-term growth and economic stability and are the economy's top vulnerabilities.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $556.07 billion (2020 est.)
$578.39 billion (2019 est.)
$555.47 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4.2% (2019 est.)
4.54% (2018 est.)
7.11% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $28,800 (2020 est.)
$29,900 (2019 est.)
$28,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $249.543 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.8% (2019 est.)
4.6% (2018 est.)
1.3% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2011)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2006)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2014)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 33.2% (2017 est.)
services: 62.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 70% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 7.7% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.6% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.9% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 41.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -43.6% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, potatoes, barley, grapes, sugar beet, rapeseed, plums/sloes
Industries: electric machinery and equipment, auto assembly, textiles and footwear, light machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining, mining, timber, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 4.889 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 28.3%
industry: 28.9%
services: 42.8% (2014)
Unemployment rate: 3.06% (2019 est.)
3.56% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.3%
male: 17.9%
female: 16.5% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23.8% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 36 (2017 est.)
28.2 (2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 15.3%
highest 10%: 7.6% (2014 est.)
Budget: revenues: 62.14 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 68.13 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 36.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
38.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: defined by the EU's Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities: currency and deposits, securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives, and loans; general government sector comprises the subsectors: central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
Taxes and other revenues: 29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$11.389 billion (2019 est.)
-$10.78 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $93.01 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$100.9 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$101.11 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Germany 22%, Italy 10%, France 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, insulated wiring, refined petroleum, electrical control boards, seats (2019)
Imports: $104.16 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$111.18 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$109.26 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Germany 19%, Italy 9%, Hungary 7%, Poland 6%, China 5%, France 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, packaged medicines, insulated wiring, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $44.43 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$40 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $117.829 billion (2019 est.)
$115.803 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: lei (RON) per US dollar -
4.02835 (2020 est.)
4.31655 (2019 est.)
4.0782 (2018 est.)
4.0057 (2014 est.)
3.3492 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 20.528 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 50,039,421,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 5.459 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 8.252 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 6.501 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 32.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 13.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 29.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 15.002 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 16.412 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 2,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 1.384 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 291 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 74,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 222,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 161,600 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 600 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 232,600 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 103,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 49,420 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 10,367,941,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 11,087,528,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 11.185 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 2,800,985,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 105.48 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 68.746 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 20.891 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 27.268 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 20.588 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 71.736 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 3.025 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 22.592 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 117 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Romania’s telecom market has undergone several significant changes in recent years; Vodafone Group in July 2019 acquired Liberty Global’s local unit UPC Romania, thus enabling Vodafone Romania to compete more effectively in offering bundled services; Orange Romania more recently acquired the fixed-line assets of Telekom Romania from Deutsche Telekom’s subsidiary OTE; the deal, which requires regulatory clearances and could be completed by the end of 2021, was prompted by competition in the fixed-line segment, particularly from Digi, which would have compelled Telekom Romania to invest more heavily in fixed-line infrastructure; the mobile market is served by network operators supported by pan-European players, including Vodafone Group and Orange Group. All have extensive LTE networks in place, while services based on 5G have been offered under their existing spectrum concessions since 2019; the delayed multi-spectrum auction, expected to be completed later in 2021, will enable the operators to expand 5G network capacity and enable consumers to make far greater use of the technology’s potential; in line with legislation passed in July 2021 the MNOs will have to replace equipment provided by vendors deemed to be a security risk, essentially meaning that they will have up to seven years to replace core and non-core kit provided by Huawei; this report provides an overview of Romania’s fast-developing telecommunications market, covering regulatory developments, major players and fixed-line infrastructure, and offering a variety of operational and financial statistics as well as a range of subscriber forecasts; the report also covers the mobile voice and data markets, including profiles of the major operators, updates on spectrum auctions and regulatory developments; in addition, the report provides insights into the growing broadband market, covering technologies, the major players and market developments. (2021)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 16 telephones per 100 persons; mobile market served by four mobile network operators; mobile-cellular teledensity over 117 telephones per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 40; landing point for the Diamond Link Global submarine cable linking Romania with Georgia; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: a mixture of public and private TV stations; there are 7 public TV stations (2 national, 5 regional) using terrestrial broadcasting and 187 private TV stations (out of which 171 offer local coverage) using terrestrial broadcasting, plus 11 public TV stations using satellite broadcasting and 86 private TV stations using satellite broadcasting; state-owned public radio broadcaster operates 4 national networks and regional and local stations, having in total 20 public radio stations by terrestrial broadcasting plus 4 public radio stations by satellite broadcasting; there are 502 operational private radio stations using terrestrial broadcasting and 26 private radio stations using satellite broadcasting
Internet country code: .ro
Internet users: total: 15,020,866 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,684,782 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 60
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 4,908,235 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 2.71 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: YR
Airports: total: 45 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 14 (2021)
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 3,726 km gas, 2,451 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 11,268 km (2014)
standard gauge: 10,781 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (3,292 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 427 km (2014) 0.760-m gauge
broad gauge: 60 km (2014) 1.524-m gauge
Roadways: total: 84,185 km (2012)
paved: 49,873 km (2012) (includes 337 km of expressways)
unpaved: 34,312 km (2012)
Waterways: 1,731 km (2010) (includes 1,075 km on the Danube River, 524 km on secondary branches, and 132 km on canals)
Merchant marine: total: 121
by type: general cargo 11, oil tanker 6, other 104 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Constanta, Midia
river port(s): Braila, Galati (Galatz), Mancanului (Giurgiu), Tulcea (Danube River)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Romanian Armed Forces: Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Romanian Gendarmerie (2022)
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2% of GDP (2020)
1.8% of GDP (2019) (approximately $7.47 billion)
1.8% of GDP (2018) (approximately $6.9 billion)
1.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $6.2 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 75,000 active duty personnel (58,000 Land Forces; 7,000 Naval Forces; 10,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Romanian Armed Forces is comprised mostly of Soviet-era and older domestically-produced weapons systems; there is also a smaller mix of Western-origin equipment received in more recent years from European countries and the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: conscription ended 2006; 18 years of age for male and female voluntary service; all military inductees (including women) contract for an initial 5-year term of service, with subsequent successive 3-year terms until age 36 (2021)
Military deployments: up to 120 Poland (NATO) (2022)
note: in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
Military - note: Romania became a member of NATO in 2004
Romania conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014
Romania hosts a NATO multinational divisional (Multinational Division Southeast; became operational in 2017) and a brigade-sized headquarters as part of NATO's tailored forward presence in the southeastern part of the Alliance (2022)
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Romania-Bulgaria: none identified Romania-Hungary: none identified Romania-Moldova: none identified Romania-Serbia: none identified Romania-Ukraine: the International Court of Justice ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; in 2007, Romania opposed Ukraine's construction of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea, arguing that it runs through a unique ecological area, the Danube DeltaRomania-Bulgaria: none identifiedRomania-Hungary: none identifiedRomania-Moldova: none identifiedRomania-Serbia: none identifiedRomania-Ukraine: the International Court of Justice ruled largely in favor of Romania in its dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; in 2007, Romania opposed Ukraine's construction of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea, arguing that it runs through a unique ecological area, the Danube Delta
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 83,827 (Ukraine) (as of 8 August 2022)
stateless persons: 314 (mid-year 2021)
note: 10,447 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2022)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Romania and Romanians abroad; Romania remains a primary source country for sex and labor trafficking victims in Europe; Romanian men, women, and children are subjected to forced labor in agriculture, construction, hotels, manufacturing, domestic service, commercial sex, and forced begging and theft; Romania is a destination country for a limited number of foreign trafficking victims, including migrants from Africa, Europe, and South and Southeast Asia, exploited in the construction, hotel, and food-processing industries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Romania does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government identified more trafficking victims during the reporting period, participated in more international investigations, and conducted awareness campaigns; however, authorities investigated, prosecuted, and convicted fewer traffickers; officials complicit in trafficking crimes, especially with minors in government-run homes or placement centers, were not prosecuted; government funding of services for child trafficking victims remained inadequate (2020)
Illicit drugs: a source country for cannabisa source country for cannabis |
20220901 | countries-british-indian-ocean-territory |
Topic: Photos of British Indian Ocean Territory
Topic: Introduction
Background: Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts. Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention.
Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius, the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. Only Diego Garcia, the largest and most southerly of the islands, is inhabited. It contains a joint UK-US naval support facility and hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha)). The US Air Force also operates a telescope array on Diego Garcia as part of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) for tracking orbital debris, which can be a hazard to spacecraft and astronauts.Between 1967 and 1973, former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius, but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998, the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008, the House of Lords, as the final court of appeal in the UK, ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians. In March 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration unanimously held that the marine protected area that the UK declared around the Chagos Archipelago in April 2010 was in violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In February 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion that Britain’s decolonization of Mauritius was not completed lawfully because of continued Chagossian claims. A non-binding May 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of the Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK officials defend Britain's sovereignty over the islands and argue that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E;note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km (44 Diego Garcia)
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
Area - comparative: land area is about one-third the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not exceed two m in elevation)
Elevation: highest point: ocean-side dunes on Diego Garcia 9 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: none; located outside routes of Indian Ocean cyclones
Geography - note: note 1: archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean; the island is the site of a joint US-UK military facility note 2: Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island of the BIOT and one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being Gibraltarnote 1: archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, the largest and southernmost island, occupies a strategic location in the central Indian Ocean; the island is the site of a joint US-UK military facilitynote 2: Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island of the BIOT and one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being Gibraltar
Map description: British Indian Ocean Territory map showing the six island groups and the island of Diego Garcia that make up this UK Territory in the Indian Ocean.British Indian Ocean Territory map showing the six island groups and the island of Diego Garcia that make up this UK Territory in the Indian Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; approximately 3,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (2018)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: wastewater discharge into the lagoon on Diego Garcia
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT
etymology: self-descriptive name specifying the territory's affiliation and location
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply where applicable
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Ben MERRICK (since August 2017); Administrator Kit PYMAN; note - both reside in the UK and are represented by Commander Steven R. DRYSDALE, RN, commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia (since 19 February 2021)
cabinet: NA
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
International organization participation: UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially described, the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. Some of the natural resources found in this territory include coconuts, fish, and sugarcane.
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used
Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available (2018)
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet (2018)
international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides direct connectivity to Africa, Asia and near-by Indian Ocean island countries; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2019)
Broadcast media: Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 separate frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on the islands
Internet country code: .io
Communications - note: Diego Garcia hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are on Kwajalein (Marshall Islands), at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), and on Ascension Island (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha))
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcianote: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Diego Garcia
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK; in November 2016, the UK extended the US lease on Diego Garcia until December 2036
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources thereinMauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders, known as Chagossians, who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007, British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008, a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings, once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition, the UK created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein |
20220901 | field-gdp-official-exchange-rate |
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20220901 | countries-cambodia-summaries |
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20220901 | countries-namibia |
Topic: Photos of Namibia
Topic: Introduction
Background: Various ethnic groups occupied southwestern Africa prior to Germany establishing a colony over most of the territory in 1884. South Africa occupied the colony, then known as German South West Africa, in 1915 during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966, the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that became Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia gained independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since, though the party has dropped much of its Marxist ideology. President Hage GEINGOB was elected in 2014 in a landslide victory, replacing Hifikepunye POHAMBA who stepped down after serving two terms. SWAPO retained its parliamentary super majority in the 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, GEINGOB was reelected but by a substantially reduced majority and SWAPO narrowly lost its super majority in parliament. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 S, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 824,292 sq km
land: 823,290 sq km
water: 1,002 sq km
Area - comparative: almost seven times the size of Pennsylvania; slightly more than half the size of Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 4,220 km
border countries (4): Angola 1,427 km; Botswana 1,544 km; South Africa 1,005 km; Zambia 244 km
Coastline: 1,572 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Terrain: mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east
Elevation: highest point: Konigstein on Brandberg 2,573 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 1,141 m
Natural resources: diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, silver, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, tungsten, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish, note, suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore
Land use: agricultural land: 47.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 8.8% (2018 est.)
other: 44% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: prolonged periods of drought
Geography - note: the Namib Desert, after which the country is named, is considered to be the oldest desert in the world; Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip; Namib-Naukluft National Park (49,768 sq km), is the largest game park in Africa and one of the largest in the world
Map description: Namibia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.Namibia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the South Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,727,409 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian
Ethnic groups: Ovambo 50%, Kavangos 9%, Herero 7%, Damara 7%, mixed European and African ancestry 6.5%, European 6%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, San 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana .5%
Languages: Oshiwambo languages 49.7%, Nama/Damara 11%, Kavango languages 10.4%, Afrikaans 9.4% (also a common language), Herero languages 9.2%, Zambezi languages 4.9%, English (official) 2.3%, other African languages 1.5%, other European languages 0.7%, other 1% (2016 est.)
note: Namibia has 13 recognized national languages, including 10 indigenous African languages and 3 European languages
Religions: Christian 97.5%, other 0.6% (includes Muslim, Baha'i, Jewish, Buddhist), unaffiliated 1.9% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile: Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.Planning officials view Namibia’s reduced population growth rate as sustainable based on the country’s economic growth over the past decade. Prior to independence in 1990, Namibia’s relatively small population grew at about 3% annually, but declining fertility and the impact of HIV/AIDS slowed this growth to 1.4% by 2011, rebounding to close to 2% by 2016. Namibia’s fertility rate has fallen over the last two decades – from about 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 in 2016 – due to increased contraceptive use, higher educational attainment among women, and greater female participation in the labor force. The average age at first birth has stayed fairly constant, but the age at first marriage continues to increase, indicating a rising incidence of premarital childbearing.The majority of Namibians are rural dwellers (about 55%) and live in the better-watered north and northeast parts of the country. Migration, historically male-dominated, generally flows from northern communal areas – non-agricultural lands where blacks were sequestered under the apartheid system – to agricultural, mining, and manufacturing centers in the center and south. After independence from South Africa, restrictions on internal movement eased, and rural-urban migration increased, bolstering urban growth.Some Namibians – usually persons who are better-educated, more affluent, and from urban areas – continue to legally migrate to South Africa temporarily to visit family and friends and, much less frequently, to pursue tertiary education or better economic opportunities. Namibians concentrated along the country’s other borders make unauthorized visits to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Botswana, to visit family and to trade agricultural goods. Few Namibians express interest in permanently settling in other countries; they prefer the safety of their homeland, have a strong national identity, and enjoy a well-supplied retail sector. Although Namibia is receptive to foreign investment and cross-border trade, intolerance toward non-citizens is widespread.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.68% (male 473,937/female 464,453)
15-24 years: 20.27% (male 267,106/female 265,882)
25-54 years: 35.47% (male 449,132/female 483,811)
55-64 years: 4.68% (male 54,589/female 68,619)
65 years and over: 3.9% (2020 est.) (male 43,596/female 58,948)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 67.9
youth dependency ratio: 61.8
elderly dependency ratio: 6
potential support ratio: 16.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 21.8 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 22.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.82% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 25.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population density is very low, with the largest clustering found in the extreme north-central area along the border with Angola as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 54% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 461,000 WINDHOEK (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 21.6 years (2013 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 195 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 29.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.47 years
male: 64.46 years
female: 68.53 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 56.1% (2013)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 83.2% of population
total: 91.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 16.8% of population
total: 8.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 8.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.59 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 70.6% of population
rural: 23.6% of population
total: 48.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 29.4% of population
rural: 76.4% of population
total: 51.9% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 11.6% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 210,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 17.2% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 15.1% (2020 est.)
male: 24.2% (2020 est.)
female: 6% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 13.2% (2013)
Education expenditures: 9.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.5%
male: 91.6%
female: 91.4% (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38%
male: 37.5%
female: 38.5% (2018 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: depletion and degradation of water and aquatic resources; desertification; land degradation; loss of biodiversity and biotic resources; wildlife poaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 22.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 4.23 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 10.4 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic
Land use: agricultural land: 47.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 46.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 8.8% (2018 est.)
other: 44% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 54% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.47% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to localized shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 750,000 people are projected to face "Crisis" levels of food insecurity between December 2021 and March 2022, as a result of localized areas that suffered from poor harvests in 2021 and the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily through income and job losses that constrained households’ access to food (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 256,729 tons (1993 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 11,553 tons (2005 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 4.5% (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Zambezi (shared with Zambia [s]), Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km; Orange river mouth (shared with Lesotho [s], and South Africa) - 2,092 km; Okavango (shared with Angola [s], and Botswana [m]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Orange (941,351 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Okavango Basin (863,866 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lower Kalahari-Stampriet Basin, Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 73 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 201 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 39.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Suedwestafrika), South-West Africa
etymology: named for the coastal Namib Desert; the name "namib" means "vast place" in the Nama/Damara language
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April
etymology: may derive from the Afrikaans word "wind-hoek" meaning "windy corner"
Administrative divisions: 14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
Independence: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)
National holiday: Independence Day, 21 March (1990)
Constitution: history: adopted 9 February 1990, entered into force 21 March 1990
amendments: initiated by the Cabinet; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of the National Assembly membership and of the National Council of Parliament and assent of the president of the republic; if the National Council fails to pass an amendment, the president can call for a referendum; passage by referendum requires two-thirds majority of votes cast; amendments that detract from or repeal constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be amended, and the requisite majorities needed by Parliament to amend the constitution cannot be changed; amended 1998, 2010, 2014
Legal system: mixed legal system of uncodified civil law based on Roman-Dutch law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Namibia
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hage GEINGOB (since 21 March 2015); Vice President Nangola MBUMBA (since 8 February 2018); Prime Minister Saara KUUGONGELWA-AMADHILA (since 21 March 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 28 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)
election results: Hage GEINGOB elected president in the first round; percent of vote - Hage GEINGOB (SWAPO) 56.3%, Panduleni ITULA (Independent) 29.4%, McHenry VENAANI (PDM) 5.3%, Bernadus SWARTBOOI (LPM) 2.7%, Apius AUCHAB (UDF) 2.7%, Esther MUINJANGUE (NUDO) 1.5%, other 2% (2019)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
National Council (42 seats); members indirectly elected 3 each by the 14 regional councils to serve 5-year terms); note - the Council primarily reviews legislation passed and referred by the National Assembly
National Assembly (104 seats; 96 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed list, proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 8 nonvoting members appointed by the president)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils to determine members of the National Council held on 25 November 2020 (next to be held on 25 November 2025)
National Assembly - last held on 27 November 2019 (next to be held in 2024)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SWAPO 28, LPM 6,IPC 2, PDM 2, UDF 2, NUDO 1, independent 1; composition as of July 2022 - men 36, women 6, percent of women 14.3%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - SWAPO 65.5%, PDM 16.6%, LPM 4.7%, NUDO 1.9%, APP 1.8%, UDF 1.8%, RP 1.8%, NEFF 1.7%, RDP 1.1%, CDV .7%, SWANU .6%, other 1.8%; seats by party - SWAPO 63, PDM 16, LPM 4, NUDO 2, APP 2, UDF 2, RP 2, NEFF 2, RDP 1, CDV 1, SWANU 1; composition as of July 2022 - men 58, women 46, percent of women 44.2%; note - overall percent of women in Parliament 35.6%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and at least 3 judges in quorum sessions)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president of Namibia upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission; judges serve until age 65, but terms can be extended by the president until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court; Electoral Court, Labor Court; regional and district magistrates' courts; community courts
Political parties and leaders: All People's Party or APP [Vacant]
Christian Democratic Voice or CDV [Gothard KANDUME]
Landless People's Movement or LPM [Bernadus SWARTBOOI]
National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO [Estes MUINJANGUE]
Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters or NEFF [Epafras MUKWIILONGO]
Popular Democratic Movement or PDM (formerly DTA) [McHenry VENAANI]
Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Mike KAVEKOTORA]
Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]
South West Africa National Union or SWANU [Tangeni IIYAMBO]
South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Hage GEINGOB]
United Democratic Front or UDF [Apius AUCHAB]
United People's Movement or UPM [Jan J. VAN WYK]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, CPLP (associate observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret Natalie MENSAH-WILLIAMS (since 18 January 2021)
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443
email address and website:
info@namibiaembassyusa.org
https://namibiaembassyusa.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jessica LONG (since 2 July 2021)
embassy: 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: 2540 Windhoek Place, Washington DC 20521-2540
telephone: [264] (061) 295-8500
FAX: [264] (061) 295-8603
email address and website:
ConsularWindhoek@state.gov
https://na.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a golden-yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the golden-yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources
National symbol(s): oryx (antelope); national colors: blue, red, green, white, yellow
National anthem: name: "Namibia, Land of the Brave"
lyrics/music: Axali DOESEB
note: adopted 1991
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (1 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Twyfelfontein or /Ui-//aes (c); Namib Sand Sea (n)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors. Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018. A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.Namibia’s economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for about 12.5% of GDP, but provides more than 50% of foreign exchange earnings. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Marine diamond mining is increasingly important as the terrestrial diamond supply has dwindled. The rising cost of mining diamonds, especially from the sea, combined with increased diamond production in Russia and China, has reduced profit margins. Namibian authorities have emphasized the need to add value to raw materials, do more in-country manufacturing, and exploit the services market, especially in the logistics and transportation sectors. Namibia is one of the world’s largest producers of uranium. The Chinese-owned Husab uranium mine began producing uranium ore in 2017, and is expected to reach full production in August 2018 and produce 15 million pounds of uranium a year. Namibia also produces large quantities of zinc and is a smaller producer of gold and copper. Namibia's economy remains vulnerable to world commodity price fluctuations and drought. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years, food shortages are problematic in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, obscures one of the world's most unequal income distributions; the current government has prioritized exploring wealth redistribution schemes while trying to maintain a pro-business environment. GDP growth in 2017 slowed to about 1%, however, due to contractions in both the construction and mining sectors, as well as an ongoing drought. Growth is expected to recover modestly in 2018. A five-year Millennium Challenge Corporation compact ended in September 2014. As an upper middle income country, Namibia is ineligible for a second compact. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand. Namibia receives 30%-40% of its revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU); volatility in the size of Namibia's annual SACU allotment and global mineral prices complicates budget planning.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $22.6 billion (2020 est.)
$24.56 billion (2019 est.)
$24.71 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -1.56% (2019 est.)
1.13% (2018 est.)
-1.02% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $8,900 (2020 est.)
$9,800 (2019 est.)
$10,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.372 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (2019 est.)
4.2% (2018 est.)
6.1% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.7% (2016 est.)
industry: 26.3% (2016 est.)
services: 67% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.6% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 36.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -47.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: roots/tubers nes, milk, maize, onions, beef, grapes, fruit, pulses nes, vegetables, millet
Industries: meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products, pasta, beverages; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)
Industrial production growth rate: -0.4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 956,800 (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31%
industry: 14%
services: 54% (2013 est.)
note: about half of Namibia's people are unemployed while about two-thirds live in rural areas; roughly two-thirds of rural dwellers rely on subsistence agriculture
Unemployment rate: 34% (2016 est.)
28.1% (2014 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38%
male: 37.5%
female: 38.5% (2018 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.4% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 59.1 (2015 est.)
70.7 (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 42% (2010)
Budget: revenues: 4.268 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 5 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -5.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 41.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
39.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 32.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: -$216 million (2019 est.)
-$465 million (2018 est.)
Exports: $3.56 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.56 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.95 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: China 27%, South Africa 18%, Botswana 8%, Belgium 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: copper, diamonds, uranium, thorium, gold, radioactive chemicals, fish (2019)
Imports: $4.54 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5.77 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$6.33 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: South Africa 47%, Zambia 16% (2019)
Imports - commodities: copper, refined petroleum, delivery trucks, diamonds, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.432 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.834 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $7.969 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.904 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Namibian dollars (NAD) per US dollar -
13.67 (2017 est.)
14.7096 (2016 est.)
14.7096 (2015 est.)
12.7589 (2014 est.)
10.8526 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 57% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 78% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 36% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 640,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 4,065,360,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 119 million kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 3.417 billion kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 270 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 6.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 4.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 88.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 38,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 59,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 26,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 80 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 26,270 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 62.297 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.831 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 66,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.764 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 29.811 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 140,370 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2,898,125 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the government’s Broadband Policy aims to provide 95% population coverage by 2024, supported by the efforts of telcos including Paratus Telecom which continue to invest in their own extensive network objectives; mobile network coverage has increased sharply in recent years; by 2021, 3G infrastructure provided 89% population coverage while LTE infrastructure provided 79% coverage (compared to only 40% a year earlier); despite the relatively advanced nature of the market, progress towards 5G has been slow, partly due to unsubstantiated public concerns over health implications of the technology which caused the government to order an environmental assessment of 5G in mid-2020; the government has requested the regulator to speed up its 5G development strategy; Namibia’s internet and broadband sector is reasonably competitive, its development was for many years held back by high prices for international bandwidth caused by the lack of a direct connection to international submarine cables; this market situation improved after operators invested in diversifying terrestrial access routes to adjacent countries; by the end of 2022 Namibia is expected to be connected by a 1,050km branch line of Google’s Equiano cable running between Portugal and South Africa. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line subscribership is less than 6 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 102 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 264; landing points for the ACE and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable linking southern and western African countries to Europe; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: 1 private and 1 state-run TV station; satellite and cable TV service available; state-run radio service broadcasts in multiple languages; about a dozen private radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters available
Internet country code: .na
Internet users: total: 1,041,776 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 41% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 71,063 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 602,893 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 26.29 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V5
Airports: total: 112 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 52
under 914 m: 16 (2021)
Railways: total: 2,628 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 2,628 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways: total: 48,875 km (2018)
paved: 7,893 km (2018)
unpaved: 40,982 km (2018)
Merchant marine: total: 14
by type: general cargo 1, other 13 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Luderitz, Walvis Bay
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Namibian Defense Force (NDF): Army, Navy, Air Force
Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security: Namibian Police Force (includes a paramilitary Special Field Force responsible for protecting borders and government installations) (2022)
Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $620 million)
3.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $640 million)
3.6% of GDP (2017) (approximately $670 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 12,500 personnel (11,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 500 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Namibian Defense Force consists mostly of Soviet-era equipment; China is the leading supplier of weapons to Namibia since 2010 (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021)
note: as of 2018, women comprised more than 20% of the active military
Military - note: the Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDFthe Namibian Defense Force (NDF) was created in 1990, largely from demobilized former members of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) and the South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF); PLAN was the armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), while SWATF was an auxiliary of the South African Defense Force and comprised the armed forces of the former South West Africa, 1977-1989; from 1990-1995, the British military assisted with the forming and training the NDF
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Namibia-Angola-Botswana: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia border Namibia-Botswana-Zambia-Zimbabwe: Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; the Kazungula Bridge opened to traffic in May 2021 Namibia-South Africa: the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia claims a median line boundary, while South Africa supports the northern bank of the river Namibia-Angola-Botswana: concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along the Angola-Namibia borderNamibia-Botswana-Zambia-Zimbabwe: Namibia has supported, and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to, plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; the Kazungula Bridge opened to traffic in May 2021Namibia-South Africa: the governments of South Africa and Namibia have not signed or ratified the text of the 1994 Surveyor's General agreement placing the boundary in the middle of the Orange River; Namibia claims a median line boundary, while South Africa supports the northern bank of the river
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,982 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2022) |
20220901 | oceans-atlantic-ocean |
Topic: Photos of Atlantic Ocean
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways.The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south latitude.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, the Arctic Ocean, the Americas, and the Southern Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 85.133 million sq km
note: includes Baffin Bay, Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative: about 7.5 times the size of the US
Coastline: 111,866 km
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin major surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the northsurface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; surface dominated by two large gyres (broad, circular systems of currents), one in the northern Atlantic and another in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basinmajor surface currents: clockwise North Atlantic Gyre consists of the northward flowing, warm Gulf Stream in the west, the eastward flowing North Atlantic Current in the north, the southward flowing cold Canary Current in the east, and the westward flowing North Equatorial Current in the south; the counterclockwise South Atlantic Gyre composed of the southward flowing warm Brazil Current in the west, the eastward flowing South Atlantic Current in the south, the northward flowing cold Benguela Current in the east, and the westward flowing South Equatorial Current in the north
Volume: ocean volume: 310,410,900 cu km
percent of World Ocean total volume: 23.3%
Elevation: highest point: sea level
lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
mean depth: -3,646 m
ocean zones: Composed of water and in a fluid state, the oceans are delimited differently than the solid continents. Oceans are divided into three zones based on depth and light level. Although some sea creatures depend on light to live, others can do without it. Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 m into the oceans under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 m.
The upper 200 m (656 ft) of oceans is called the euphotic, or "sunlight," zone. This zone contains the vast majority of commercial fisheries and is home to many protected marine mammals and sea turtles. Only a small amount of light penetrates beyond this depth.
The zone between 200 m (656 ft) and 1,000 m (3,280 ft) is usually referred to as the "twilight" zone, but is officially the dysphotic zone. In this zone, the intensity of light rapidly dissipates as depth increases. Such a minuscule amount of light penetrates beyond a depth of 200 m that photosynthesis is no longer possible.
The aphotic, or "midnight," zone exists in depths below 1,000 m (3,280 ft). Sunlight does not penetrate to these depths and the zone is bathed in darkness.
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December)
Geography - note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Map description: Atlantic Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints.Atlantic Ocean map highlights the Ocean in relation to surrounding continents and shows the major chokepoints.
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; unsustainable exploitation of fisheries (over fishing, bottom trawling, drift net fishing, discards, catch of non-target species); pollution (maritime transport, discharges, offshore drilling, oil spills); municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Marine fisheries: the Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 26.4%, or 21,063,495 mt, of the global catch in 2019; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following: Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the fourth most important in the world producing 10.2% of the global catch or 8,116,507 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (3,528,240 mt), Russia (1,044,153 mt), Iceland (933,019 mt), UK (823,669 mt), and Denmark (641,927 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodder Eastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and sixth largest in the world producing more than 6.8% of the global catch or 5,397,726 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,419,872 mt), Mauritania (705,850 mt), Senegal (472,571 mt), Nigeria (451,768 mt), Ghana (303,001 mt), Cameroon (265,969 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerel Northwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and eighth in the world producing 2% of the global catch and 1,679,512 mt in 2019; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (927,777 mt), Canada (615,651 mt), and Greenland (179,990 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhaden Mediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.7% or 1,385,190 mt of the world’s total capture in 2019; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (686,650 mt), Italy (281,212 mt), Tunisia (129,325 mt), Spain (119,759 mt), and Russia (72,279 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams
Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Southeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commissionthe Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 26.4%, or 21,063,495 mt, of the global catch in 2019; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin, the most important include the following:Northeast Atlantic region (Region 27) is the fourth most important in the world producing 10.2% of the global catch or 8,116,507 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters north of 36º North latitude and east of 40º West longitude with the major producers including Norway (3,528,240 mt), Russia (1,044,153 mt), Iceland (933,019 mt), UK (823,669 mt), and Denmark (641,927 mt); the region includes the historically important fishing grounds of the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Atlantic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the British Isles; the principal catches include Atlantic cod, haddock, saithe (pollock), Blue Whiting, herring, and mackerel; not all fish caught are for human consumption, half of fish catches in the North Sea are processed as fish oil or fish meal, which are used in animal fodderEastern Central Atlantic region (Region 34) is the second most important Atlantic fishery, and sixth largest in the world producing more than 6.8% of the global catch or 5,397,726 mt in 2019; the region encompasses the waters between 36º North and 6º South latitude and east of 40º West longitude off the west coast of Africa with the major producers including Morocco (1,419,872 mt), Mauritania (705,850 mt), Senegal (472,571 mt), Nigeria (451,768 mt), Ghana (303,001 mt), Cameroon (265,969 mt), and Sierra Leone (200,000 mt); the principal catches include pilchard, sardinellas, shad, and mackerelNorthwest Atlantic region (Region 21) is the third most important Atlantic fishery and eighth in the world producing 2% of the global catch and 1,679,512 mt in 2019; it encompasses the waters north of 35º North latitude and west of 42º West longitude including the important fishing grounds over the continental shelf of North America such as the Grand Banks, the Georges Bank, and the Flemish Cap, as well as Baffin Bay with the major producers including the US (927,777 mt), Canada (615,651 mt), and Greenland (179,990 mt); the principal catches include sea scallops, prawns, lobster, herring, and menhadenMediterranean and Black Sea region (Region 37) is a minor fishing region representing 1.7% or 1,385,190 mt of the world’s total capture in 2019; the region encompasses all waters east of the Strait of Gibraltar with the major producers including Turkey (686,650 mt), Italy (281,212 mt), Tunisia (129,325 mt), Spain (119,759 mt), and Russia (72,279 mt); the principal catches include European anchovy, European pilchard, Gobies, and clams
Regional fisheries bodies: Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Fishery Committee for the Eastern Central Atlantic, Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea, General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, International Council for the Exploration of the Seas, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization, North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, Southeast Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cabo Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December but are most frequent from August to November
Topic: Government
Country name: etymology: name derives from the Greek description of the waters beyond the Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantis thalassa, meaning "Sea of Atlas"
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Topic: Transportation
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Transportation - note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US; the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore Atlantic waters as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea off West Africa; in 2014, 41 commercial vessels were attacked in the Gulf of Guinea with 5 hijacked and 144 crew members taken hostage; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen; crews have been robbed and stores or cargoes stolen
Topic: Military and Security
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchoredthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea;” South American ports in Brazil and Colombia, as well as Caribbean ports in Mexico and Haiti continue to be affected by the crime of armed robbery against ships with 15 incidents reported in 2021 compared to 17 in 2020 with most of these occurring while berthed or anchored
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)some maritime disputes (see littoral states) |
20220901 | countries-howland-island | |
20220901 | countries-bahrain |
Topic: Photos of Bahrain
Topic: Introduction
Background: In 1783, the Sunni Al-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Failed political talks prompted opposition political societies to boycott 2014 legislative and municipal council elections. In 2018, a law preventing members of political societies dissolved by the courts from participating in elections effectively sidelined the majority of opposition figures from taking part in national elections. As a result, most members of parliament are independents. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. On 15 September 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed peace agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. Bahrain and the UAE thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.In 1783, the Sunni Al-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Failed political talks prompted opposition political societies to boycott 2014 legislative and municipal council elections. In 2018, a law preventing members of political societies dissolved by the courts from participating in elections effectively sidelined the majority of opposition figures from taking part in national elections. As a result, most members of parliament are independents. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. On 15 September 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed peace agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. Bahrain and the UAE thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 760 sq km
land: 760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Elevation: highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Land use: agricultural land: 11.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.7% (2018 est.)
other: 88% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Population distribution: smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
Geography - note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Map description: Bahrain map showing the islands that make up the country in the Gulf of Bahrain.Bahrain map showing the islands that make up the country in the Gulf of Bahrain.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,540,558 (2022 est.)
note: immigrants make up approximately 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arab 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Muslim 73.7%, Christian 9.3%, Jewish 0.1%, other 16.9% (2017 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.45% (male 141,039/female 136,687)
15-24 years: 15.16% (male 129,310/female 98,817)
25-54 years: 56.14% (male 550,135/female 294,778)
55-64 years: 6.89% (male 64,761/female 38,870)
65 years and over: 3.36% (2020 est.) (male 25,799/female 24,807)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 26.5
youth dependency ratio: 23.1
elderly dependency ratio: 3.4
potential support ratio: 29.8 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 32.9 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 30.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.88% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.4 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 2.82 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
Urbanization: urban population: 89.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 689,000 MANAMA (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.29 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.86 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.61 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 14 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.9 years
male: 77.63 years
female: 82.24 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2017 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: (2017 est.) <500
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2017 est.) <100
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 29.8% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 14.9% (2020 est.)
male: 25.3% (2020 est.)
female: 4.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 94.9% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.3%
male: 2.6%
female: 12.2% (2012 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs); lowered water table leaves aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination; desalinization provides some 90% of the country's freshwater
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 69.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 31.69 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 15.47 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Land use: agricultural land: 11.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 0.7% (2018 est.)
other: 88% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 89.7% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 951,943 tons (2016 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 76,155 tons (2012 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 8% (2012 est.)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 275.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 144.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 116 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies surrounding the archipelago
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name derives from the Arabic "al-manama" meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
Constitution: history: adopted 14 February 2002
amendments: proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended; amended 2012, 2017
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bahrain
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); first deputy prime minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005), Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa (since November 2010); note - KHALIFA ibn Salman Al Khalifa, who served as prime minister since Bahrain's independence in 1971, died on 11 November 2020
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Assembly consists of:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king)
Council of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms)
elections:
Consultative Council - last appointments on 12 December 2018 (next NA)
Council of Representatives - first round for 9 members held on 24 November 2018; second round for remaining 31 members held on 1 December 2018 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:
Consultative Council - composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5%
Council of Representatives (for 2018 election) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Islamic Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar al-Taqadumi (Communist) 2, National Unity Gathering (Sunni progovernment) 1, National Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 33; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 19%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
Political parties and leaders: note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 lawnote: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashid AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
email address and website:
ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org
mofa.gov.bh
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven C. BONDY (since 9 February 2022)
embassy: Building 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
mailing address: 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
telephone: [973] 17-242700
FAX: [973] 17-272594
email address and website:
ManamaConsular@state.gov
https://bh.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
note: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
National symbol(s): a red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white
National anthem: name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain’s economy. Despite the Government’s past efforts to diversify the economy, oil still comprises 85% of Bahraini budget revenues. In the last few years lower world energy prices have generated sizable budget deficits - about 10% of GDP in 2017 alone. Bahrain has few options for covering these deficits, with low foreign assets and fewer oil resources compared to its GCC neighbors. The three major US credit agencies downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign debt rating to "junk" status in 2016, citing persistently low oil prices and the government’s high debt levels. Nevertheless, Bahrain was able to raise about $4 billion by issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2017. Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil and gas –finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In April 2018 Bahrain announced it had found a significant oil field off the country’s west coast, but is still assessing how much of the oil can be extracted profitably. In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness — especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism — and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector. Since 2015, the government lifted subsidies on meat, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline and has begun to phase in higher prices for electricity and water. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. It plans to introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of 2018.Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain’s economy. Despite the Government’s past efforts to diversify the economy, oil still comprises 85% of Bahraini budget revenues. In the last few years lower world energy prices have generated sizable budget deficits - about 10% of GDP in 2017 alone. Bahrain has few options for covering these deficits, with low foreign assets and fewer oil resources compared to its GCC neighbors. The three major US credit agencies downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign debt rating to "junk" status in 2016, citing persistently low oil prices and the government’s high debt levels. Nevertheless, Bahrain was able to raise about $4 billion by issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2017. Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil and gas –finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In April 2018 Bahrain announced it had found a significant oil field off the country’s west coast, but is still assessing how much of the oil can be extracted profitably. In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness — especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism — and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector. Since 2015, the government lifted subsidies on meat, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline and has begun to phase in higher prices for electricity and water. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. It plans to introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of 2018.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $69.65 billion (2020 est.)
$73.95 billion (2019 est.)
$72.51 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.49% (2019 est.)
13.89% (2018 est.)
3.85% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $40,900 (2020 est.)
$45,100 (2019 est.)
$46,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $38.472 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B+ (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2017)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 39.3% (2017 est.)
services: 60.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 45.8% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 15.5% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 80.2% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -67.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: mutton, dates, milk, poultry, tomatoes, fruit, sheep offals, sheep skins, eggs, pumpkins
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 0.6% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 831,600 (2017 est.)
note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1%
industry: 32%
services: 67% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
note: official estimate; actual rate is higher
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 5.3%
male: 2.6%
female: 12.2% (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 5.854 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 9.407 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 88.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
81.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.6 billion (2017 est.)
-$1.493 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $30.1 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$26.762 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 31%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Japan 8%, United States 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, aluminum and plating, crude petroleum, iron ore, gold (2019)
Imports: $27.19 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$22.132 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: United Arab Emirates 27%, China 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, United States 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5%, India 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars, iron ore, jewelry, gold, gas turbines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.349 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.094 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $52.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$42.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
0.37705 (2020 est.)
0.37705 (2019 est.)
0.377 (2018 est.)
0.376 (2014 est.)
0.376 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 6.982 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 31,038,250,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 447 million kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 652 million kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 611 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 185,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 73,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 228,800 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 274,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 245,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 14,530 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 18,271,840,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 18,251,140,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 81.382 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 43.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 7.308 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 35.804 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 547.976 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 274,106 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 1,748,672 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Bahrain continues to develop its telecoms sector in a bid to develop its long-term Economic Vision 2030 strategy; this is a multi-faceted strategy aimed at developing a digital transformation across numerous sectors, including e-government, e-health, e-commerce, and e-banking; the major telcos including Batelco, STC Bahrain, and Zain Bahrain have been supported by the government and regulator to develop services and network infrastructure to facilitate implementing the strategy; 5G services have become widely available since they were launched in 2020; the national broadband network operator BNET was also financially separated from Batelco in mid-2021, in a bid to improve its responsibilities as a neutral wholesale access provider; Bahrain’s telecom sector by the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan (initiated in 2016) which focuses on fiber optic infrastructure deployment and establishing affordable prices for high-speed access. (2022)
domestic: approximately 16 per 100 fixed-line and 103 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2020)
international: country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2019)
Internet country code: .bh
Internet users: total: 170,158 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 100% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 148,928 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,877,003 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 420.98 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A9C
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Pipelines: 20 km gas, 54 km oil (2013)
Roadways: total: 4,122 km (2010)
paved: 3,392 km (2010)
unpaved: 730 km (2010)
Merchant marine: total: 205
by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 189 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force; Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard
(2022)
note: the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy; the National Guard's primary mission is to guard critical infrastructure such as the airport and oil fields; while the Guard is under the Ministry of Interior, it reports directly to the king
Military expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.09 billion)
4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.08 billion)
4.2% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $2.18 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); approximately 3,000 National Guard (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Bahrain Defense force consists of a mix of equipment acquired from a wide variety of suppliers; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Bahrain (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2022)
Military - note: Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2018, the UK opened a naval support base in Bahrain
in addition to the US and UK, Bahrain maintains close security ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; both Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; in 2015, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military action to try to restore the Government of Yemen that was ousted by Iranian-backed Huthi rebels, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft
Bahrain has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments (2022)
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
note 1: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
note 2: in addition to the al-Ashtar Brigades and the IRGC/Qods Force, Saraya al-Mukhtar (aka The Mukhtar Brigade) is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Bahrain, reportedly receiving financial and logistic support from the IRGC; Saraya al-Mukhtar's self-described goal is to depose the Bahraini Government with the intention of paving the way for Iran to exert greater influence in Bahrain; the group was designated by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in Dec 2020
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | field-administrative-divisions | This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted. Geographic names conform to spellings approved by the BGN with the exception of the omission of diacritical marks and special characters.
Topic: Afghanistan34 provinces (welayat, singular - welayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daykundi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghor, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khost, Kunar, Kunduz, Laghman, Logar, Nangarhar, Nimroz, Nuristan, Paktika, Paktiya, Panjshir, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e Pul, Takhar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Zabul
Topic: Albania12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
Topic: Algeria58 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Beni Abbes, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Badji Mokhtar, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djanet, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Meghaier, El Meniaa, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, In Guezzam, In Salah, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Ouled Djellal, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanrasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Timimoun, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen, Touggourt
Topic: American Samoanone (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts and 2 islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Topic: Andorra7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes-Engordany, La Massana, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria
Topic: Angola18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Topic: Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Topic: Argentina23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 autonomous city*; Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires*, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur (Tierra del Fuego - Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands), Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Topic: Armenia11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan
Topic: Arubanone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Aruba is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Curacao, and Sint Maarten
Topic: Australia6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Topic: Austria9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria), Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria), Tirol (Tyrol), Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Topic: Azerbaijan66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular); rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardab cities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax66 districts (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar - singular);rayons: Abseron, Agcabadi, Agdam, Agdas, Agstafa, Agsu, Astara, Babak, Balakan, Barda, Beylaqan, Bilasuvar, Cabrayil, Calilabad, Culfa, Daskasan, Fuzuli, Gadabay, Goranboy, Goycay, Goygol, Haciqabul, Imisli, Ismayilli, Kalbacar, Kangarli, Kurdamir, Lacin, Lankaran, Lerik, Masalli, Neftcala, Oguz, Ordubad, Qabala, Qax, Qazax, Qobustan, Quba, Qubadli, Qusar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Sabran, Sadarak, Sahbuz, Saki, Salyan, Samaxi, Samkir, Samux, Sarur, Siyazan, Susa, Tartar, Tovuz, Ucar, Xacmaz, Xizi, Xocali, Xocavand, Yardimli, Yevlax, Zangilan, Zaqatala, Zardabcities: Baku, Ganca, Lankaran, Mingacevir, Naftalan, Naxcivan (Nakhichevan), Saki, Sirvan, Sumqayit, Xankandi, Yevlax
Topic: Bahamas, The31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
Topic: Bahrain4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
Topic: Bangladesh8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Topic: Barbados11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
Topic: Belarus6 regions (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel' (Gomel'), Horad Minsk* (Minsk City), Hrodna (Grodno), Mahilyow (Mogilev), Minsk, Vitsyebsk (Vitebsk)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers; Russian spelling provided for reference when different from Belarusian
Topic: Belgium3 regions (French: regions, singular - region; Dutch: gewesten, singular - gewest); Brussels-Capital Region, also known as Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (Dutch), Region de Bruxelles-Capitale (French long form), Bruxelles-Capitale (French short form); Flemish Region (Flanders), also known as Vlaams Gewest (Dutch long form), Vlaanderen (Dutch short form), Region Flamande (French long form), Flandre (French short form); Walloon Region (Wallonia), also known as Region Wallone (French long form), Wallonie (French short form), Waals Gewest (Dutch long form), Wallonie (Dutch short form)
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; the 2012 sixth state reform transferred additional competencies from the federal state to the regions and linguistic communities
Topic: Belize6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo
Topic: Benin12 departments; Alibori, Atacora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Couffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou
Topic: Bermuda9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Topic: Bhutan20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang
Topic: Bolivia9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina3 first-order administrative divisions - Brcko District (Brcko Distrikt) (ethnically mixed), Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosne i Hercegovine) (predominantly Bosniak-Croat), Republika Srpska (predominantly Serb)
Topic: Botswana10 districts and 6 town councils*; Central, Chobe, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, North East, North West, Selebi-Phikwe*, South East, Southern, Sowa Town*
Topic: Brazil26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins
Topic: British Virgin Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Brunei4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Topic: Bulgaria28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofia, Sofia-Grad (Sofia City), Stara Zagora, Targovishte, Varna, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol
Topic: Burkina Faso13 regions; Boucle du Mouhoun, Cascades, Centre, Centre-Est, Centre-Nord, Centre-Ouest, Centre-Sud, Est, Hauts-Bassins, Nord, Plateau-Central, Sahel, Sud-Ouest
Topic: Burma7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territory regions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon) states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan union territory: Nay Pyi Taw7 regions (taing-myar, singular - taing), 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne), 1 union territoryregions: Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy), Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon (Rangoon)states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shanunion territory: Nay Pyi Taw
Topic: Burundi18 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rural, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rumonge, Rutana, Ruyigi
Topic: Cabo Verde22 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Porto Novo, Praia, Ribeira Brava, Ribeira Grande, Ribeira Grande de Santiago, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina do Fogo, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Lourenco dos Orgaos, Sao Miguel, Sao Salvador do Mundo, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal, Tarrafal de Sao Nicolau
Topic: Cambodia24 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural) provinces: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmum municipalities: Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)24 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 1 municipality (krong, singular and plural)provinces: Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kandal, Kep, Koh Kong, Kratie, Mondolkiri, Oddar Meanchey, Pailin, Preah Sihanouk, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Pursat, Ratanakiri, Siem Reap, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Tbong Khmummunicipalities: Phnom Penh (Phnum Penh)
Topic: Cameroon10 regions (regions, singular - region); Adamaoua, Centre, East (Est), Far North (Extreme-Nord), Littoral, North (Nord), North-West (Nord-Ouest), West (Ouest), South (Sud), South-West (Sud-Ouest)
Topic: Canada10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon*
Topic: Cayman Islands6 districts; Bodden Town, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, East End, George Town, North Side, West Bay
Topic: Central African Republic14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Topic: Chad23 provinces (provinces, singular - province); Barh-El-Gazel, Batha, Borkou, Chari-Baguirmi, Ennedi-Est, Ennedi-Ouest, Guera, Hadjer-Lamis, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Kebbi-Est, Mayo-Kebbi-Ouest, Moyen-Chari, N'Djamena, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile, Tibesti, Wadi-Fira
Topic: Chile16 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aysen, Antofagasta, Araucania, Arica y Parinacota, Atacama, Biobio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Los Rios, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica), Maule, Nuble, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Topic: China23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural) provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan) autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet) municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), 4 municipalities (shi, singular and plural), and two special administrative regions (tebie xingzhengqu, singular and plural)provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia), Ningxia, Xinjiang Uyghur, Xizang (Tibet)municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
special administrative regions: Hong Kong, Macau
Topic: Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: Colombia32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, Archipielago de San Andres, Providencia y Santa Catalina (colloquially San Andres y Providencia), Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Topic: Comoros3 islands; Anjouan (Ndzuwani), Grande Comore (N'gazidja), Moheli (Mwali)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the26 provinces (provinces, singular - province); Bas-Uele (Lower Uele), Equateur, Haut-Katanga (Upper Katanga), Haut-Lomami (Upper Lomami), Haut-Uele (Upper Uele), Ituri, Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental (East Kasai), Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Kwango, Kwilu, Lomami, Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Maniema, Mongala, Nord-Kivu (North Kivu), Nord-Ubangi (North Ubangi), Sankuru, Sud-Kivu (South Kivu), Sud-Ubangi (South Ubangi), Tanganyika, Tshopo, Tshuapa
Topic: Congo, Republic of the12 departments (departments, singular - department); Bouenza, Brazzaville, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pointe-Noire, Pool, Sangha
Topic: Cook Islandsnone
Topic: Costa Rica7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallee du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan
Topic: Croatia20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular) with special county status; Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska (Bjelovar-Bilogora), Brodsko-Posavska (Brod-Posavina), Dubrovacko-Neretvanska (Dubrovnik-Neretva), Istarska (Istria), Karlovacka (Karlovac), Koprivnicko-Krizevacka (Koprivnica-Krizevci), Krapinsko-Zagorska (Krapina-Zagorje), Licko-Senjska (Lika-Senj), Medimurska (Medimurje), Osjecko-Baranjska (Osijek-Baranja), Pozesko-Slavonska (Pozega-Slavonia), Primorsko-Goranska (Primorje-Gorski Kotar), Sibensko-Kninska (Sibenik-Knin), Sisacko-Moslavacka (Sisak-Moslavina), Splitsko-Dalmatinska (Split-Dalmatia), Varazdinska (Varazdin), Viroviticko-Podravska (Virovitica-Podravina), Vukovarsko-Srijemska (Vukovar-Syrmia), Zadarska (Zadar), Zagreb*, Zagrebacka (Zagreb county)
Topic: Cuba15 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Topic: Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Curacao is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Sint Maartennone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Topic: Cyprus6 districts; Ammochostos (Famagusta; all but a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Keryneia (Kyrenia; the only district located entirely in the Turkish Cypriot community), Larnaka (Larnaca; with a small part located in the Turkish Cypriot community), Lefkosia (Nicosia; a small part administered by Turkish Cypriots), Lemesos (Limassol), Pafos (Paphos); note - the 5 "districts" of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" are Gazimagusa (Famagusta), Girne (Kyrenia), Guzelyurt (Morphou), Iskele (Trikomo), Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Topic: Czechia13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky (South Bohemia), Jihomoravsky (South Moravia), Karlovarsky (Karlovy Vary), Kralovehradecky (Hradec Kralove), Liberecky (Liberec), Moravskoslezsky (Moravia-Silesia), Olomoucky (Olomouc), Pardubicky (Pardubice), Plzensky (Pilsen), Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky (Central Bohemia), Ustecky (Usti), Vysocina (Highlands), Zlinsky (Zlin)
Topic: Denmarkmetropolitan Denmark - 5 regions (regioner, singular - region); Hovedstaden (Capital), Midtjylland (Central Jutland), Nordjylland (North Jutland), Sjaelland (Zealand), Syddanmark (Southern Denmark)
Topic: Djibouti6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah
Topic: Dominica10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Topic: Dominican Republic10 regions (regiones, singular - region); Cibao Nordeste, Cibao Noroeste, Cibao Norte, Cibao Sur, El Valle, Enriquillo, Higuamo, Ozama, Valdesia, Yuma
Topic: Ecuador24 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Topic: Egypt27 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah (Alexandria), Al Isma'iliyah (Ismailia), Al Jizah (Giza), Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah (Cairo), Al Qalyubiyah, Al Uqsur (Luxor), Al Wadi al Jadid (New Valley), As Suways (Suez), Ash Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id (Port Said), Dumyat (Damietta), Janub Sina' (South Sinai), Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina' (North Sinai), Suhaj
Topic: El Salvador14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Topic: Equatorial Guinea8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Topic: Eritrea6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); 'Anseba, Debub (South), Debubawi K'eyyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash-Barka, Ma'ikel (Central), Semienawi K'eyyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Topic: Estonia15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular vald)
urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru
rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
Topic: Eswatini4 regions; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Topic: Ethiopia11 ethnically based regional states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 chartered cities* (astedader akabibiwach, singular - astedader akabibi); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sidama, Sumale (Somali), Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples)
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Topic: Faroe Islandspart of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark; there are 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi
Topic: Fiji14 provinces and 1 dependency*; Ba, Bua, Cakaudrove, Kadavu, Lau, Lomaiviti, Macuata, Nadroga and Navosa, Naitasiri, Namosi, Ra, Rewa, Rotuma*, Serua, Tailevu
Topic: Finland19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
Topic: France18 regions (regions, singular - region); Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comte (Burgundy-Free County), Bretagne (Brittany), Centre-Val de Loire (Center-Loire Valley), Corse (Corsica), Grand Est (Grand East), Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Hauts-de-France (Upper France), Ile-de-France, Martinique, Mayotte, Normandie (Normandy), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine), Occitanie (Occitania), Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire), Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Reunion
note: France is divided into 13 metropolitan regions (including the "collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 5 overseas regions (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, and Reunion) and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 5 overseas departments (which are the same as the overseas regions)
Topic: French Polynesia5 administrative subdivisions (subdivisions administratives, singular - subdivision administrative): Iles Australes (Austral Islands), Iles du Vent (Windward Islands), Iles Marquises (Marquesas Islands), Iles Sous-le-Vent (Leeward Islands), Iles Tuamotu-Gambier; note - the Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands together make up the Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsnone (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 administrative districts named Iles Crozet, Iles Eparses, Iles Kerguelen, Ile Saint-Paul et Ile Amsterdam; the fifth district is the "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Topic: Gabon9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Topic: Gambia, The5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast
Topic: Georgia9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika) regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeti city: Tbilisi autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
note 1: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics are shown in parentheses
note 2: the United States recognizes the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be part of Georgia9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 1 city (kalaki), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika)regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli; note - the breakaway region of South Ossetia consists of the northern part of Shida Kartli, eastern slivers of the Imereti region and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and part of western Mtskheta-Mtianeticity: Tbilisiautonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
Topic: Germany16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen (Hesse), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen, and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat), while Bremen calls itself a Free Hanseatic City (Freie Hansestadt) and Hamburg considers itself a Free and Hanseatic City (Freie und Hansestadt)
Topic: Ghana16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North
Topic: Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Greece13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)
Topic: Greenland5 municipalities (kommuner, singular kommune); Avannaata, Kujalleq, Qeqertalik, Qeqqata, Sermersooq
note: Northeast Greenland National Park (Kalaallit Nunaanni Nuna Eqqissisimatitaq) and the Thule Air Base in Pituffik (in northwest Greenland) are two unincorporated areas; the national park's 972,000 sq km - about 46% of the island - makes it the largest national park in the world and also the most northerly
Topic: Grenada6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petite Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Topic: Guamnone (territory of the US)
Topic: Guatemala22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Topic: Guernseynone (British Crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes: Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint Saviour, Torteval, Vale
note: two additional parishes for Guernsey are sometimes listed - Saint Anne on the island of Alderney and Saint Peter on the island of Sark - but they are generally not included in the enumeration of parishes
Topic: Guinea7 regions administrative (administrative regions) and 1 gouvenorat (governorate)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
Topic: Guinea-Bissau9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Topic: Guyana10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Topic: Haiti10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)none
Topic: Honduras18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Topic: Hong Kongnone (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
Topic: Hungary19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 cities with county rights (megyei jogu varosok, singular - megyei jogu varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros) counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala cities with county rights: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg capital city: Budapest19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 23 cities with county rights (megyei jogu varosok, singular - megyei jogu varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad-Csanad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zalacities with county rights: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Erd, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszegcapital city: Budapest
Topic: Iceland69 municipalities (sveitarfelog, singular - sveitarfelagidh); Akrahreppur, Akranes, Akureyri, Arneshreppur, Asahreppur, Blaskogabyggdh, Blonduosbaer, Bolungarvik, Borgarbyggdh, Dalabyggdh, Dalvikurbyggdh, Eyjafjardharsveit, Eyja-og Miklaholtshreppur, Fjallabyggdh, Fjardhabyggdh, Fljotsdalshreppur, Floahreppur, Gardhabaer, Grimsnes-og Grafningshreppur, Grindavikurbaer, Grundarfjardharbaer, Grytubakkahreppur, Hafnarfjordhur, Helgafellssveit, Horgarsveit, Hrunamannahreppur, Hunathing Vestra, Hunavatnshreppur, Hvalfjardharsveit, Hveragerdhi, Isafjardharbaer, Kaldrananeshreppur, Kjosarhreppur, Kopavogur, Langanesbyggdh, Mosfellsbaer, Mulathing, Myrdalshreppur, Nordhurthing, Rangarthing Eystra, Rangarthing Ytra, Reykholahreppur, Reykjanesbaer, Reykjavik, Seltjarnarnes, Skaftarhreppur, Skagabyggdh, Skeidha-og Gnupverjahreppur, Skorradalshreppur, Skutustadhahreppur, Snaefellsbaer, Strandabyggdh, Stykkisholmur, Sudhavikurhreppur, Sudhurnesjabaer, Svalbardhshreppur, Svalbardhsstrandarhreppur, Sveitarfelagidh Arborg, Sveitarfelagidh Hornafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Olfus, Sveitarfelagidh Skagafjordhur, Sveitarfelagidh Skagastrond, Sveitarfelagidh Vogar, Talknafjardharhreppur, Thingeyjarsveit, Tjorneshreppur, Vestmannaeyjar, Vesturbyggdh, Vopnafjardharhreppur
Topic: India28 states and 8 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir*, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh*, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
note: although its status is that of a union territory, the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi
Topic: Indonesia31 provinces (provinsi-provinsi, singular - provinsi), 1 autonomous province*, 1 special region** (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 national capital district*** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Jakarta***, Jambi, Jawa Barat (West Java), Jawa Tengah (Central Java), Jawa Timur (East Java), Kalimantan Barat (West Kalimantan), Kalimantan Selatan (South Kalimantan), Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan), Kalimantan Timur (East Kalimantan), Kalimantan Utara (North Kalimantan), Kepulauan Bangka Belitung (Bangka Belitung Islands), Kepulauan Riau (Riau Islands), Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara (North Maluku), Nusa Tenggara Barat (West Nusa Tenggara), Nusa Tenggara Timur (East Nusa Tenggara), Papua, Papua Barat (West Papua), Riau, Sulawesi Barat (West Sulawesi), Sulawesi Selatan (South Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tengah (Central Sulawesi), Sulawesi Tenggara (Southeast Sulawesi), Sulawesi Utara (North Sulawesi), Sumatera Barat (West Sumatra), Sumatera Selatan (South Sumatra), Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra), Yogyakarta**
note: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on 1 January 2001, regencies and municipalities have become the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services
Topic: Iran31 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Alborz, Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Sharqi (East Azerbaijan), Bushehr, Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Jonubi (South Khorasan), Khorasan-e Razavi (Razavi Khorasan), Khorasan-e Shomali (North Khorasan), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Bowyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Topic: Iraq18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah (Arabic); parezgakan, singular - parezga (Kurdish)) and 1 region*; 'Al Anbar; Al Basrah; Al Muthanna; Al Qadisiyah (Ad Diwaniyah); An Najaf; Arbil (Erbil) (Arabic), Hewler (Kurdish); As Sulaymaniyah (Arabic), Slemani (Kurdish); Babil; Baghdad; Dahuk (Arabic), Dihok (Kurdish); Dhi Qar; Diyala; Karbala'; Kirkuk; Maysan; Ninawa; Salah ad Din; Wasit
note: Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government administers Arbil, Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniyah (as Hewler, Dihok, and Slemani respectively)
Topic: Ireland28 counties and 3 cities*; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Cork*, Donegal, Dublin*, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Galway*, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
Topic: Isle of Mannone; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections
Topic: Israel6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Topic: Italy15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Venetoautonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)
Topic: Jamaica14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation
Topic: Japan47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Topic: Jerseynone (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes; Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, Trinity
Topic: Jordan12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); 'Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, Al ‘Asimah (Amman), At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Topic: Kazakhstan14 provinces (oblyslar, singular - oblys) and 4 cities* (qalalar, singular - qala); Almaty (Taldyqorghan), Almaty*, Aqmola (Kokshetau), Aqtobe, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan [West Kazakhstan] (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau), Nur-Sultan*, Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan [East Kazakhstan] (Oskemen), Shymkent*, Soltustik Qazaqstan [North Kazakhstan] (Petropavl), Turkistan, Zhambyl (Taraz)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baikonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baikonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050
Topic: Kenya47 counties; Baringo, Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kericho, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang'a, Nairobi City, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita/Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka-Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, West Pokot
Topic: Kiribati3 geographical units: Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions, but there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Topic: Korea, North9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special administration cities (si, singular and plural) provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggang special administration cities: Kaesong, Nampo, P'yongyang, Rason
note: P'yongyang is identified as a directly controlled city, while Kaesong, Nampo, and Rason are designated as special cities9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special administration cities (si, singular and plural)provinces: Chagang, Hambuk (North Hamgyong), Hamnam (South Hamgyong), Hwangbuk (North Hwanghae), Hwangnam (South Hwanghae), Kangwon, P'yongbuk (North Pyongan), P'yongnam (South Pyongan), Ryanggangspecial administration cities: Kaesong, Nampo, P'yongyang, Rason
Topic: Korea, South9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi) provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla) metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsan special city: Seoul special self-governing city: Sejong9 provinces (do, singular and plural), 6 metropolitan cities (gwangyeoksi, singular and plural), 1 special city (teugbyeolsi), and 1 special self-governing city (teukbyeoljachisi)provinces: Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong), Chungcheongnam-do (South Chungcheong), Gangwon-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do (North Gyeongsang), Gyeonggi-do, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang), Jeju-do (Jeju), Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla), Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla)metropolitan cities: Busan (Pusan), Daegu (Taegu), Daejeon (Taejon), Gwangju (Kwangju), Incheon (Inch'on), Ulsanspecial city: Seoulspecial self-governing city: Sejong
Topic: Kosovo38 municipalities (komunat, singular - komuna (Albanian); opstine, singular - opstina (Serbian)); Decan (Decani), Dragash (Dragas), Ferizaj (Urosevac), Fushe Kosove (Kosovo Polje), Gjakove (Dakovica), Gjilan (Gnjilane), Gllogovc (Glogovac), Gracanice (Gracanica), Hani i Elezit (Deneral Jankovic), Istog (Istok), Junik, Kacanik, Kamenice (Kamenica), Kline (Klina), Kllokot (Klokot), Leposaviq (Leposavic), Lipjan (Lipljan), Malisheve (Malisevo), Mamushe (Mamusa), Mitrovice e Jugut (Juzna Mitrovica) [South Mitrovica], Mitrovice e Veriut (Severna Mitrovica) [North Mitrovica], Novoberde (Novo Brdo), Obiliq (Obilic), Partesh (Partes), Peje (Pec), Podujeve (Podujevo), Prishtine (Pristina), Prizren, Rahovec (Orahovac), Ranillug (Ranilug), Shterpce (Strpce), Shtime (Stimlje), Skenderaj (Srbica), Suhareke (Suva Reka), Viti (Vitina), Vushtrri (Vucitrn), Zubin Potok, Zvecan
Topic: Kuwait6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak al Kabir
Topic: Kyrgyzstan7 provinces (oblustar, singular - oblus) and 2 cities* (shaarlar, singular - shaar); Batken Oblusu, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblusu (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblusu, Naryn Oblusu, Osh Oblusu, Osh Shaary*, Talas Oblusu, Ysyk-Kol Oblusu (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Topic: Laos17 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 prefecture* (kampheng nakhon); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun, Xekong, Xiangkhouang
Topic: Latvia36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba) municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspils cities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils36 municipalities (novadi, singular - novads) and 7 state cities (valstpilsetu pasvaldibas, singular valstspilsetas pasvaldiba)municipalities: Adazi, Aizkraukle, Aluksne, Augsdaugava, Balvi, Bauska, Cesis, Dienvidkurzeme, Dobele, Gulbene, Jekabpils, Jelgava, Kekava, Kraslava, Kuldiga, Limbazi, Livani, Ludza, Madona, Marupe, Ogre, Olaine, Preili, Rezekne, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saldus, Saulkrasti, Sigulda, Smiltene, Talsi, Tukums, Valka, Valmiera, Varaklani, Ventspilscities: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Riga, Ventspils
Topic: Lebanon8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakkar, Baalbek-Hermel, Beqaa (Bekaa), Beyrouth (Beirut), Liban-Nord (North Lebanon), Liban-Sud (South Lebanon), Mont-Liban (Mount Lebanon), Nabatiye
Topic: Lesotho10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Topic: Liberia15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Topic: Libya22 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jabal al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jufrah, Al Kufrah, Al Marj, Al Marqab, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi (Benghazi), Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Murzuq, Nalut, Sabha, Surt, Tarabulus (Tripoli), Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Topic: Liechtenstein11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Topic: Lithuania60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
Topic: Luxembourg12 cantons (cantons, singular - canton); Capellen, Clervaux, Diekirch, Echternach, Esch-sur-Alzette, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg, Mersch, Redange, Remich, Vianden, Wiltz
Topic: Macaunone (special administrative region of the People's Republic of China)
Topic: Madagascar6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara
Topic: Malawi28 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Neno, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba
Topic: Malaysia13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri); Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu; and 1 federal territory (Wilayah Persekutuan) with 3 components, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya
Topic: Maldives21 administrative atolls (atholhuthah, singular - atholhu); Addu (Addu City), Ariatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Ari Atoll), Ariatholhu Uthuruburi (North Ari Atoll), Faadhippolhu, Felidhuatholhu (Felidhu Atoll), Fuvammulah, Hahdhunmathi, Huvadhuatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Huvadhu Atoll), Huvadhuatholhu Uthuruburi (North Huvadhu Atoll), Kolhumadulu, Maale (Male), Maaleatholhu (Male Atoll), Maalhosmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Maalhosmadulu), Maalhosmadulu Uthuruburi (North Maalhosmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Dhekunuburi (South Miladhunmadulu), Miladhunmadulu Uthuruburi (North Miladhunmadulu), Mulakatholhu (Mulaku Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Dhekunuburi (South Nilandhe Atoll), Nilandheatholhu Uthuruburi (North Nilandhe Atoll), Thiladhunmathee Dhekunuburi (South Thiladhunmathi), Thiladhunmathee Uthuruburi (North Thiladhunmathi)
Topic: Mali10 regions (regions, singular - region), 1 district*; District de Bamako*, Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Menaka, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Taoudenni, Tombouctou (Timbuktu); note - Menaka and Taoudenni were legislated in 2016, but implementation has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names
Topic: Malta68 localities (Il-lokalita); Attard, Balzan, Birgu, Birkirkara, Birzebbuga, Bormla, Dingli, Fgura, Floriana, Fontana, Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Gharghur, Ghasri, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Gzira, Hamrun, Iklin, Imdina, Imgarr, Imqabba, Imsida, Imtarfa, Isla, Kalkara, Kercem, Kirkop, Lija, Luqa, Marsa, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha, Mosta, Munxar, Nadur, Naxxar, Paola, Pembroke, Pieta, Qala, Qormi, Qrendi, Rabat, Rabat (Ghawdex), Safi, San Giljan/Saint Julian, San Gwann/Saint John, San Lawrenz/Saint Lawrence, Sannat, San Pawl il-Bahar/Saint Paul's Bay, Santa Lucija/Saint Lucia, Santa Venera/Saint Venera, Siggiewi, Sliema, Swieqi, Tarxien, Ta' Xbiex, Valletta, Xaghra, Xewkija, Xghajra, Zabbar, Zebbug, Zebbug (Ghawdex), Zejtun, Zurrieq
Topic: Marshall Islands24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
Topic: Mauritania15 regions (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott Nord, Nouakchott Ouest, Nouakchott Sud, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza
Topic: Mauritius9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Topic: Mexico32 states (estados, singular - estado); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Colima, Cuidad de Mexico, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatan, Zacatecas
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap
Topic: Moldova32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala) raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)32 raions (raioane, singular - raion), 3 municipalities (municipii, singular - municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)raions: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Unghenimunicipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinauautonomous territorial unit: Gagauziaterritorial unit: Stinga Nistrului (Transnistria)
Topic: Monaconone; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo; note - Moneghetti, a part of La Condamine, is sometimes called the 5th quarter of Monaco
Topic: Mongolia21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan (Zavkhan), Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs
Topic: Montenegro24 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina); Andrijevica, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Gusinje, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Petnijica, Plav, Pljevlja, Pluzine, Podgorica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Tuzi, Ulcinj, Zabljak
Topic: Montserrat3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter
Topic: Morocco12 regions; Beni Mellal-Khenifra, Casablanca-Settat, Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, Draa-Tafilalet, Fes-Meknes, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Souss-Massa, Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima
note: effective 10 December 2020, the US Government recognizes the sovereignty of Morocco over all of the territory of former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia
Topic: Namibia14 regions; Erongo, Hardap, //Karas, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Zambezi; note - the Karas Region was renamed //Karas in September 2013 to include the alveolar lateral click of the Khoekhoegowab language
Topic: Nauru14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baitsi, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Topic: Nepal7 provinces (pradesh, singular - pradesh); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Lumbini, Province No. One, Province No. Two, Sudurpashchim
Topic: Netherlands12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie), 3 public entities* (openbare lichamen, singular - openbaar lichaam (Dutch); entidatnan publiko, singular - entidat publiko (Papiamento)); Bonaire*, Drenthe, Flevoland, Fryslan (Friesland), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland), Overijssel, Saba*, Sint Eustatius*, Utrecht, Zeeland (Zealand), Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
note 1: the Netherlands is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, are all islands in the Caribbean; while all four parts are considered equal partners, in practice, most of the Kingdom's affairs are administered by the Netherlands, which makes up about 98% of the Kingdom's total land area and population
note 2: although Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are officially incorporated into the country of the Netherlands under the broad designation of "public entities," Dutch Government sources regularly apply to them the more descriptive term of "special municipalities"; Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are collectively referred to as the Caribbean Netherlands
Topic: New Caledonia3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
Topic: New Zealand16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Topic: Nicaragua15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonoma); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Costa Caribe Norte*, Costa Caribe Sur*, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Topic: Niger7 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district* (communaute urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Topic: Nigeria36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Topic: Niuenone; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order
Topic: Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia)
Topic: North Macedonia70 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina) and 1 city* (grad); Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Caska, Centar Zupa, Cesinovo-Oblesevo, Cucer Sandevo, Debar, Debarca, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rostusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Skopje*, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vrapciste, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnone (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Topic: Norway18 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Telemark, Troms, Trondelag, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Topic: Oman11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)
Topic: Pakistan4 provinces, 2 Pakistan-administered areas*, and 1 capital territory**; Azad Kashmir*, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh
Topic: Palau16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Topic: Panama10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 4 indigenous regions* (comarcas); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Embera-Wounaan*, Guna Yala*, Herrera, Los Santos, Naso Tjer Di*, Ngabe-Bugle*, Panama, Panama Oeste, Veraguas
Topic: Papua New Guinea20 provinces, 1 autonomous region*, and 1 district**; Bougainville*, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Hela, Jiwaka, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital**, New Ireland, Northern, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain, West Sepik
Topic: Paraguay17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Topic: Peru25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note: Callao, the largest port in Peru, is also referred to as a constitutional province, the only province of the Callao region
Topic: Philippines81 provinces and 38 chartered cities provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay; chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga81 provinces and 38 chartered citiesprovinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay;chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga
Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Poland16 voivodships [provinces] (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie (Lower Silesia), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavia-Pomerania), Lodzkie (Lodz), Lubelskie (Lublin), Lubuskie (Lubusz), Malopolskie (Lesser Poland), Mazowieckie (Masovia), Opolskie (Opole), Podkarpackie (Subcarpathia), Podlaskie, Pomorskie (Pomerania), Slaskie (Silesia), Swietokrzyskie (Holy Cross), Warminsko-Mazurskie (Warmia-Masuria), Wielkopolskie (Greater Poland), Zachodniopomorskie (West Pomerania)
Topic: Portugal18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Topic: Puerto Riconone (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Topic: Qatar8 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Khawr wa adh Dhakhirah, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Ash Shamal, Ash Shihaniyah, Az Za'ayin, Umm Salal
Topic: Romania41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Valcea, Vrancea
Topic: Russia46 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respubliki, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnyye okrugi, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (kraya, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast') oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk) autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard) krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita) federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg] autonomous oblast: Yevreyskaya [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
note 2: the United States does not recognize Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol, nor their redesignation as the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol"46 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respubliki, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnyye okrugi, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (kraya, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast')oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavlrepublics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita)federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg]
Topic: Rwanda4 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - intara for singular and plural) and 1 city* (in French - ville; in Kinyarwanda - umujyi); Est (Eastern), Kigali*, Nord (Northern), Ouest (Western), Sud (Southern)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha3 administrative areas; Ascension, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Topic: Saint Lucia10 districts; Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnone (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 2 communes at the second order - Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Topic: Samoa11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Topic: San Marino9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe6 districts (distritos, singular - distrito), 1 autonomous region* (regiao autonoma); Agua Grande, Cantagalo, Caue, Lemba, Lobata, Me-Zochi, Principe*
Topic: Saudi Arabia13 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah al Munawwarah (Medina), Al Qasim, Ar Riyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jazan, Makkah al Mukarramah (Mecca), Najran, Tabuk
Topic: Senegal14 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sedhiou, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Topic: Serbia119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 cities (gradovi, singular - grad) municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitorada cities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin*
note: the northern 37 municipalities and 8 cities - about 28% of Serbia's area - compose the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and are indicated with *119 municipalities (opstine, singular - opstina) and 26 cities (gradovi, singular - grad)municipalities: Ada*, Aleksandrovac, Aleksinac, Alibunar*, Apatin*, Arandelovac, Arilje, Babusnica, Bac*, Backa Palanka*, Backa Topola*, Backi Petrovac*, Bajina Basta, Batocina, Becej*, Bela Crkva*, Bela Palanka, Beocin*, Blace, Bogatic, Bojnik, Boljevac, Bor, Bosilegrad, Brus, Bujanovac, Cajetina, Cicevac, Coka*, Crna Trava, Cuprija, Despotovac, Dimitrov, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Golubac, Gornji Milanovac, Indija*, Irig*, Ivanjica, Kanjiza*, Kladovo, Knic, Knjazevac, Koceljeva, Kosjeric, Kovacica*, Kovin*, Krupanj, Kucevo, Kula*, Kursumlija, Lajkovac, Lapovo, Lebane, Ljig, Ljubovija, Lucani, Majdanpek, Mali Idos*, Mali Zvornik, Malo Crnice, Medveda, Merosina, Mionica, Negotin, Nova Crnja*, Nova Varos, Novi Becej*, Novi Knezevac*, Odzaci*, Opovo*, Osecina, Paracin, Pecinci*, Petrovac na Mlavi, Plandiste*, Pozega, Presevo, Priboj, Prijepolje, Prokuplje, Raca, Raska, Razanj, Rekovac, Ruma*, Secanj*, Senta*, Sid*, Sjenica, Smederevska Palanka, Sokobanja, Srbobran*, Sremski Karlovci*, Stara Pazova*, Surdulica, Svilajnac, Svrljig, Temerin*, Titel*, Topola, Trgoviste, Trstenik, Tutin, Ub, Varvarin, Velika Plana, Veliko Gradiste, Vladicin Han, Vladimirci, Vlasotince, Vrbas*, Vrnjacka Banja, Zabalj*, Zabari, Zagubica, Zitiste*, Zitoradacities: Beograd, Cacak, Jagodina, Kikinda*, Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Loznica, Nis, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad*, Pancevo*, Pirot, Pozarevac, Sabac, Smederevo, Sombor*, Sremska Mitrovica*, Subotica*, Uzice, Valjevo, Vranje, Vrsac*, Zajecar, Zrenjanin*
Topic: Seychelles27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Topic: Sierra Leone4 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, North Western, Southern, Western*
Topic: Singaporeno first order administrative divisions; there are five community development councils: Central Singapore Development Council, North East Development Council, North West Development Council, South East Development Council, South West Development Council (2019)
Topic: Sint Maartennone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: Sint Maarten is one of four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; the other three are the Netherlands, Aruba, and Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Topic: Slovakia8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banska Bystrica, Bratislava, Kosice, Nitra, Presov, Trencin, Trnava, Zilina
Topic: Slovenia201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina) municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberk urban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje201 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities (mestne obcine, singular - mestna obcina)municipalities: Ajdovscina, Ankaran, Apace, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Cirkulane, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik/Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gorje, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola/Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal ob Soci, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Kosanjevica na Krki, Kostel, Kozje, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava/Lendva, Litija, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Log-Dragomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Makole, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Mokronog-Trebelno, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran/Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Poljcane, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Recica ob Savinji, Rence-Vogrsko, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogaska Slatina, Rogasovci, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur, Sentrupert, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smarjeske Toplice, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Sredisce ob Dravi, Starse, Store, Straza, Sveta Ana, Sveta Trojica v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij ob Scavnici, Sveti Jurij v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Tomaz, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zrece, Zuzemberkurban municipalities: Celje, Koper, Kranj, Ljubljana, Maribor, Murska Sobota, Nova Gorica, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Slovenj Gradec, Velenje
Topic: Solomon Islands9 provinces and 1 city*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira and Ulawa, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western
Topic: Somalia18 regions (plural - gobollo, singular - gobol); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe (Middle Jubba), Jubbada Hoose (Lower Jubba), Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe (Middle Shabeelle), Shabeellaha Hoose (Lower Shabeelle), Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Topic: South Africa9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape
Topic: South Sudan10 states; Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Western Equatoria; note - in 2015, the creation of 28 new states was announced and in 2017 four additional states; following the February 2020 peace agreement, the country was reportedly again reorganized into the 10 original states, plus 2 administrative areas, Pibor and Ruweng, and 1 special administrative status area, Abyei (which is disputed between South Sudan and Sudan); this latest administrative revision has not yet been vetted by the US Board on Geographic Names
Topic: Spain17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country]
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)
Topic: Sri Lanka9 provinces; Central, Eastern, North Central, Northern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Topic: Sudan18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile
note: the peace Agreement signed in October 2020 included a provision to establish a system of governance that will likely restructure the country's current 18 provinces/states into regions
Topic: Suriname10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Topic: Sweden21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarna, Gavleborg, Gotland, Halland, Jamtland, Jonkoping, Kalmar, Kronoberg, Norrbotten, Orebro, Ostergotland, Skane, Sodermanland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Varmland, Vasterbotten, Vasternorrland, Vastmanland, Vastra Gotaland
Topic: Switzerland26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; Kantone, singular - Kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Berne/Bern, Fribourg/Freiburg, Geneve (Geneva), Glarus, Graubuenden/Grigioni/Grischun, Jura, Luzern (Lucerne), Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais/Wallis, Vaud, Zug, Zuerich
note: the canton names are in the official language(s) of the canton with the exception of Geneve and Luzern, where the conventional names (Geneva and Lucerne) have been added in parentheses; 6 of the cantons - Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Nidwalden, Obwalden - are referred to as half cantons because they elect only one member (instead of two) to the Council of States and, in popular referendums where a majority of popular votes and a majority of cantonal votes are required, these 6 cantons only have a half vote
Topic: Syria14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah (Latakia), Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq (Damascus), Halab (Aleppo), Hamah, Hims (Homs), Idlib, Rif Dimashq (Damascus Countryside), Tartus
Topic: Taiwanincludes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (xian, singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan counties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlin cities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelung special municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city)
note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while a modified Wade-Giles system still dominates, the city of Taipei has adopted a Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization systemsincludes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 13 counties (xian, singular and plural), 3 cities (shi, singular and plural), and 6 special municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of the Executive Yuancounties: Changhua, Chiayi, Hsinchu, Hualien, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli, Nantou, Penghu, Pingtung, Taitung, Yilan, Yunlincities: Chiayi, Hsinchu, Keelungspecial municipalities: Kaohsiung (city), New Taipei (city), Taichung (city), Tainan (city), Taipei (city), Taoyuan (city)
Topic: Tajikistan2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor), 1 capital region** (viloyati poytakht), and 1 area referred to as Districts Under Republic Administration***; Dushanbe**, Khatlon (Bokhtar), Kuhistoni Badakhshon [Gorno-Badakhshan]* (Khorugh), Nohiyahoi Tobei Jumhuri***, Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Topic: Tanzania31 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Geita, Iringa, Kagera, Kaskazini Pemba (Pemba North), Kaskazini Unguja (Zanzibar North), Katavi, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Kusini Pemba (Pemba South), Kusini Unguja (Zanzibar Central/South), Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Mjini Magharibi (Zanzibar Urban/West), Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Njombe, Pwani (Coast), Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Simiyu, Singida, Songwe, Tabora, Tanga
Topic: Thailand76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (maha nakhon); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep* (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Saraburi, Satun, Sing Buri, Si Sa Ket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Topic: Timor-Leste12 municipalities (municipios, singular municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Topic: Togo5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes
Topic: Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand)
Topic: Tonga5 island divisions; 'Eua, Ha'apai, Ongo Niua, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 ward regions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco borough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortin cities: Port of Spain, San Fernando ward: Tobago9 regions, 3 boroughs, 2 cities, 1 wardregions: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarcoborough: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortincities: Port of Spain, San Fernandoward: Tobago
Topic: Tunisia24 governorates (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), L'Ariana (Aryanah), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bouzid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)81 provinces (iller, singular - ili); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir (Smyrna), Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon (Trebizond), Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak
Topic: Turkmenistan5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat) and 1 independent city*: Ahal Welayaty (Anew), Ashgabat*, Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dasoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)
Topic: Tuvalu7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu
Topic: Uganda134 districts and 1 capital city*; Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuria, Amuru, Apac, Arua, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bugweri, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Busia, Butaleja, Butambala, Butebo, Buvuma, Buyende, Dokolo, Gomba, Gulu, Hoima, Ibanda, Iganga, Isingiro, Jinja, Kaabong, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kalaki, Kalangala, Kaliro, Kalungu, Kampala*, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kapelebyong, Karenga, Kasese, Kasanda, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kazo, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kikuube, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kitagwenda, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Kumi, Kwania, Kween, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Kyotera, Lamwo, Lira, Luuka, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Madi-Okollo, Manafwa, Maracha, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Mitooma, Mityana, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nabilatuk, Nakapiripirit, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namayingo, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Napak, Nebbi, Ngora, Ntoroko, Ntungamo, Nwoya, Obongi, Omoro, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Pallisa, Rakai, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Rwampara, Sembabule, Serere, Sheema, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe, Zombo
Topic: Ukraine24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities** (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol), Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro), Donetsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad (Kropyvnytskyi), Kyiv**, Kyiv, Luhansk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol**, Sumy, Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Volyn (Lutsk), Zakarpattia (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr
note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); plans include the eventual renaming of Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad oblasts, but because these names are mentioned in the Constitution of Ukraine, the change will require a constitutional amendment
note 2: the US Government does not recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol, nor their redesignation as the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol"
Topic: United Arab Emirates7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Topic: United KingdomEngland: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*); two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Worcestershire London boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminster metropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; York Northern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils; borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrim district councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Down city councils: Belfast; Lisburn and Castlereagh Scotland: 32 council areas; council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian Wales: 22 unitary authorities; unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, WrexhamEngland: 24 two-tier counties, 32 London boroughs and 1 City of London or Greater London, 36 metropolitan districts, 59 unitary authorities (including 4 single-tier counties*);two-tier counties: Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, WorcestershireLondon boroughs and City of London or Greater London: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Westminstermetropolitan districts: Barnsley, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Bury, Calderdale, Coventry, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Kirklees, Knowlsey, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Oldham, Rochdale, Rotherham, Salford, Sandwell, Sefton, Sheffield, Solihull, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Tameside, Trafford, Wakefield, Walsall, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhamptonunitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Blackburn with Darwen; Blackpool; Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole; Bracknell Forest; Brighton and Hove; City of Bristol; Buckinghamshire; Central Bedfordshire; Cheshire East; Cheshire West and Chester; Cornwall; Darlington; Derby; Dorset; Durham County*; East Riding of Yorkshire; Halton; Hartlepool; Herefordshire*; Isle of Wight*; Isles of Scilly; City of Kingston upon Hull; Leicester; Luton; Medway; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; North East Lincolnshire; North Lincolnshire; North Northamptonshire; North Somerset; Northumberland*; Nottingham; Peterborough; Plymouth; Portsmouth; Reading; Redcar and Cleveland; Rutland; Shropshire; Slough; South Gloucestershire; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Swindon; Telford and Wrekin; Thurrock; Torbay; Warrington; West Berkshire; West Northamptonshire; Wiltshire; Windsor and Maidenhead; Wokingham; YorkNorthern Ireland: 5 borough councils, 4 district councils, 2 city councils;borough councils: Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon; Causeway Coast and Glens; Mid and East Antrimdistrict councils: Derry City and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Mid Ulster; Newry, Murne, and Downcity councils: Belfast; Lisburn and CastlereaghScotland: 32 council areas;council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire, West LothianWales: 22 unitary authorities;unitary authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Swansea, The Vale of Glamorgan, Torfaen, Wrexham
Topic: United States50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Topic: Uruguay19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Topic: Uzbekistan12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonom respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati [Bukhara Province], Farg'ona Viloyati [Fergana Province], Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan Republic]* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati [Samarkand Province], Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri [Tashkent City]**, Toshkent Viloyati [Tashkent Province], Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Topic: Vanuatu6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Topic: Venezuela23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district* (distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales (Federal Dependencies)**, Distrito Capital (Capital District)*, Falcon, Guarico, La Guaira, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Topic: Vietnam58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural) provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thanh pho, singular and plural)provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Baimunicipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Ha Noi (Hanoi), Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Topic: Virgin Islandsnone (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
Topic: Wallis and Futuna3 administrative precincts (circonscriptions, singular - circonscription) Alo, Sigave, Uvea
Topic: World195 countries, 71 dependent areas and other entities
Topic: Yemen22 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan (Aden), Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al 'Asimah (Sanaa City), 'Amran, Arkhabil Suqutra (Socotra Archipelago), Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Raymah, Sa'dah, San'a' (Sanaa), Shabwah, Ta'izz
Topic: Zambia10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Topic: Zimbabwe8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands |
20220901 | field-real-gdp-per-capita | This entry shows real GDP, divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
Topic: Afghanistan$2,000 (2020 est.)
$2,100 (2019 est.)
$2,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Albania$13,300 (2020 est.)
$13,700 (2019 est.)
$13,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Algeria$10,700 (2020 est.)
$11,500 (2019 est.)
$11,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: American Samoa$11,200 (2016 est.)
$11,300 (2015 est.)
$11,200 (2014 est.)
Topic: Andorra$49,900 (2015 est.)
$51,300 (2014 est.)
$50,300 (2013 est.)
Topic: Angola$6,200 (2020 est.)
$6,700 (2019 est.)
$6,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Anguilla$12,200 (2008 est.)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda$18,000 (2020 est.)
$21,500 (2019 est.)
$21,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Argentina$19,700 (2020 est.)
$22,100 (2019 est.)
$22,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Armenia$12,600 (2020 est.)
$13,700 (2019 est.)
$12,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Aruba$37,500 (2017 est.)
$38,442 (2017 est.)
$37,300 (2016 est.)
Topic: Australia$48,700 (2020 est.)
$49,500 (2019 est.)
$49,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Austria$51,900 (2020 est.)
$55,800 (2019 est.)
$55,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Azerbaijan$13,700 (2020 est.)
$14,400 (2019 est.)
$14,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bahamas, The$30,800 (2020 est.)
$37,100 (2019 est.)
$37,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bahrain$40,900 (2020 est.)
$45,100 (2019 est.)
$46,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bangladesh$4,800 (2020 est.)
$4,800 (2019 est.)
$4,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Barbados$12,900 (2020 est.)
$15,600 (2019 est.)
$15,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Belarus$19,100 (2020 est.)
$19,300 (2019 est.)
$18,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Belgium$48,200 (2020 est.)
$51,700 (2019 est.)
$51,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Belize$6,100 (2020 est.)
$7,300 (2019 est.)
$7,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Benin$3,300 (2020 est.)
$3,300 (2019 est.)
$3,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bermuda$81,800 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$81,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$81,835 (2017 est.)
Topic: Bhutan$10,900 (2020 est.)
$11,800 (2019 est.)
$11,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bolivia$7,900 (2020 est.)
$8,700 (2019 est.)
$8,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina$14,300 (2020 est.)
$14,900 (2019 est.)
$14,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Botswana$16,000 (2020 est.)
$17,800 (2019 est.)
$17,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Brazil$14,100 (2020 est.)
$14,800 (2019 est.)
$14,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: British Virgin Islands$34,200 (2017 est.)
Topic: Brunei$62,200 (2020 est.)
$62,100 (2019 est.)
$60,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Bulgaria$22,400 (2020 est.)
$23,200 (2019 est.)
$22,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Burkina Faso$2,200 (2020 est.)
$2,200 (2019 est.)
$2,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Burma$4,500 (2020 est.)
$5,100 (2019 est.)
$5,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Burundi$700 (2020 est.)
$800 (2019 est.)
$800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cabo Verde$6,000 (2020 est.)
$7,200 (2019 est.)
$6,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cambodia$4,200 (2020 est.)
$4,400 (2019 est.)
$4,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cameroon$3,600 (2020 est.)
$3,600 (2019 est.)
$3,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Canada$45,900 (2020 est.)
$49,000 (2019 est.)
$48,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cayman Islands$73,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$71,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$69,573 (2017 est.)
Topic: Central African Republic$900 (2020 est.)
$900 (2019 est.)
$900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Chad$1,500 (2020 est.)
$1,600 (2019 est.)
$1,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Chile$23,300 (2020 est.)
$25,000 (2019 est.)
$25,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: China$16,400 (2020 est.)
$16,100 (2019 est.)
$15,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Colombia$13,400 (2020 est.)
$14,600 (2019 est.)
$14,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Comoros$3,100 (2020 est.)
$3,100 (2019 est.)
$3,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the$1,100 (2020 est.)
$1,100 (2019 est.)
$1,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Congo, Republic of the$3,400 (2020 est.)
$3,800 (2019 est.)
$3,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cook Islands$16,700 (2016 est.)
$9,100 (2005 est.)
Topic: Costa Rica$19,700 (2020 est.)
$20,800 (2019 est.)
$20,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire$5,200 (2020 est.)
$5,200 (2019 est.)
$5,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Croatia$26,500 (2020 est.)
$28,800 (2019 est.)
$27,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Cuba$12,300 (2016 est.)
$12,200 (2015 est.)
$12,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
Topic: Curacao$24,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$25,100 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$25,475 (2017 est.)
Topic: Cyprus$37,700 (2020 est.)
$40,200 (2019 est.)
$39,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Czechia$38,300 (2020 est.)
$40,700 (2019 est.)
$39,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Denmark$55,900 (2020 est.)
$57,700 (2019 est.)
$56,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Djibouti$5,500 (2020 est.)
$5,500 (2019 est.)
$5,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Dominica$9,900 (2020 est.)
$11,900 (2019 est.)
$11,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Dominican Republic$17,000 (2020 est.)
$18,400 (2019 est.)
$17,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Ecuador$10,300 (2020 est.)
$11,400 (2019 est.)
$11,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Egypt$12,000 (2020 est.)
$11,800 (2019 est.)
$11,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: El Salvador$8,100 (2020 est.)
$8,800 (2019 est.)
$8,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Equatorial Guinea$17,000 (2020 est.)
$18,500 (2019 est.)
$20,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Eritrea$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,500 (2016 est.)
$1,500 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Estonia$35,600 (2020 est.)
$36,800 (2019 est.)
$35,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Eswatini$8,400 (2020 est.)
$8,600 (2019 est.)
$8,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Ethiopia$2,300 (2020 est.)
$2,200 (2019 est.)
$2,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: European Union$44,436 (2019 est.)
$43,761 (2018 est.)
$42,848 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)$70,800 (2015 est.)
$63,000 (2014 est.)
Topic: Faroe Islands$40,000 (2014 est.)
Topic: Fiji$11,000 (2020 est.)
$13,700 (2019 est.)
$13,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Finland$47,300 (2020 est.)
$48,700 (2019 est.)
$48,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: France$42,000 (2020 est.)
$45,800 (2019 est.)
$45,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: French Polynesia$17,000 (2015 est.)
$20,100 (2014 est.)
$22,700 (2010)
Topic: Gabon$14,400 (2020 est.)
$15,000 (2019 est.)
$14,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Gambia, The$2,200 (2020 est.)
$2,200 (2019 est.)
$2,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Gaza Strip$6,220 (2019 est.)
$6,318 (2018 est.)
$6,402 (2017 est.)
see entry for the the West Bank
Topic: Georgia$14,100 (2020 est.)
$15,000 (2019 est.)
$14,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Germany$50,900 (2020 est.)
$53,600 (2019 est.)
$53,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Ghana$5,300 (2020 est.)
$5,400 (2019 est.)
$5,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Gibraltar$61,700 (2014 est.)
$43,000 (2008 est.)
$41,200 (2007 est.)
Topic: Greece$27,300 (2020 est.)
$29,700 (2019 est.)
$29,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Greenland$41,800 (2015 est.)
$38,800 (2014 est.)
$38,500 (2013 est.)
Topic: Grenada$15,100 (2020 est.)
$17,100 (2019 est.)
$16,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Guam$35,600 (2016 est.)
$35,200 (2015 est.)
$34,400 (2014 est.)
Topic: Guatemala$8,400 (2020 est.)
$8,700 (2019 est.)
$8,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Guernsey$52,500 (2014 est.)
Topic: Guinea$2,700 (2020 est.)
$2,600 (2019 est.)
$2,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Guinea-Bissau$1,800 (2020 est.)
$1,900 (2019 est.)
$1,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Guyana$18,700 (2020 est.)
$13,100 (2019 est.)
$12,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Haiti$2,800 (2020 est.)
$2,900 (2019 est.)
$3,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Honduras$5,100 (2020 est.)
$5,700 (2019 est.)
$5,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Hong Kong$56,200 (2020 est.)
$59,600 (2019 est.)
$61,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Hungary$31,000 (2020 est.)
$32,600 (2019 est.)
$31,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Iceland$52,300 (2020 est.)
$56,900 (2019 est.)
$56,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: India$6,100 (2020 est.)
$6,700 (2019 est.)
$6,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Indonesia$11,400 (2020 est.)
$11,800 (2019 est.)
$11,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Iran$12,400 (2020 est.)
$12,400 (2019 est.)
$13,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Iraq$9,300 (2020 est.)
$10,600 (2019 est.)
$10,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Ireland$89,700 (2020 est.)
$87,800 (2019 est.)
$84,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Isle of Man$84,600 (2014 est.)
$86,200 (2013 est.)
$73,700 (2012 est.)
Topic: Israel$38,300 (2020 est.)
$40,000 (2019 est.)
$39,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Italy$39,000 (2020 est.)
$42,700 (2019 est.)
$42,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Jamaica$8,700 (2020 est.)
$9,800 (2019 est.)
$9,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Japan$41,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$41,200 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$40,859 (2017 est.)
Topic: Jersey$56,600 (2016 est.)
$49,500 (2015 est.)
Topic: Jordan$9,800 (2020 est.)
$10,100 (2019 est.)
$10,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Kazakhstan$25,300 (2020 est.)
$26,400 (2019 est.)
$25,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Kenya$4,200 (2020 est.)
$4,300 (2019 est.)
$4,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Kiribati$2,300 (2020 est.)
$2,300 (2019 est.)
$2,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Korea, North$1,700 (2015 est.)
$1,800 (2014 est.)
$1,800 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Topic: Korea, South$42,300 (2020 est.)
$42,700 (2019 est.)
$41,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Kosovo$10,800 (2020 est.)
$11,500 (2019 est.)
$10,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Kuwait$49,900 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$50,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$50,856 (2017 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan$4,700 (2020 est.)
$5,300 (2019 est.)
$5,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Laos$7,800 (2020 est.)
$7,900 (2019 est.)
$7,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Latvia$29,900 (2020 est.)
$30,900 (2019 est.)
$30,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Lebanon$11,600 (2020 est.)
$14,600 (2019 est.)
$15,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Lesotho$2,300 (2020 est.)
$2,600 (2019 est.)
$2,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Liberia$1,400 (2020 est.)
$1,400 (2019 est.)
$1,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Libya$10,300 (2020 est.)
$15,200 (2019 est.)
$15,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Liechtenstein$139,100 (2009 est.)
$90,100 (2008 est.)
$91,300 (2007 est.)
Topic: Lithuania$36,700 (2020 est.)
$37,100 (2019 est.)
$35,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Luxembourg$110,300 (2020 est.)
$113,900 (2019 est.)
$113,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Macau$54,800 (2020 est.)
$127,200 (2019 est.)
$132,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Madagascar$1,500 (2020 est.)
$1,600 (2019 est.)
$1,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Malawi$1,500 (2020 est.)
$1,500 (2019 est.)
$1,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Malaysia$26,400 (2020 est.)
$28,400 (2019 est.)
$27,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Maldives$13,000 (2020 est.)
$19,500 (2019 est.)
$18,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Mali$2,200 (2020 est.)
$2,300 (2019 est.)
$2,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Malta$39,200 (2020 est.)
$44,000 (2019 est.)
$43,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Marshall Islands$4,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,776 (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritania$5,000 (2020 est.)
$5,200 (2019 est.)
$5,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Mauritius$19,500 (2020 est.)
$22,900 (2019 est.)
$22,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Mexico$17,900 (2020 est.)
$19,700 (2019 est.)
$19,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of$3,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,500 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,200 (2015 est.)
Topic: Moldova$12,300 (2020 est.)
$13,000 (2019 est.)
$12,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Monaco$115,700 (2015 est.)
$109,200 (2014 est.)
$101,900 (2013 est.)
Topic: Mongolia$11,500 (2020 est.)
$12,300 (2019 est.)
$11,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Montenegro$18,300 (2020 est.)
$21,500 (2019 est.)
$20,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Montserrat$34,000 (2011 est.)
$31,100 (2010 est.)
$32,300 (2009 est.)
Topic: Morocco$6,900 (2020 est.)
$7,500 (2019 est.)
$7,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Mozambique$1,200 (2020 est.)
$1,300 (2019 est.)
$1,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Namibia$8,900 (2020 est.)
$9,800 (2019 est.)
$10,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Nauru$13,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$13,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$10,667 (2017 est.)
Topic: Nepal$3,800 (2020 est.)
$4,000 (2019 est.)
$3,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Netherlands$54,200 (2020 est.)
$56,600 (2019 est.)
$56,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: New Caledonia$31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)
$29,800 (2012 est.)
Topic: New Zealand$42,400 (2020 est.)
$42,900 (2019 est.)
$42,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Nicaragua$5,300 (2020 est.)
$5,500 (2019 est.)
$5,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Niger$1,200 (2020 est.)
$1,200 (2019 est.)
$1,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Nigeria$4,900 (2020 est.)
$5,100 (2019 est.)
$5,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Niue$5,800 (2003 est.)
Topic: North Macedonia$15,800 (2020 est.)
$16,600 (2019 est.)
$16,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands$24,500 (2016 est.)
$18,400 (2015 est.)
$16,600 (2014 est.)
Topic: Norway$63,600 (2020 est.)
$64,500 (2019 est.)
$64,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Oman$27,300 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$28,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$29,082 (2017 est.)
Topic: Pakistan$4,600 (2020 est.)
$4,700 (2019 est.)
$4,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Palau$17,600 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$18,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$17,841 (2017 est.)
Topic: Panama$25,400 (2020 est.)
$31,400 (2019 est.)
$31,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Papua New Guinea$4,100 (2020 est.)
$4,300 (2019 est.)
$4,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Paraguay$12,300 (2020 est.)
$12,600 (2019 est.)
$12,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Peru$11,300 (2020 est.)
$12,900 (2019 est.)
$12,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Philippines$8,000 (2020 est.)
$8,900 (2019 est.)
$8,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Poland$32,200 (2020 est.)
$33,100 (2019 est.)
$31,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Portugal$32,200 (2020 est.)
$34,900 (2019 est.)
$34,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Puerto Rico$33,400 (2020 est.)
$34,800 (2019 est.)
$34,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Qatar$85,300 (2020 est.)
$90,000 (2019 est.)
$91,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Romania$28,800 (2020 est.)
$29,900 (2019 est.)
$28,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Russia$26,500 (2020 est.)
$27,200 (2019 est.)
$26,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Rwanda$2,100 (2020 est.)
$2,200 (2019 est.)
$2,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha$7,800 (FY09/10 est.)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis$23,300 (2020 est.)
$26,200 (2019 est.)
$25,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Saint Lucia$12,300 (2020 est.)
$15,400 (2019 est.)
$15,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Saint Martin$19,300 (2005 est.)
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon$46,200 (2006 est.)
$34,900 (2005)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines$12,100 (2020 est.)
$12,500 (2019 est.)
$12,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Samoa$6,300 (2020 est.)
$6,500 (2019 est.)
$6,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: San Marino$60,800 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$59,600 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$58,867 (2017 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe$4,100 (2020 est.)
$4,000 (2019 est.)
$4,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Saudi Arabia$44,300 (2020 est.)
$47,000 (2019 est.)
$47,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Senegal$3,300 (2020 est.)
$3,400 (2019 est.)
$3,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Serbia$18,200 (2020 est.)
$18,300 (2019 est.)
$17,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Seychelles$24,400 (2020 est.)
$27,500 (2019 est.)
$27,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Sierra Leone$1,600 (2020 est.)
$1,700 (2019 est.)
$1,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Singapore$93,400 (2020 est.)
$98,400 (2019 est.)
$98,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Sint Maarten$35,300 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$35,342 (2018 est.)
$37,914 (2017 est.)
Topic: Slovakia$30,300 (2020 est.)
$31,900 (2019 est.)
$31,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Slovenia$36,500 (2020 est.)
$38,900 (2019 est.)
$38,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Solomon Islands$2,500 (2020 est.)
$2,700 (2019 est.)
$2,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Somalia$800 (2020 est.)
$900 (2019 est.)
$900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: South Africa$11,500 (2020 est.)
$12,500 (2019 est.)
$12,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: South Sudan$1,600 (2017 est.)
$1,700 (2016 est.)
$2,100 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Spain$36,200 (2020 est.)
$40,800 (2019 est.)
$40,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Sri Lanka$12,500 (2020 est.)
$13,100 (2019 est.)
$12,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Sudan$4,000 (2020 est.)
$4,200 (2019 est.)
$4,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Suriname$16,100 (2020 est.)
$19,000 (2019 est.)
$19,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Sweden$50,700 (2020 est.)
$52,500 (2019 est.)
$52,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Switzerland$68,400 (2020 est.)
$70,900 (2019 est.)
$70,700 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Syria$2,900 (2015 est.)
$3,300 (2014 est.)
$2,800 (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Topic: Taiwan$24,502 (2018 est.)
$50,500 (2017 est.)
$23,865 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tajikistan$3,700 (2020 est.)
$3,600 (2019 est.)
$3,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tanzania$2,600 (2020 est.)
$2,700 (2019 est.)
$2,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Thailand$17,300 (2020 est.)
$18,500 (2019 est.)
$18,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Timor-Leste$3,200 (2020 est.)
$3,600 (2019 est.)
$3,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Togo$2,100 (2020 est.)
$2,100 (2019 est.)
$2,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tokelau$6,004 (2017 est.)
$4,855 (2016 est.)
$4,292 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tonga$6,400 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$6,400 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$6,472 (2017 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago$23,700 (2020 est.)
$25,800 (2019 est.)
$26,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tunisia$9,700 (2020 est.)
$10,800 (2019 est.)
$10,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)$28,400 (2020 est.)
$28,200 (2019 est.)
$28,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Turkmenistan$15,500 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$14,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$14,205 (2017 est.)
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands$21,100 (2020 est.)
$29,300 (2019 est.)
$28,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Tuvalu$4,400 (2020 est.)
$4,300 (2019 est.)
$3,900 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Uganda$2,200 (2020 est.)
$2,200 (2019 est.)
$2,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Ukraine$12,400 (2020 est.)
$12,800 (2019 est.)
$12,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: United Arab Emirates$67,100 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$67,000 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$67,184 (2017 est.)
Topic: United Kingdom$41,600 (2020 est.)
$46,400 (2019 est.)
$46,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: United States$60,200 (2020 est.)
$62,600 (2019 est.)
$61,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Uruguay$21,600 (2020 est.)
$23,000 (2019 est.)
$23,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Uzbekistan$7,000 (2020 est.)
$7,000 (2019 est.)
$6,800 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Vanuatu$2,800 (2020 est.)
$3,100 (2019 est.)
$3,100 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Venezuela$7,704 (2018 est.)
$12,500 (2017 est.)
$9,417 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Vietnam$8,200 (2020 est.)
$8,000 (2019 est.)
$7,600 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Virgin Islands$37,000 (2016 est.)
$35,800 (2015 est.)
$34,500 (2014 est.)
Topic: Wallis and Futuna$3,800 (2004 est.)
Topic: West Bank$5,400 (2020 est.)
$6,200 (2019 est.)
$6,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars and includes Gaza Strip
Topic: World$17,500 (2017 est.)
$17,000 (2016 est.)
$16,800 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Yemen$2,500 (2017 est.)
$2,700 (2016 est.)
$3,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Zambia$3,300 (2020 est.)
$3,500 (2019 est.)
$3,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Topic: Zimbabwe$2,700 (2020 est.)
$3,000 (2019 est.)
$3,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars |
20220901 | field-credit-ratings | This entry provides the current bond ratings for a country or territory from each of the three major credit bureaus (Fitch, Moody’s, and Standard & Poors). These ratings allow investors, including international finance institutions (e.g., the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, etc.) to understand how likely a government’s bond is to default. Rating factors include the following aspects: current account balance, debt payment history and timeliness, banking and financial operations, future economic outlook, and national economic strength. While in recent years other credit rating agencies have proliferated, these three credit agencies constitute more than 95% of the credit evaluation market globally and are the primary sovereign debt ratings considered by international and regional finance institutions.
Topic: AlbaniaMoody's rating: B1 (2007)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2016)
Topic: AndorraFitch rating: BBB+ (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017)
Topic: AngolaFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Topic: ArgentinaFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Ca (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Topic: ArmeniaFitch rating: B+ (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2019)
Topic: ArubaFitch rating: BB (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013)
Topic: AustraliaFitch rating: AAA (2011)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2003)
Topic: AustriaFitch rating: AA+ (2015)
Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2012)
Topic: AzerbaijanFitch rating: BB+ (2016)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2016)
Topic: Bahamas, TheMoody's rating: Ba2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2020)
Topic: BahrainFitch rating: B+ (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2017)
Topic: BangladeshFitch rating: BB- (2014)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2012)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2010)
Topic: BarbadosMoody's rating: Caa1 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2019)
Topic: BelarusFitch rating: B (2018)
Moody's rating: B3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2017)
Topic: BelgiumFitch rating: AA- (2016)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2011)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)
Topic: BelizeMoody's rating: Caa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Topic: BeninFitch rating: B (2019)
Moody's rating: B2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2018)
Topic: BermudaFitch rating: N/A (2015)
Moody's rating: A2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015)
Topic: BoliviaFitch rating: B (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2020)
Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaMoody's rating: B3 (2012)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2011)
Topic: BotswanaMoody's rating: A2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2020)
Topic: BrazilFitch rating: BB- (2018)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018)
Topic: BulgariaFitch rating: BBB (2017)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)
Topic: Burkina FasoStandard & Poors rating: B (2017)
Topic: Cabo VerdeFitch rating: B- (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2013)
Topic: CambodiaMoody's rating: B2 (2007)
Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2014)
Topic: CameroonFitch rating: B (2006)
Moody's rating: B2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
Topic: CanadaFitch rating: AA+ (2020)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2002)
Topic: Cayman IslandsMoody's rating: Aa3 (1997)
Topic: ChileFitch rating: A- (2020)
Moody's rating: A1 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2017)
Topic: ChinaFitch rating: A+ (2007)
Moody's rating: A1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2017)
Topic: ColombiaFitch rating: BBB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2017)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theMoody's rating: Caa1 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2017)
Topic: Congo, Republic of theFitch rating: CCC (2019)
Moody's rating: Caa2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Topic: Costa RicaFitch rating: B (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2020)
Topic: Cote d'IvoireFitch rating: B+ (2015)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2015)
Topic: CroatiaFitch rating: BBB- (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2019)
Topic: CubaMoody's rating: Caa2 (2014)
Topic: CyprusFitch rating: BBB- (2018)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2018)
Topic: CzechiaFitch rating: AA- (2018)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)
Topic: DenmarkFitch rating: AAA (2003)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1999)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2001)
Topic: Dominican RepublicFitch rating: BB- (2016)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2015)
Topic: EcuadorFitch rating: B- (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
Topic: EgyptFitch rating: B+ (2019)
Moody's rating: B2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2018)
Topic: El SalvadorFitch rating: B- (2017)
Moody's rating: B3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018)
Topic: EstoniaFitch rating: AA- (2018)
Moody's rating: A1 (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)
Topic: EswatiniMoody's rating: B3 (2020)
Topic: EthiopiaFitch rating: B (2014)
Moody's rating: B2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2014)
Topic: European UnionFitch rating: AAA (2010)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016)
Topic: FijiMoody's rating: Ba3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2019)
Topic: FinlandFitch rating: AA+ (2016)
Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2014)
Topic: FranceFitch rating: AA (2014)
Moody's rating: Aa2 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2013)
Topic: GabonFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa1 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2016)
Topic: GeorgiaFitch rating: BB (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB (2019)
Topic: GermanyFitch rating: AAA (1994)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1986)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1983)
Credit ratings prior to 1989 refer to West Germany.
Topic: GhanaFitch rating: B (2013)
Moody's rating: B3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
Topic: GreeceFitch rating: BB (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2019)
Topic: GrenadaStandard & Poors rating: SD (2013)
Topic: GuatemalaFitch rating: BB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba1 (2010)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2017)
Topic: HondurasMoody's rating: B1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2017)
Topic: Hong KongFitch rating: AA- (2020)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2017)
Topic: HungaryFitch rating: BBB (2019)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)
Topic: IcelandFitch rating: A (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: A (2017)
Topic: IndiaFitch rating: BBB- (2006)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2007)
Topic: IndonesiaFitch rating: BBB (2017)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)
Topic: IraqFitch rating: B- (2015)
Moody's rating: Caa1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2015)
Topic: IrelandFitch rating: A+ (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)
Topic: Isle of ManMoody's rating: Aa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2014)
Topic: IsraelFitch rating: A+ (2016)
Moody's rating: A1 (2008)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2018)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Topic: ItalyFitch rating: BBB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017)
Topic: JamaicaFitch rating: B+ (2019)
Moody's rating: B2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2019)
Topic: JapanFitch rating: A (2015)
Moody's rating: A1 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015)
Topic: JordanFitch rating: BB- (2019)
Moody's rating: B1 (2013)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2017)
Topic: KazakhstanFitch rating: BBB (2016)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2016)
Topic: KenyaFitch rating: B+ (2007)
Moody's rating: B2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2010)
Topic: Korea, SouthFitch rating: AA- (2012)
Moody's rating: Aa2 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016)
Topic: KuwaitFitch rating: AA (2008)
Moody's rating: A1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2020)
Topic: KyrgyzstanMoody's rating: B2 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: NR (2016)
Topic: LaosFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa2 (2020)
Topic: LatviaFitch rating: A- (2014)
Moody's rating: A3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
Topic: LebanonFitch rating: RD (2020)
Moody's rating: C (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: D (2020)
Topic: LesothoFitch rating: B (2019)
Topic: LiechtensteinStandard & Poors rating: AAA (1996)
Topic: LithuaniaFitch rating: A (2020)
Moody's rating: A3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
Topic: LuxembourgFitch rating: AAA (1994)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1989)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1994)
Topic: MacauFitch rating: AA (2018)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2016)
Topic: MalaysiaFitch rating: BBB+ (2020)
Moody's rating: A3 (2004)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2003)
Topic: MaldivesFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: B3 (2020)
Topic: MaliMoody's rating: Caa1 (2020)
Topic: MaltaFitch rating: A+ (2017)
Moody's rating: A2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016)
Topic: MauritiusMoody's rating: Baa1 (2012)
Topic: MexicoFitch rating: BBB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020)
Topic: MoldovaMoody's rating: B3 (2010)
Topic: MongoliaFitch rating: B (2018)
Moody's rating: B3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2018)
Topic: MontenegroMoody's rating: B1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2014)
Topic: MontserratStandard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)
Topic: MoroccoFitch rating: BB+ (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba1 (1999)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2010)
Topic: MozambiqueFitch rating: CCC (2019)
Moody's rating: Caa2 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2019)
Topic: NamibiaFitch rating: BB (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Topic: NetherlandsFitch rating: AAA (1994)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1986)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2015)
Topic: New ZealandFitch rating: AA (2011)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2011)
Topic: NicaraguaFitch rating: B- (2018)
Moody's rating: B3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2018)
Topic: NigerMoody's rating: B3 (2019)
Topic: NigeriaFitch rating: B (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
Topic: North MacedoniaFitch rating: BB+ (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2013)
Topic: NorwayFitch rating: AAA (1995)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1997)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1975)
Topic: OmanFitch rating: BB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2020)
Topic: PakistanFitch rating: B- (2018)
Moody's rating: B3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2019)
Topic: PanamaFitch rating: BBB (2011)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2020)
Topic: Papua New GuineaMoody's rating: B2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
Topic: ParaguayFitch rating: BB+ (2018)
Moody's rating: Ba1 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: BB (2014)
Topic: PeruFitch rating: BBB+ (2013)
Moody's rating: A3 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2013)
Topic: PhilippinesFitch rating: BBB (2017)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2019)
Topic: PolandFitch rating: A- (2007)
Moody's rating: A2 (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2018)
Topic: PortugalFitch rating: BBB (2007)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2019)
Topic: Puerto RicoStandard & Poors rating: D (2015)
Topic: QatarFitch rating: AA- (2017)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2017)
Topic: RomaniaFitch rating: BBB- (2011)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2006)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2014)
Topic: RussiaFitch rating: BBB (2019)
Moody's rating: Baa3 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2018)
Topic: RwandaFitch rating: B+ (2014)
Moody's rating: B2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2019)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesMoody's rating: B3 (2014)
Topic: San MarinoFitch rating: BB+ (2020)
Topic: Saudi ArabiaFitch rating: A (2019)
Moody's rating: A1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: A- (2016)
Topic: SenegalMoody's rating: Ba3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2000)
Topic: SerbiaFitch rating: BB+ (2019)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BB+ (2019)
Topic: SeychellesFitch rating: B+ (2020)
Topic: SingaporeFitch rating: AAA (2003)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1995)
Topic: SlovakiaFitch rating: A (2020)
Moody's rating: A2 (2012)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2015)
Topic: SloveniaFitch rating: A (2019)
Moody's rating: A3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2019)
Topic: Solomon IslandsMoody's rating: B3 (2015)
Topic: South AfricaFitch rating: BB- (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2020)
Topic: SpainFitch rating: A- (2018)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: A (2019)
Topic: Sri LankaFitch rating: CCC (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa1 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: CCC+ (2020)
Topic: SurinameFitch rating: C (2020)
Moody's rating: Caa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: SD (2020)
Topic: SwedenFitch rating: AAA (2004)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (2004)
Topic: SwitzerlandFitch rating: AAA (2000)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1982)
Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1988)
Topic: TaiwanFitch rating: AA- (2016)
Moody's rating: Aa3 (1994)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2002)
Topic: TajikistanMoody's rating: B3 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2017)
Topic: TanzaniaMoody's rating: B2 (2020)
Topic: ThailandFitch rating: BBB+ (2013)
Moody's rating: Baa1 (2003)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2004)
Topic: TogoMoody's rating: B3 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2019)
Topic: Trinidad and TobagoMoody's rating: Ba1 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB- (2020)
Topic: TunisiaFitch rating: B (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2013)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)Fitch rating: BB- (2019)
Moody's rating: B2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B+ (2018)
Topic: UgandaFitch rating: B+ (2015)
Moody's rating: B2 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2014)
Topic: UkraineFitch rating: B (2019)
Moody's rating: B3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: B (2019)
Topic: United Arab EmiratesFitch rating: AA- (2020)
Moody's rating: Aa2 (2007)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2007)
Topic: United KingdomFitch rating: AA- (2020)
Moody's rating: Aaa (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: AA (2016)
Topic: United StatesFitch rating: AAA (1994)
Moody's rating: Aaa (1949)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2011)
Topic: UruguayFitch rating: BBB- (2013)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2015)
Topic: UzbekistanFitch rating: BB- (2018)
Moody's rating: B1 (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2018)
Topic: VenezuelaFitch rating: RD (2017)
Moody's rating: WR (2019)
Standard & Poors rating: SD (2017)
Topic: VietnamFitch rating: BB (2018)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2018)
Standard & Poors rating: BB (2019)
Topic: ZambiaFitch rating: RD (2020)
Moody's rating: Ca (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: SD (2020) |
20220901 | countries-bahamas-the |
Topic: Photos of Bahamas, The
Topic: Introduction
Background: Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Piracy thrived in the 17th and 18th centuries because of The Bahamas close proximity to shipping lanes. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management, which comprise up to 85% of GDP. Because of its proximity to the US - the nearest Bahamian landmass being only 80 km (50 mi) from Florida - the country is a major transshipment point for illicit trafficking, particularly to the US mainland, as well as Europe. US law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with The Bahamas, and the US Coast Guard assists Bahamian authorities in maritime security and law enforcement through Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, or OPBAT.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 13,880 sq km
land: 10,010 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 3,542 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation: highest point: 1.3 km NE of Old Bight on Cat Island 64 m
note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it indicates the wrong high elevation point
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 51.4% (2018 est.)
other: 47.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
Natural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Geography - note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Map description: The Bahamas map showing the many islands and cays that make up the country in the North Atlantic Ocean.The Bahamas map showing the many islands and cays that make up the country in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 355,608 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups: African descent 90.6%, White 4.7%, mixed 2.1%, other 1.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2010 est.)
note: data represent population by racial group
Languages: English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Religions: Protestant 69.9% (includes Baptist 34.9%, Anglican 13.7%, Pentecostal 8.9% Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, Methodist 3.6%, Church of God 1.9%, Brethren 1.6%, other Protestant .9%), Roman Catholic 12%, other Christian 13% (includes Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), other 0.6%, none 1.9%, unspecified 2.6% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.7% (male 38,811/female 37,719)
15-24 years: 14.91% (male 26,636/female 25,945)
25-54 years: 43.56% (male 76,505/female 77,119)
55-64 years: 10.75% (male 17,508/female 20,391)
65 years and over: 9.08% (2021 est.) (male 12,587/female 19,434)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 41.5
youth dependency ratio: 30.6
elderly dependency ratio: 11
potential support ratio: 9.1 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 34 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.82% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 14.64 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population lives in urban areas, with two-thirds living on New Providence Island where Nassau is located
Urbanization: urban population: 83.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 280,000 NASSAU (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.13 years
male: 73.2 years
female: 79.14 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.98 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: 98.9% of population
unimproved: total: 1.1% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.94 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: 98.2% of population
unimproved: total: 1.8% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,700 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018) <200
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 31.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 10.6% (2020 est.)
male: 18.8% (2020 est.)
female: 2.4% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8%
male: 20.8%
female: 31.6% (2016 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 17.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 1.79 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.23 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Land use: agricultural land: 1.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 51.4% (2018 est.)
other: 47.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 83.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.02% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 264,000 tons (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 31 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 700 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas
etymology: name derives from the Spanish "baha mar," meaning "shallow sea," which describes the shallow waters of the Bahama Banks
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Capital: name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
etymology: named after William III (1650-1702), king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, who was a member of the House of Nassau
Administrative divisions: 31 districts; Acklins Islands, Berry Islands, Bimini, Black Point, Cat Island, Central Abaco, Central Andros, Central Eleuthera, City of Freeport, Crooked Island and Long Cay, East Grand Bahama, Exuma, Grand Cay, Harbour Island, Hope Town, Inagua, Long Island, Mangrove Cay, Mayaguana, Moore's Island, North Abaco, North Andros, North Eleuthera, Ragged Island, Rum Cay, San Salvador, South Abaco, South Andros, South Eleuthera, Spanish Wells, West Grand Bahama
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution: history: previous 1964 (preindependence); latest adopted 20 June 1973, effective 10 July 1973
amendments: proposed as an "Act" by Parliament; passage of amendments to articles such as the organization and composition of the branches of government requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of the membership of both houses of Parliament and majority approval in a referendum; passage of amendments to constitutional articles such as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, the powers, authorities, and procedures of the branches of government, or changes to the Bahamas Independence Act 1973 requires approval by at least three-fourths majority of the membership of both houses and majority approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2016
Legal system: common law system based on the English model
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of The Bahamas
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 6-9 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Cornelius A. SMITH (since 28 June 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Philip DAVIS (since 17 September 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general on recommendation of prime minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 9 selected on the advice of the prime minister, 4 on the advice of the leader of the opposition party, and 3 on the advice of the prime minister in consultation with the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms)
House of Assembly (39 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last appointments on 24 May 2017 (next appointments in 2022)
House of Assembly - last held on 16 September 2021 (next to be held by September 2026)
election results:
Senate - appointed; composition as of March 2022 - men 12, women 4, percent of women 25%
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - PLP 52.5%, FNM 36.2%; seats by party - PLP 32, FNM 7; composition as of March 2022 - men 32, women 7, percent of women 18%; note - total Parliament percent of women 20%
note: the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices, organized in 3-member panels); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and a maximum of 11 and a minimum of 2 justices)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the governor-general on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the leader of the opposition party; other Court of Appeal and Supreme Court justices appointed by the governor general upon recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, a 5-member body headed by the chief justice; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 68 but can be extended until age 70; Supreme Court justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement normally at age 65 but can be extended until age 67
subordinate courts: Industrial Tribunal; Stipendiary and Magistrates' Courts; Family Island Administrators
note: The Bahamas is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community but is not party to the agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice as its highest appellate court; the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) serves as the final court of appeal for The Bahamas
Political parties and leaders: Democratic National Alliance or DNA [Arinthia KOMOLAFE]
Free National Movement or FNM [Michael PINTARD]
Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Philip "Brave" DAVIS]
International organization participation: ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendall Kermith JONES (since 19 April 2022)
chancery: 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
email address and website:
embassy@bahamasembdc.org
https://www.bahamasembdc.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Miami, New York, Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires Usha E. PITTS (since 1 January 2021)
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181
FAX: [1] (242) 356-7174
email address and website:
acsnassau@state.gov
https://bs.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
National symbol(s): blue marlin, flamingo, Yellow Elder flower; national colors: aquamarine, yellow, black
National anthem: name: "March On, Bahamaland!"
lyrics/music: Timothy GIBSON
note: adopted 1973; as a Commonwealth country, in addition to the national anthem, "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see United Kingdom)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The Bahamas has the second highest per capita GDP in the English-speaking Caribbean with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and financial services. Tourism accounts for approximately 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. Manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute less than 7% of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. The new government led by Prime Minister Hubert MINNIS has prioritized addressing fiscal imbalances and rising debt, which stood at 75% of GDP in 2016. Large capital projects like the Baha Mar Casino and Hotel are driving growth. Public debt increased in 2017 in large part due to hurricane reconstruction and relief financing. The primary fiscal balance was a deficit of 0.4% of GDP in 2016. The Bahamas is the only country in the Western Hemisphere that is not a member of the World Trade Organization.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $12.1 billion (2020 est.)
$14.45 billion (2019 est.)
$14.28 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 1.4% (2017 est.)
-1.7% (2016 est.)
1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $30,800 (2020 est.)
$37,100 (2019 est.)
$37,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.16 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Ba2 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.)
industry: 7.7% (2017 est.)
services: 90% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 13% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 26.3% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 33.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -41.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, grapefruit, vegetables, bananas, tomatoes, poultry, tropical fruit, oranges, coconuts, mangoes/guavas
Industries: tourism, banking, oil bunkering, maritime industries, transshipment and logistics, salt, aragonite, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 5.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 196,900 (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3%
industry: 11%
services: 49%
tourism: 37% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (2017 est.)
12.2% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 25.8%
male: 20.8%
female: 31.6% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: 9.3% (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 22% (2007 est.)
Budget: revenues: 2.139 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 2.46 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 54.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
50.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: -$1.909 billion (2017 est.)
-$868 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $1.69 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5.14 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.75 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Poland 32%, United States 17%, Ecuador 9%, China 6%, Japan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, nitrogen compounds, crustaceans, styrene polymers (2019)
Imports: $3.64 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$4.91 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5.12 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: United States 31%, South Korea 29%, Japan 14% (2019)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, crude petroleum, recreational boats, cars (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.522 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.002 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $17.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$16.35 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollars (BSD) per US dollar -
1 (2017 est.)
1 (2016 est.)
1 (2015 est.)
1 (2014 est.)
1 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 578,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 2,103,248,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 245,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 99.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 25,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 19,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 4.417 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 4.417 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.984 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.976 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 140.505 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 91,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 466,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021)
domestic: 23 per 100 fixed-line, 109 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)
international: country code - 1-242; landing points for the ARCOS-1, BICS, Bahamas 2-US, and BDSN fiber-optic submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2; the Bahamas Domestic Submarine Network links all of the major islands; (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: The Bahamas has 4 major TV providers that provide service to all major islands in the archipelago; 1 TV station is operated by government-owned, commercially run Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (BCB) and competes freely with 4 privately owned TV stations; multi-channel cable TV subscription service is widely available; there are 32 licensed broadcast (radio) service providers, 31 are privately owned FM radio stations operating on New Providence, Grand Bahama Island, Abaco Island, and on smaller islands in the country; the BCB operates a multi-channel radio broadcasting network that has national coverage; the sector is regulated by the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (2019)
Internet country code: .bs
Internet users: total: 342,126 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 87% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 83,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 5 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 35
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,197,116 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 160,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: C6
Airports: total: 54 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 17 (2021)
Heliports: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 2,700 km (2011)
paved: 1,620 km (2011)
unpaved: 1,080 km (2011)
Merchant marine: total: 1,323
by type: bulk carrier 333, container ship 45, general cargo 64, oil tanker 224, other 657 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point
cruise port(s): Nassau
container port(s) (TEUs): Freeport (1,396,568) (2019)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF): includes land, air, maritime elements (2022)
note: the RBDF is primarily responsible for external security but also provides security at a detention center for migrants and performs some domestic security functions, such as guarding embassies; the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) maintains internal security; both the RBDF and the RBPF report to the minister of national security
Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.9% of GDP (2020)
0.7% of GDP (2019)
0.7% of GDP (2018)
0.7% of GDP (2017)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 1,500 active RBDF personnel (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: most of the RBDF's major equipment inventory is supplied by the Netherlands (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary male and female service; no conscription (2022)
Military - note: the RBDF was established in 1980; its primary responsibilities are disaster relief, maritime security, and counter-narcotics operations; it is a naval force, but includes a lightly-armed marine infantry/commando squadron for base and internal security, as well as a few light non-combat aircraft; the maritime element has coastal patrol craft and patrol boats; the RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and the US (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: The Bahamas-US (Maritime Boundary): In declaring its archipelagic waters and 200 nm EEZ in 1993 legislation, The Bahamas did not delimit the outer limits of the EEZ; but in areas where EEZs overlap with neighbors, The Bahamas agreed to equidistance as a line of separation. However, The Bahamas has yet to define maritime boundaries with any of its neighbors, including the United States, whose Florida coast lays about 70 nm from Grand Bahama Island.The Bahamas-US (Maritime Boundary): In declaring its archipelagic waters and 200 nm EEZ in 1993 legislation, The Bahamas did not delimit the outer limits of the EEZ; but in areas where EEZs overlap with neighbors, The Bahamas agreed to equidistance as a line of separation. However, The Bahamas has yet to define maritime boundaries with any of its neighbors, including the United States, whose Florida coast lays about 70 nm from Grand Bahama Island.
Illicit drugs: a significant transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; illicit production of marijuana continuesa significant transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; illicit production of marijuana continues |
20220901 | countries-iran-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader. Iran holds a strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport.Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader. Iran holds a strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 1,648,195 sq km
land: 1,531,595 sq km
water: 116,600 sq km
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Topic: People and Society
Population: 86,758,304 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen, and Turkic tribes
Languages: Persian Farsi (official), Azeri and other Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic
Religions: Muslim (official) 99.6% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.2% (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: theocratic republic
Capital: name: Tehran
Executive branch: chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
head of government: President Ebrahim RAISI (since 18 June 2021); First Vice President Mohammad MOKHBER (since 8 August 2021)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami or Majles (290 seats; 285 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by 2-round vote, and 1 seat each for Zoroastrians, Jews, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, Armenians in the north of the country and Armenians in the south; members serve 4-year terms); note - all candidates to the Majles must be approved by the Council of Guardians, a 12-member group of which 6 are appointed by the supreme leader and 6 are jurists nominated by the judiciary and elected by the Majles
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: traditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing povertytraditionally state-controlled economy but reforming state-owned financial entities; strong oil/gas, agricultural, and service sectors; recent massive inflation due to exchange rate depreciation, international sanctions, and investor uncertainty; increasing poverty
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,044,310,000,000 (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,400 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, sugar cane, milk, sugar beet, tomatoes, barley, potatoes, oranges, poultry, apples
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, gas, fertilizer, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and nonferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Exports: $101.4 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners: China 48%, India 12%, South Korea 8%, Turkey 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, polymers, industrial alcohols, iron, pistachios (2019)
Imports: $76.39 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners: China 28%, United Arab Emirates 20%, India 11%, Turkey 7%, Brazil 6%, Germany 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: rice, corn, broadcasting equipment, soybean products, beef (2019)
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IRR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, Jul 07, 2022 |
20220901 | field-broadband-fixed-subscriptions | This entry gives the total number of fixed-broadband subscriptions, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Fixed broadband is a physical wired connection to the Internet (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber) at speeds equal to or greater than 256 kilobits/second (256 kbit/s).
Topic: Afghanistantotal: 26,570 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Albaniatotal: 508,937 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)
Topic: Algeriatotal: 3,790,459 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Andorratotal: 37,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
Topic: Angolatotal: 230,610 (2020 est.) This year we included fixed wireless technologies.
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.7 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Anguillatotal: 5,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2018 est.)
Topic: Antigua and Barbudatotal: 8,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)
Topic: Argentinatotal: 9,571,562 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.)
Topic: Armeniatotal: 430,407 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Topic: Arubatotal: 19,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)
Topic: Australiatotal: 9,099,619 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.)
Topic: Austriatotal: 2.606 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijantotal: 1,995,474 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, Thetotal: 83,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bahraintotal: 148,928 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bangladeshtotal: 10,052,819 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Topic: Barbadostotal: 128,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.)
Topic: Belarustotal: 3,255,552 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
Topic: Belgiumtotal: 4,734,210 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Topic: Belizetotal: 36,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Benintotal: 29,981 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Bermudatotal: 23,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bhutantotal: 3,189 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.4 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Boliviatotal: 931,918 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinatotal: 770,424 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.)
Topic: Botswanatotal: 259,525 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Topic: Braziltotal: 36,344,670 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Topic: British Virgin Islandstotal: 6,738 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bruneitotal: 71,078 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Topic: Bulgariatotal: 2,115,053 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)
Topic: Burkina Fasototal: 13,979 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Burmatotal: 688,185 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Burunditotal: 4,230 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.04 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Cabo Verdetotal: 24,839 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cambodiatotal: 233,732 (2020 est.) Slowly increase as focus is on mobile internet
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cameroontotal: 722,579 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Canadatotal: 15,825,813 (2020 est.) Retail high-speed Internet access subs
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cayman Islandstotal: 3,200 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 49 (2020 est.)
Topic: Central African Republictotal: 499 (2019 est.) Data available for 2019 only.
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2019 est.) less than 1
Topic: Chadtotal: 0 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2020 est.)
Topic: Chiletotal: 3,763,826 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)
Topic: Chinatotal: 483,549,500 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)
Topic: Colombiatotal: 7,764,772 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2020 est.)
Topic: Comorostotal: 1,066 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.12 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thetotal: 31,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.03 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Congo, Republic of thetotal: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.02 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Cook Islandstotal: 2,700 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2018 est.)
Topic: Costa Ricatotal: 992,725 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoiretotal: 260,097 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.99 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Croatiatotal: 1,030,973 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cubatotal: 231,654 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Curacaototal: 55,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)
Topic: Cyprustotal: 332,080 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Czechiatotal: 3,845,426 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.)
Topic: Denmarktotal: 2,590,282 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45 (2020 est.)
Topic: Djiboutitotal: 25,053 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Dominicatotal: 16,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Topic: Dominican Republictotal: 1,031,858 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Topic: Ecuadortotal: 2,371,297 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Topic: Egypttotal: 9,349,469 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: El Salvadortotal: 586,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guineatotal: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Eritreatotal: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.14 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Estoniatotal: 415,610 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Topic: Eswatinitotal: 12,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Ethiopiatotal: 212,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.18 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: European Uniontotal: 163,772,540 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Topic: Faroe Islandstotal: 18,443 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.)
Topic: Fijitotal: 23,062 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Finlandtotal: 1.846 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Topic: Francetotal: 30.627 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)
Topic: French Polynesiatotal: 64,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Topic: Gabontotal: 44,607 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Gambia, Thetotal: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.21 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Gaza Striptotal: 376,911 (2020 est.) includes the West Bank
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.) includes the West Bank
note: includes West Bank
Topic: Georgiatotal: 972,162 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.)
Topic: Germanytotal: 36,215,303 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 43 (2020 est.)
Topic: Ghanatotal: 78,371 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.25 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Gibraltartotal: 21,009 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2020 est.)
Topic: Greecetotal: 4,257,026 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Topic: Greenlandtotal: 15,649 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
Topic: Grenadatotal: 32,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2020 est.)
Topic: Guamtotal: 3,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Guatemalatotal: 612,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Guernseytotal: 25,336 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.)
Topic: Guineatotal: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Guinea-Bissautotal: 2,383 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.12 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Guyanatotal: 95,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)
Topic: Haititotal: 31,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.27 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Hondurastotal: 396,916 (2020)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Hong Kongtotal: 2,885,586 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2020 est.)
Topic: Hungarytotal: 3,265,308 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 34 (2020 est.)
Topic: Icelandtotal: 141,816 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2020 est.)
Topic: Indiatotal: 22.95 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Indonesiatotal: 11,722,218 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Irantotal: 9,564,195 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Topic: Iraqtotal: 6,254,099 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Topic: Irelandtotal: 1,516,473 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Topic: Israeltotal: 2,602,079 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)
Topic: Italytotal: 18,128,787 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)
Topic: Jamaicatotal: 385,603 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Topic: Japantotal: 44,000,791 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
Topic: Jerseytotal: 39,699 (2020 est.) NA
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.) NA
Topic: Jordantotal: 630,545 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Topic: Kazakhstantotal: 2,620,400 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.)
Topic: Kenyatotal: 674,191 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Kiribatitotal: 185 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.2 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Korea, Southtotal: 22,327,182 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)
Topic: Kuwaittotal: 73,948 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.7 (2020 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstantotal: 289,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Laostotal: 128,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.8 (2020 est.)
Topic: Latviatotal: 490,569 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)
Topic: Lebanontotal: 432,070 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Topic: Lesothototal: 5,060 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.24 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Liberiatotal: 13,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.26 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Libyatotal: 332,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Topic: Liechtensteintotal: 18,050 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)
Topic: Lithuaniatotal: 796,814 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.)
Topic: Luxembourgtotal: 235,155 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.)
Topic: Macautotal: 208,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.)
Topic: Madagascartotal: 32,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.12 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Malawitotal: 12,255 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.06 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Malaysiatotal: 3,358,800 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Topic: Maldivestotal: 63,685 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)
Topic: Malitotal: 243,806 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Maltatotal: 213,419 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
Topic: Marshall Islandstotal: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.7 (2020 est.)
Topic: Mauritaniatotal: 18,457 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.4 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Mauritiustotal: 323,200 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)
Topic: Mexicototal: 21,936,131 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States oftotal: 6,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Topic: Moldovatotal: 719,001 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)
Topic: Monacototal: 20,877 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2020 est.)
Topic: Mongoliatotal: 307,166 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Montenegrototal: 184,176 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.)
Topic: Montserrattotal: 2,700 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 55 (2018 est.)
Topic: Moroccototal: 2,102,434 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)
Topic: Mozambiquetotal: 70,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.22 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Namibiatotal: 71,063 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Naurutotal: 950 (2010 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2010 est.)
Topic: Nepaltotal: 1.27 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Netherlandstotal: 7,525,016 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)
Topic: New Caledoniatotal: 55,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
Topic: New Zealandtotal: 1,764,984 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Nicaraguatotal: 290,351 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Topic: Nigertotal: 12,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.05 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Nigeriatotal: 65,313 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.03 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: North Macedoniatotal: 475,569 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Topic: Norwaytotal: 2,387,661 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)
Topic: Omantotal: 508,949 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Topic: Pakistantotal: 2,523,027 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Palautotal: 1,224 (2015 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2015 est.)
Topic: Panamatotal: 562,413 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guineatotal: 21,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.23 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Paraguaytotal: 562,369 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)
Topic: Perutotal: 3.044 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Philippinestotal: 7,936,574 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
Topic: Polandtotal: 8,369,218 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Topic: Portugaltotal: 4,160,795 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Topic: Puerto Ricototal: 671,284 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.)
Topic: Qatartotal: 296,126 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (2020 est.)
Topic: Romaniatotal: 5,684,782 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)
Topic: Russiatotal: 33,893,305 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Topic: Rwandatotal: 17,685 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.14 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhatotal: 1,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevistotal: 30,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56 (2020 est.)
Topic: Saint Luciatotal: 33,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2020 est.)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinestotal: 24,733 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2020 est.)
Topic: Samoatotal: 1,692 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.85 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: San Marinototal: 11,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principetotal: 2,512 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.15 (2020 est.)
Topic: Saudi Arabiatotal: 7,890,261 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2020 est.)
Topic: Senegaltotal: 153,813 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.92 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Serbiatotal: 1,730,496 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)
Topic: Seychellestotal: 34,966 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.)
Topic: Singaporetotal: 1,509,700 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2020 est.)
Topic: Slovakiatotal: 1,701,561 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Topic: Sloveniatotal: 651,604 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Topic: Solomon Islandstotal: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.15 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Somaliatotal: 119,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.75 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: South Africatotal: 1,303,057 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: South Sudantotal: 200 (2019 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2019 est.)
Topic: Spaintotal: 16,188,502 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
Topic: Sri Lankatotal: 1,781,530 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)
Topic: Sudantotal: 28,782 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.07 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Surinametotal: 92,270 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Topic: Swedentotal: 4,179,574 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Topic: Switzerlandtotal: 4,028,238 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 47 (2020 est.)
Topic: Syriatotal: 1,549,356 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Taiwantotal: 5,831,470 (2019 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2019 est.)
Topic: Tajikistantotal: 6,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.06 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Tanzaniatotal: 1,135,608 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Thailandtotal: 11,478,265 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Topic: Timor-Lestetotal: 75 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Togototal: 52,706 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.64 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Tongatotal: 5,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2020 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagototal: 376,771 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2020 est.)
Topic: Tunisiatotal: 1,334,059 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2020 est.)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)total: 16,734,853 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2020 est.)
Topic: Turkmenistantotal: 10,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.17 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Tuvalutotal: 450 (2017 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2017 est.)
Topic: Ugandatotal: 58,594 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.13 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Ukrainetotal: 7,769,401 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
Topic: United Arab Emiratestotal: 3,245,123 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Topic: United Kingdomtotal: 27,330,297 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (2020 est.)
Topic: United Statestotal: 121.176 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 37 (2020 est.)
Topic: Uruguaytotal: 1,063,701 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistantotal: 4,820,009 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2020 est.)
Topic: Vanuatutotal: 2,785 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.9 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Venezuelatotal: 2,561,556 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)
Topic: Vietnamtotal: 16,699,249 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2020 est.)
Topic: West Banktotal: 373,050 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
note: includes Gaza Strip
Topic: Worldtotal: 1.23 billion (2020 est.) the number of fixed broadband subscriptions has been higher than that of fixed telephony since 2017.
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2021 est.)
Topic: Yementotal: 391,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.3 (2020 est.)
Topic: Zambiatotal: 82,317 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.5 (2020 est.) less than 1
Topic: Zimbabwetotal: 203,461 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.4 (2020 est.) |
20220901 | antarctica | |
20220901 | field-geographic-overview | This entry, which appears only in the World, Geography category, provides basic geographic information about the earth's oceans and continents. The entry also lists all of the countries that compose each continent. |
20220901 | countries-tokelau |
Topic: Photos of Tokelau
Topic: Introduction
Background: Tokelau, which comprises three atolls, was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The three atolls operated relatively independently but had contact with one another, intermarrying and occasionally fighting wars. Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the other two. British explorer John BYRON was the first European to see Atafu Atoll in 1765. British naval officer Edward EDWARDS saw Nukunonu Atoll in 1791, and ships occasionally continued to pass by Atafu and Nukunonu. In 1835, a US whaling ship became the first non-Pacific island ship to pass by Fakaofo. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in 1845 and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. To this day, Nukunonu is predominantly Catholic while Atafu is mostly Protestant; Catholic and Protestant missionaries both worked in Fakaofo, and the population there is more mixed.
In 1863, Peruvian slave traders, masquerading as missionaries, kidnapped nearly all the men from Tokelau, and local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. The atolls were repopulated when new Polynesian settlers and American and European migrants intermarried with local Tokelauan women. Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889 and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate - later a colony - in 1908. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims over Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claims over Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa.
Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held two self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007, in which more than 60% of voters chose to go into free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. Tokelau lacks an airport and is only accessible via a day-long boat trip from Samoa, although a site for an airstrip on Nukunonu was selected in 2019. Because of its dependency on Samoa for transportation, in 2011, Tokelau followed Samoa’s lead and shifted the international date line to its east, skipping December 30 and becoming one hour ahead of New Zealand rather than 23 hours behind.Tokelau, which comprises three atolls, was first settled by Polynesians around A.D. 1000. The three atolls operated relatively independently but had contact with one another, intermarrying and occasionally fighting wars. Fakaofo Atoll eventually subjugated the other two. British explorer John BYRON was the first European to see Atafu Atoll in 1765. British naval officer Edward EDWARDS saw Nukunonu Atoll in 1791, and ships occasionally continued to pass by Atafu and Nukunonu. In 1835, a US whaling ship became the first non-Pacific island ship to pass by Fakaofo. Catholic and Protestant missionaries arrived in 1845 and converted the population on the islands on which they landed. To this day, Nukunonu is predominantly Catholic while Atafu is mostly Protestant; Catholic and Protestant missionaries both worked in Fakaofo, and the population there is more mixed.
In 1863, Peruvian slave traders, masquerading as missionaries, kidnapped nearly all the men from Tokelau, and local governance moved to a system based on a Council of Elders, which still exists today. The atolls were repopulated when new Polynesian settlers and American and European migrants intermarried with local Tokelauan women. Tokelau became a British protectorate in 1889 and included in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate - later a colony - in 1908. In 1925, the UK placed Tokelau under New Zealand administration. The Tokelau Islands Act of 1948 formally transferred sovereignty from the UK to New Zealand and Tokelauans were granted New Zealand citizenship. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims over Tokelau in the Treaty of Tokehega, and Tokelau relinquished its claims over Swains Island, which is part of American Samoa.
Economic opportunities in Tokelau are sparse, and about 80% of Tokelauans live in New Zealand. Tokelau held two self-governance referendums in 2006 and 2007, in which more than 60% of voters chose to go into free association with New Zealand; however, the referendums failed to achieve the two-thirds majority necessary to enact a status change. Tokelau lacks an airport and is only accessible via a day-long boat trip from Samoa, although a site for an airstrip on Nukunonu was selected in 2019. Because of its dependency on Samoa for transportation, in 2011, Tokelau followed Samoa’s lead and shifted the international date line to its east, skipping December 30 and becoming one hour ahead of New Zealand rather than 23 hours behind.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 12 sq km
land: 12 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 17 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 101 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation: highest point: unnamed location 5 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: agricultural land: 60% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 40% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls
Natural hazards: lies in Pacific cyclone belt
Geography - note: consists of three atolls (Atafu, Fakaofo, Nukunonu), each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over 3 m above sea level
Map description: Tokelau map shows the three atolls that make up this New Zealand territory in the South Pacific Ocean.Tokelau map shows the three atolls that make up this New Zealand territory in the South Pacific Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,647 (2019 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups: Tokelauan 64.5%, part Tokelauan/Samoan 9.7%, part Tokelauan/Tuvaluan 2.8%, Tuvaluan 7.5%, Samoan 5.8%, other Pacific Islander 3.4%, other 5.6%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)
Languages: Tokelauan 88.1% (a Polynesian language), English 48.6%, Samoan 26.7%, Tuvaluan 11.2%, Kiribati 1.5%, other 2.8%, none 2.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 ests.)
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
Religions: Congregational Christian Church 50.4%, Roman Catholic 38.7%, Presbyterian 5.9%, other Christian 4.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Population growth rate: -0.01% (2019 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Net migration rate: -3.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population distribution: the country's small population is fairly evenly distributed amongst the three atolls
Urbanization: urban population: 0% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: (2021 est.) NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 99.7% of population
total: 99.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0.3% of population
total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: overexploitation of certain fish and other marine species, coastal sand, and forest resources; pollution of freshwater lenses and coastal waters from improper disposal of chemicals
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Land use: agricultural land: 60% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 40% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 0% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau
former: Union Islands, Tokelau Islands
etymology: "tokelau" is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind"
Government type: parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyparliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
Dependency status: self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand; a UN-sponsored referendum on self governance in October 2007 did not meet the two-thirds majority vote necessary for changing the political status
Capital: time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
note: there is no designated, official capital for Tokelau; the location of the capital rotates among the three atolls along with the head of government or Ulu o Tokelau
Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution: history: many previous; latest effective 1 January 1949 (Tokelau Islands Act 1948)
amendments: proposed as a resolution by the General Fono; passage requires support by each village and approval by the General Fono; amended several times, last in 2007
Legal system: common law system of New Zealand
Citizenship: see New Zealand
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of New Zealand Governor General Dame Cindy KIRO (since 21 September 2021); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Ross ARDERN (since May 2018)
head of government: (Ulu o Tokelau) Kelihiano KALOLO (since 8 March 2021); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders) of the atolls
cabinet: Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau (or Tokelau Council) functions as a cabinet; consists of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village mayors)
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; head of government chosen from the Council of Faipule to serve a 1-year term
note: the meeting place of the Tokelau Council rotates annually among the three atolls; this tradition has given rise to the somewhat misleading description that the capital rotates yearly between the three atolls; in actuality, it is the seat of the government councilors that rotates since Tokelau has no capital
Legislative branch: description: unicameral General Fono (20 seats apportioned by island - Atafu 7, Fakaofo 7, Nukunonu 6; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 3-year terms); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power to the General Fono
elections: last held on 23 January 2020 depending on island (next to be held in January 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 20; composition - men 17, women 3, percent of women 15%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (in New Zealand) (consists of the court president and 8 judges sitting in 3- or 5-judge panels, depending on the case)
judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Judicial Selection Committee and approved by three-quarters majority of the Parliament; judges serve for life
subordinate courts: High Court (in New Zealand); Council of Elders or Taupulega
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: PIF (associate member), SPC, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description: a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and, in conjunction with the canoe, symbolizes the country navigating into the future; the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies
National symbol(s): tuluma (fishing tackle box); national colors: blue, yellow, white
National anthem: name: "Te Atua" (For the Almighty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Falani KALOLO
note: adopted 2008; in preparation for eventual self governance, Tokelau held a national contest to choose an anthem; as a territory of New Zealand, "God Defend New Zealand" and "God Save the Queen" are official (see New Zealand)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The principal sources of revenue are from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue.Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The principal sources of revenue are from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $15 million annually in FY12/13 and FY13/14 - to maintain public services. New Zealand's support amounts to 80% of Tokelau's recurrent government budget. An international trust fund, currently worth nearly $32 million, was established in 2004 by New Zealand to provide Tokelau an independent source of revenue.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $7,711,583 (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars.
Real GDP growth rate: NANA
Real GDP per capita: $6,004 (2017 est.)
$4,855 (2016 est.)
$4,292 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.658 million (2017 est.)
note: data uses New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as the currency of exchange.
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2020 est.)
2.5% (2019 est.)
11% (2017 est.)
note: Tokelau notes that its wide inflation swings are due almost entirely due to cigarette prices, a chief import.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA
Agricultural products: coconuts, roots/tubers nes, tropical fruit, pork, bananas, eggs, poultry, pig offals, pig fat, fruit
Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Labor force: 1,100 (2019 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2% (2015 est.)
note: Underemployment may be as high as 6.6%
Population below poverty line: NA
Budget: revenues: 24,324,473 (2017 est.)
expenditures: 11,666,542 (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Exports: $103,000 (2015 est.)
$102,826 (2002 est.)
Exports - partners: Singapore 25%, France 19%, South Africa 7%, New Zealand 5%, United States 5%, Ireland 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: oscilloscopes, house linens, fruits, nuts, recreational boats, iron products (2019)
Imports: $15,792,720 (2015 est.)
Imports - partners: Samoa 35%, Ireland 17%, Philippines 14%, Malaysia 13%, South Africa 9% (2019)
Imports - commodities: oscilloscopes, integrated circuits, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, orthopedic appliances (2019)
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar -
1.543 (2017 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system; demand for mobile broadband increasing due to mobile services being the method of access for Internet across the region; 2G widespread with some 4G LTE service; satellite services has improved with the launch of the Kacific-1 satellite launched in 2019 (2020)
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands; fixed-line teledensity is 0 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 690; landing point for the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable linking Australia, Tokelau, Samoa, Kiribati, Fiji, New Zealand and Los Angeles, CA (USA); radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3 (2020)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: Sky TV access for around 30% of the population; each atoll operates a radio service that provides shipping news and weather reports (2019)
Internet country code: .tk
Internet users: total: 805 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 58% (2019 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Roadways: total: 10 km (2019)
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Tokelau-American Samoa (US): Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution; Swains Island has been administered by American Samoa since 1925; the 1980 Treaty of Tokehega delineates the maritime boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau; while not specifically mentioning Swains Island, the treaty notes in its preamble that New Zealand does not claim as part of Tokelau any island administered as part of American SamoaTokelau-American Samoa (US): Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olosega) in its 2006 draft independence constitution; Swains Island has been administered by American Samoa since 1925; the 1980 Treaty of Tokehega delineates the maritime boundary between American Samoa and Tokelau; while not specifically mentioning Swains Island, the treaty notes in its preamble that New Zealand does not claim as part of Tokelau any island administered as part of American Samoa |
20220901 | countries-samoa |
Topic: Photos of Samoa
Topic: Introduction
Background: The first Austronesian settlers arrived in Samoa around 1000 B.C., and early Samoans traded and intermarried with Fijian and Tongan nobility. The fa’amatai system of titles and nobility developed, which dominates Samoan politics to this day; all but two seats in the legislature are reserved for matai, or heads of families. Dutch explorer Jacob ROGGEVEEN was the first European to spot the islands in 1722. Christian missionaries arrived in the 1830s, converting most of the population. In the 1850s, Apia became a center for Pacific trading and hosted an American commercial agent and British and German consuls. In 1892, American traders convinced the Samoan king to align his country’s date with the US, moving to the east of the International Date Line.
Following the death of the Samoan king in 1841, rival families competed for his titles, devolving into civil war in 1886 with factions getting support from either Germany, the UK, or the US. All three countries sent warships to Apia in 1889, presaging a larger war, but a cyclone destroyed the ships and Malietoa LAUPEPA was installed as king. Upon LAUPEPA’s death in 1898, a second civil war over succession broke out. The war ended in 1899 and the Western powers abolished the monarchy, giving the western Samoan islands to Germany and the eastern Samoan islands to the US. The UK abandoned claims in Samoa and received former German territory in the Solomon Islands.
The Mau, a non-violent popular movement to advocate for Samoan independence, formed in 1908. New Zealand annexed Samoa in 1914 after the outbreak of World War I. Opposition to New Zealand’s rule quickly grew. In 1918, a New Zealand ship introduced the Spanish flu, infecting 90% of the population and killing more than 20%. In 1929, New Zealand police shot into a crowd of peaceful protestors, killing 11, in an event known as Black Sunday. In 1962, Samoa became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish its independence as Western Samoa but dropped the “Western” from its name in 1997. The Human Rights Protection Party has dominated politics since 1982, especially under Prime Minister Sailele TUILAEPA, who has been in power since 1998.
In the late 2000s, Samoa began making efforts to align more closely with Australia and New Zealand. In 2009, Samoa changed its driving orientation to the left side of the road, in line with other Commonwealth countries. In 2011, Samoa jumped forward one day - skipping December 30 - by moving to the west side of the International Date Line so that it was one hour ahead of New Zealand and three hours ahead of the east coast of Australia, rather than 23 and 21 hours behind, respectively.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 35 S, 172 20 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 2,831 sq km
land: 2,821 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 403 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Terrain: two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rugged mountains in interior
Elevation: highest point: Mount Silisili 1,857 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 12.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 60.4% (2018 est.)
other: 27.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: about three-quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones; active volcanismvolcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically activeoccasional cyclones; active volcanismvolcanism: Savai'I Island (1,858 m), which last erupted in 1911, is historically active
Geography - note: occupies an almost central position within Polynesia
Map description: Samoa map showing the islands that comprise this archipelagic country in the South Pacific Ocean.Samoa map showing the islands that comprise this archipelagic country in the South Pacific Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 206,179 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan
Ethnic groups: Samoan 96%, Samoan/New Zealander 2%, other 1.9% (2011 est.)
note: data represent the population by country of citizenship
Languages: Samoan (Polynesian) (official) 91.1%, Samoan/English 6.7%, English (official) 0.5%, other 0.2%, unspecified 1.6% (2006 est.)
Religions: Protestant 54.9% (Congregationalist 29%, Methodist 12.4%, Assembly of God 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4.4%, other Protestant 2.3%), Roman Catholic 18.8%, Church of Jesus Christ 16.9%, Worship Centre 2.8%, other Christian 3.6%, other 2.9% (includes Baha'i, Muslim), none 0.2% (2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.31% (male 30,825/female 28,900)
15-24 years: 19.61% (male 20,519/female 19,439)
25-54 years: 37.4% (male 39,011/female 37,200)
55-64 years: 7.5% (male 7,780/female 7,505)
65 years and over: 6.18% (2020 est.) (male 5,513/female 7,082)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 73.3
youth dependency ratio: 64.5
elderly dependency ratio: 8.8
potential support ratio: 11.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 25.6 years
male: 25.3 years
female: 26 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.63% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 19.21 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: about three-quarters of the population lives on the island of Upolu
Urbanization: urban population: 17.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 36,000 APIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.6 years (2009 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio: 43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.28 years
female: 78.25 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 16.6% (2019/20)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 98% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 2% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 6.4% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.6 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 99.5% of population
total: 99.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 0.5% of population
total: 0.5% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 47.3% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 25.3% (2020 est.)
male: 36.1% (2020 est.)
female: 14.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.4% (2019/20)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 0.9%
women married by age 18: 7.4%
men married by age 18: 2% (2020 est.)
Education expenditures: 4.8% of GDP (2020 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99%
female: 99.2% (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 31.9%
male: 24.6%
female: 43.4% (2017 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 10.56 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.25 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.27 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)
Land use: agricultural land: 12.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 2.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 7.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 1.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 60.4% (2018 est.)
other: 27.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 17.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.27% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,399 tons (2011 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 9,864 tons (2013 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 36% (2013 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa
etymology: the meaning of Samoa is disputed; some modern explanations are that the "sa" connotes "sacred" and "moa" indicates "center," so the name can mean "Holy Center"; alternatively, some assertions state that it can mean "place of the sacred moa bird" of Polynesian mythology; the name, however, may go back to Proto-Polynesian (PPn) times (before 1000 B.C.); a plausible PPn reconstruction has the first syllable as "sa'a" meaning "tribe or people" and "moa" meaning "deep sea or ocean" to convey the meaning "people of the deep sea"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 49 S, 171 46 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: name derives from the native village around which the capital was constructed in the 1850s; the village still exists within the larger modern capital
Administrative divisions: 11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June
Constitution: history: several previous (preindependence); latest 1 January 1962
amendments: proposed as an act by the Legislative Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the third reading - provided at least 90 days have elapsed since the second reading, and assent of the chief of state; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles on customary land or constitutional amendment procedures also requires at least two-thirds majority approval in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2020
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Samoa
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi II (since 21 July 2017)
head of government: Prime Minister FIAME Naomi Mata’afa (since 24 May 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice
elections/appointments: chief of state indirectly elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a 5-year term (2- term limit); election last held on 4 July 2017 (next to be held in 2022); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state, approved by the Legislative Assembly
election results: TUIMALEALI'IFANO Va’aletoa Sualauvi unanimously elected by the Legislative Assembly on 5 July 2017
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (53 seats for 2021-2026 term); members from 51 single-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote, with a minimum 10% representation of women in the Assembly required; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: election last held on 9 April 2021 (next election to be held in 2026)
election results: percent of vote by party - HRPP 55%, FAST 37%, TSP 3%, independents 5%; seats by party – FAST 30, HRPP 22, independents 1; composition - men 47, women 6, percent of women 11.3%
note - on 29 November 2021, the Election Commissioner added two women seats to parliament, bringing the HRPP’s total from 20 to 22 seats
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and 2 Supreme Court judges and meets once or twice a year); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and several judges)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the chief of state upon the advice of the prime minister; other Supreme Court judges appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a 3-member body chaired by the chief justice and includes the attorney general and an appointee of the Minister of Justice; judges normally serve until retirement at age 68
subordinate courts: District Court; Magistrates' Courts; Land and Titles Courts; village fono or village chief councils
Political parties and leaders: Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [TUILA'EPA Sailele Malielegaoi]
Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi or FAST [FIAME Naomi Mata'afa]
Tautua Samoa Party or TSP [Afualo Wood Uti SALELE]
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pa’olelei LUTERU (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 685 Third Avenue, 44th Street, 11th Floor, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797
email address and website:
samoanymission@outlook.com
https://www.un.int/samoa/samoa/embassy-independent-state-samoa-united-states-america
consulate(s) general: Pago Pago (American Samoa)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
embassy: 5th Floor, Accident Corporation Building, Matafele Apia
mailing address: 4400 Apia Place, Washington DC 20521-4400
telephone: [685] 21-436
FAX: [685] 22-030
email address and website:
ApiaConsular@state.gov
https://ws.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white, five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and white signifies purity
note: similar to the flag of Taiwan
National symbol(s): Southern Cross constellation (five, five-pointed stars); national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "O le Fu'a o le Sa'olotoga o Samoa" (The Banner of Freedom)
lyrics/music: Sauni Liga KURESA
note: adopted 1962; also known as "Samoa Tula'i" (Samoa Arise)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. It has a nominal GDP of $844 million. Agriculture, including fishing, furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Industry accounts for nearly 22% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The service sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. In September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. In December 2012, extensive flooding and wind damage from Tropical Cyclone Evan killed four people, displaced over 6,000, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes on Samoa's Upolu Island. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the country's financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Foreign reserves are relatively healthy and inflation is low, but external debt is approximately 45% of GDP. Samoa became the 155th member of the WTO in May 2012, and graduated from least developed country status in January 2014.The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, tourism, agriculture, and fishing. It has a nominal GDP of $844 million. Agriculture, including fishing, furnishes 90% of exports, featuring fish, coconut oil, nonu products, and taro. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. Industry accounts for nearly 22% of GDP while employing less than 6% of the work force. The service sector accounts for nearly two-thirds of GDP and employs approximately 50% of the labor force. Tourism is an expanding sector accounting for 25% of GDP; 132,000 tourists visited the islands in 2013. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. In September 2009, an earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged Samoa and nearby American Samoa, disrupting transportation and power generation, and resulting in about 200 deaths. In December 2012, extensive flooding and wind damage from Tropical Cyclone Evan killed four people, displaced over 6,000, and damaged or destroyed an estimated 1,500 homes on Samoa's Upolu Island. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the country's financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, while at the same time protecting the environment. Foreign reserves are relatively healthy and inflation is low, but external debt is approximately 45% of GDP. Samoa became the 155th member of the WTO in May 2012, and graduated from least developed country status in January 2014.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.25 billion (2020 est.)
$1.28 billion (2019 est.)
$1.24 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)
7.1% (2016 est.)
1.6% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $6,300 (2020 est.)
$6,500 (2019 est.)
$6,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $841 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (2017 est.)
0.1% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 10.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 23.6% (2017 est.)
services: 66% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: NA
government consumption: NA
investment in fixed capital: NA
investment in inventories: NA
exports of goods and services: 27.2% (2015 est.)
imports of goods and services: -50.5% (2015 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, taro, bananas, yams, tropical fruit, pineapples, mangoes/guavas, papayas, roots/tubers nes, pork
Industries: food processing, building materials, auto parts
Industrial production growth rate: -1.8% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 50,700 (2016 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65%
industry: 6%
services: 29% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.2% (2017 est.)
5.5% (2016 est.)
NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 31.9%
male: 24.6%
female: 43.4% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.3% (2013 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 38.7 (2013 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 237.3 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 276.8 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -4.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 49.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
52.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 28.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: June 1 - May 31
Current account balance: -$19 million (2017 est.)
-$37 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $310 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: American Samoa 21%, United States 13%, New Zealand 12%, Australia 10%, Tokelau 6%, Taiwan 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, fruit juice, coconut oil, beer (2019)
Imports: $430 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$312.6 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: New Zealand 22%, China 16%, Singapore 13%, United States 10%, Australia 9%, South Korea 8%, Fiji 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, iron products, poultry meats, cars, insulated wiring (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $133 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$122.5 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $447.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
Exchange rates: tala (SAT) per US dollar -
2.54712 (2020 est.)
2.65534 (2019 est.)
2.57069 (2018 est.)
2.5609 (2014 est.)
2.3318 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 120.13 million kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 15 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 72.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 2,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,363 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 355,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 355,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 27.111 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 6,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 69,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Samoa was one of the first Pacific Island countries to establish a regulatory infrastructure and to liberalize its telecom market; in 2006, it became the first country in the region to see the market entrance of Digicel, which has since launched services in other Pacific nations; the advent of competition in the mobile market saw prices fall by around 50% and network coverage increase to more than 90% of the population; Samoa also boasts one of the highest rates of mobile phone coverage in the Pacific region; LTE is developing on the back of an initial launch of the technology in 2016 by Digicel Samoa, followed by BlueSky Samoa (now Vodafone Samoa) in 2017; Digicel Samoa completed its LTE network in September 2020; the growth of fixed-line internet has been impeded by factors including the high costs for bandwidth, under investment in fixed-line infrastructure, as well as a strained consumer profile weighing on demand for services; Digicel Samoa’s financially troubled parent company, Digicel Pacific, had been on the lookout for a potential buyer for several months as it struggled financially; after various Chinese firms registered interest in taking a stake, the Australian government sought to block further Chinese investment in the region by providing financial support for a local buyer; in October 2021, Telstra agreed to acquire Digicel Group’s Pacific operations for around $1.6 billion, with a financial input from the Australian government of around $1.33 billion, Samoa’s telecoms sector has been inhibited by a lack of international connectivity; Samoa has had access to the Samoa-America-Samoa (SAS) cable laid in 2009, this cable has insufficient capacity to meet the country’s future bandwidth needs; this issue was addressed with two new submarine cables that became available in 2018 and 2019; combined with the Samoa National Broadband Highway (SNBH), have improved internet data rates and reliability, and have helped to reduce the high costs previously associated with internet access in Samoa; in April 2022, the Samoan government announced its decision to take over control of the Samoa Submarine Cable Company, looking to the cable to generate additional revenue for the state. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line roughly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity nearly 64 telephones per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 685; landing points for the Tui-Samo, Manatua, SAS, and Southern Cross NEXT submarine cables providing connectivity to Samoa, Fiji, Wallis & Futuna, Cook Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Kiribati, Los Angeles (US), and Tokelau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: state-owned TV station privatized in 2008; 4 privately owned television broadcast stations; about a half-dozen privately owned radio stations and one state-owned radio station; TV and radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are available (2019)
Internet country code: .ws
Internet users: total: 67,012 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 34% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,692 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 137,770 (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5W
Airports: total: 4 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Roadways: total: 1,150 km (2018)
Merchant marine: total: 12
by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 6 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Apia
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (Ministry of Police, Prisons, and Correction Services) (2022)
Military - note: informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | countries-saint-pierre-and-miquelon |
Topic: Photos of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Topic: Introduction
Background: First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions. They attained the status of an overseas collectivity in 2003.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)
Geographic coordinates: 46 50 N, 56 20 W
Map references: North America
Area: total: 242 sq km
land: 242 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes eight small islands in the Saint Pierre and the Miquelon groups
Area - comparative: one and half times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 120 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
Terrain: mostly barren rock
Elevation: highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use: agricultural land: 8.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 78.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
Natural hazards: persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard
Geography - note: vegetation scanty; the islands are actually part of the northern Appalachians along with Newfoundland
Map description: Saint Pierre and Miquelon map showing the two islands that make up this French territorial overseas collectivity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.Saint Pierre and Miquelon map showing the two islands that make up this French territorial overseas collectivity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 5,257 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)
Languages: French (official)
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.68% (male 370/female 349)
15-24 years: 8.71% (male 240/female 218)
25-54 years: 40% (male 1,039/female 1,100)
55-64 years: 15.52% (male 419/female 397)
65 years and over: 24.1% (2022 est.) (male 556/female 711)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 48.5 years
male: 47.9 years
female: 49 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.2% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 6.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is found on Saint Pierre Island; a small settlement is located on the north end of Miquelon Island
Urbanization: urban population: 90% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6,000 SAINT-PIERRE (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 8.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.41 years
male: 79.05 years
female: 83.9 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.59 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 91.4% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 8.6% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: overfishing; recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Climate: cold and wet, with considerable mist and fog; spring and autumn are often windy
Land use: agricultural land: 8.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 8.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 12.5% (2018 est.)
other: 78.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 90% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.75% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
etymology: Saint-Pierre is named after Saint PETER, the patron saint of fishermen; Miquelon may be a corruption of the Basque name Mikelon
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Council); overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: overseas collectivity of France
Capital: name: Saint-Pierre
geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
etymology: named after Saint Peter, the patron saint of fisherman
Administrative divisions: none (territorial overseas collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 2 communes at the second order - Saint Pierre, Miquelon
Independence: none (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)
National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)
Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
amendments: amendment procedures of France's constitution apply
Legal system: French civil law
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by Prefect Christian POUGET (since 6 January 2021)
head of government: President of Territorial Council Bernard BRIAND (since 13 October 2020)
cabinet: Le Cabinet du Prefet
elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 April and 6 May 2017 (next to be held in 2022); prefect appointed by French president on the advice of French Ministry of Interior; Territorial Council president elected by Territorial Council councillors by absolute majority vote; term NA; election last held on 13 October 2020; next election NA
election results: Bernard BRIAND elected President of Territorial Council; Territorial Council vote - 17 for, 2 abstentions
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Territorial Council or Conseil Territorial (19 seats - Saint Pierre 15, Miquelon 4; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed to serve 6-year terms);
Saint Pierre and Miquelon indirectly elects 1 senator to the French Senate by an electoral college to serve a 6-year term and directly elects 1 deputy to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote to serve a 5-year term
elections: Territorial Council - first round held on 20 March 2022 (next to be held in March 2028); second round held on 27 March 2022
French Senate - last held on 24 September 2017 (next to be held no later than September 2023)
French National Assembly - last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022)
election results: Territorial Council - percent of vote by party (first round) - AD 45.9%, Focus on the Future 37%, Together to Build 17.1%; percent of vote by party (second round) - AD 51.8%, Focus on the Future 38.1%, Together to Build 10.1%, seats by party - AD 15, Focus on the Future 4; composition - men NA, women NA, percent of women NA%
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1 (affiliated with UMP)
French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Ensemble pour l'Avenir 1 (affiliated with PRG); the Republicans (LR) 1
Judicial branch: highest courts: Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel (composition NA)
judge selection and term of office: judge selection and tenure NA
subordinate courts: NA
Political parties and leaders: Archipelago Tomorrow (Archipel Domain) or AD (affiliated with The Republicans)
Focus on the Future (Cap sur l'Avenir) [Annick GIRARDIN] (affiliated with Left Radical Party)
Together to Build (Ensemble pour Construire) [Karine CLAIREAUX]
International organization participation: UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)
Flag description: a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
National symbol(s): 16th-century sailing ship
National anthem: note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)note: as a collectivity of France, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. The services sector accounted for 86% of GDP in 2010, the last year data is available for. Government employment accounts for than 46% of the GDP, and 78% of the population is working age. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. Trade is the second largest sector in terms of value added created, where it contributes significantly to economic activity. The extractive industries and energy sector is the third largest sector of activity in the archipelago, attributable in part to the construction of a new thermal power plant in 2015.The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. The services sector accounted for 86% of GDP in 2010, the last year data is available for. Government employment accounts for than 46% of the GDP, and 78% of the population is working age. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Fish farming, crab fishing, and agriculture are being developed to diversify the local economy. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector. Trade is the second largest sector in terms of value added created, where it contributes significantly to economic activity. The extractive industries and energy sector is the third largest sector of activity in the archipelago, attributable in part to the construction of a new thermal power plant in 2015.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $261.3 million (2015 est.)
$215.3 million (2006 est.)
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million
Real GDP growth rate: NANA
Real GDP per capita: $46,200 (2006 est.)
$34,900 (2005)
GDP (official exchange rate): $261.3 million (2015 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (2015)
4.5% (2010)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2% (2006 est.)
industry: 15% (2006 est.)
services: 83% (2006 est.)
Agricultural products: vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 4,429 (2015)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18%
industry: 41%
services: 41% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.7% (2015 est.)
9.9% (2008 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 70 million (1996 est.)
expenditures: 60 million (1996 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 3.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.8% (of GDP) (1996 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Exports: $6.641 million (2010 est.)
$5.5 million (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: Canada 79%, France 8%, Belgium 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crustaceans, fish, medical instruments, electrical parts, pasta (2019)
Imports: $95.35 million (2010 est.)
$68.2 million (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: France 69%, Canada 22% (2019)
Imports - commodities: food preparation, packaged medicines, low-voltage protection equipment, cars, computers, iron structures (2019)
Debt - external: NANA
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.885 (2017 est.)
0.903 (2016 est.)
0.9214 (2015 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity - production: 46 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 42.78 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 27,600 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 96% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 4% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 660 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 650 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4,800 (2015 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2015 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: adequate (2019)
domestic: fixed-line teledensity 76 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 508; landing point for the St Pierre and Miquelon Cable connecting Saint Pierre & Miquelon and Canada; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 8 TV stations, all part of the French Overseas Network, and local cable provided by SPM Telecom; 3 of 4 radio stations on St. Pierre and on Miquelon are part of the French Overseas Network (2021)
Internet country code: .pm
Internet users: total: 4,500 (2016 est.)
percent of population: 79.5% (2016 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 2 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 117 km (2009)
paved: 80 km (2009)
unpaved: 37 km (2009)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Saint-Pierre
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone |
20220901 | field-maternal-mortality-ratio | The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.
Topic: Afghanistan638 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Albania15 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Algeria112 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Angola241 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Argentina39 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Armenia26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Australia6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Austria5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Azerbaijan26 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bahamas, The70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bahrain14 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bangladesh173 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Barbados27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Belarus2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Belgium5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Belize36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Benin397 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bhutan183 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bolivia155 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Botswana144 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Brazil60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Brunei31 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Bulgaria10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Burkina Faso320 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Burma250 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Burundi548 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cabo Verde58 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cambodia160 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cameroon529 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Canada10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Central African Republic829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Chad1,140 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Chile13 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: China29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Colombia83 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Comoros273 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the473 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the378 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Costa Rica27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire617 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Croatia8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cuba36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Cyprus6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Czechia3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Denmark4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Djibouti248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Dominican Republic95 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Ecuador59 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Egypt37 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: El Salvador46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea301 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Eritrea480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Estonia9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Eswatini437 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Ethiopia401 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Fiji34 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Finland3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: France8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Gabon252 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Gambia, The597 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Gaza Strip27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Topic: Georgia25 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Germany7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Ghana308 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Greece3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Grenada25 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Guatemala95 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Guinea576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau667 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Guyana667 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Haiti480 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Honduras65 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Hungary12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Iceland4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: India145 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Indonesia177 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Iran16 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Iraq79 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Ireland5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Israel3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Italy2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Jamaica80 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Japan5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Jordan46 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Kazakhstan10 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Kenya342 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Kiribati92 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Korea, North89 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Korea, South11 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Kuwait12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan60 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Laos185 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Latvia19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Lebanon29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Lesotho544 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Liberia661 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Libya72 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Lithuania5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Luxembourg5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Madagascar335 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Malawi349 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Malaysia29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Maldives53 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Mali562 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Malta6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritania766 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Mauritius61 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Mexico33 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Moldova19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Mongolia45 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Montenegro6 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Morocco70 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique289 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Namibia195 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Nepal186 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Netherlands5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: New Zealand9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Nicaragua198 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Niger509 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Nigeria917 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: North Macedonia7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Norway2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Oman19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Pakistan140 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Panama52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Papua New Guinea145 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Paraguay84 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Peru88 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Philippines121 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Poland2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Portugal8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Puerto Rico21 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Qatar9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Romania19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Russia17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Rwanda248 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Lucia117 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines98 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Samoa43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe130 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Saudi Arabia17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Senegal315 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Serbia12 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Sierra Leone1,120 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Singapore8 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Slovakia5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Slovenia7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Solomon Islands104 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Somalia829 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: South Africa119 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: South Sudan1,150 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Spain4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Sri Lanka36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Sudan295 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Suriname120 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Sweden4 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Switzerland5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Syria31 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Tajikistan17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Tanzania524 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Thailand37 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Timor-Leste142 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Togo396 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Tonga52 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago67 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Tunisia43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Turkmenistan7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Uganda375 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Ukraine19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: United Arab Emirates3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: United Kingdom7 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: United States19 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Uruguay17 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Uzbekistan29 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Vanuatu72 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Venezuela125 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Vietnam43 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: West Bank27 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
note: data represent Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Topic: World211 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Yemen164 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Zambia213 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Topic: Zimbabwe458 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
20220901 | field-obesity-adult-prevalence-rate | This entry gives the percent of a country's population considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.
Topic: Afghanistan5.5% (2016)
Topic: Albania21.7% (2016)
Topic: Algeria27.4% (2016)
Topic: Andorra25.6% (2016)
Topic: Angola8.2% (2016)
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda18.9% (2016)
Topic: Argentina28.3% (2016)
Topic: Armenia20.2% (2016)
Topic: Australia29% (2016)
Topic: Austria20.1% (2016)
Topic: Azerbaijan19.9% (2016)
Topic: Bahamas, The31.6% (2016)
Topic: Bahrain29.8% (2016)
Topic: Bangladesh3.6% (2016)
Topic: Barbados23.1% (2016)
Topic: Belarus24.5% (2016)
Topic: Belgium22.1% (2016)
Topic: Belize24.1% (2016)
Topic: Benin9.6% (2016)
Topic: Bhutan6.4% (2016)
Topic: Bolivia20.2% (2016)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina17.9% (2016)
Topic: Botswana18.9% (2016)
Topic: Brazil22.1% (2016)
Topic: Brunei14.1% (2016)
Topic: Bulgaria25% (2016)
Topic: Burkina Faso5.6% (2016)
Topic: Burma5.8% (2016)
Topic: Burundi5.4% (2016)
Topic: Cabo Verde11.8% (2016)
Topic: Cambodia3.9% (2016)
Topic: Cameroon11.4% (2016)
Topic: Canada29.4% (2016)
Topic: Central African Republic7.5% (2016)
Topic: Chad6.1% (2016)
Topic: Chile28% (2016)
Topic: China6.2% (2016)
Topic: Colombia22.3% (2016)
Topic: Comoros7.8% (2016)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the6.7% (2016)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the9.6% (2016)
Topic: Cook Islands55.9% (2016)
Topic: Costa Rica25.7% (2016)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire10.3% (2016)
Topic: Croatia24.4% (2016)
Topic: Cuba24.6% (2016)
Topic: Cyprus21.8% (2016)
Topic: Czechia26% (2016)
Topic: Denmark19.7% (2016)
Topic: Djibouti13.5% (2016)
Topic: Dominica27.9% (2016)
Topic: Dominican Republic27.6% (2016)
Topic: Ecuador19.9% (2016)
Topic: Egypt32% (2016)
Topic: El Salvador24.6% (2016)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea8% (2016)
Topic: Eritrea5% (2016)
Topic: Estonia21.2% (2016)
Topic: Eswatini16.5% (2016)
Topic: Ethiopia4.5% (2016)
Topic: Fiji30.2% (2016)
Topic: Finland22.2% (2016)
Topic: France21.6% (2016)
Topic: Gabon15% (2016)
Topic: Gambia, The10.3% (2016)
Topic: Georgia21.7% (2016)
Topic: Germany22.3% (2016)
Topic: Ghana10.9% (2016)
Topic: Greece24.9% (2016)
Topic: Grenada21.3% (2016)
Topic: Guatemala21.2% (2016)
Topic: Guinea7.7% (2016)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau9.5% (2016)
Topic: Guyana20.2% (2016)
Topic: Haiti22.7% (2016)
Topic: Honduras21.4% (2016)
Topic: Hungary26.4% (2016)
Topic: Iceland21.9% (2016)
Topic: India3.9% (2016)
Topic: Indonesia6.9% (2016)
Topic: Iran25.8% (2016)
Topic: Iraq30.4% (2016)
Topic: Ireland25.3% (2016)
Topic: Israel26.1% (2016)
Topic: Italy19.9% (2016)
Topic: Jamaica24.7% (2016)
Topic: Japan4.3% (2016)
Topic: Jordan35.5% (2016)
Topic: Kazakhstan21% (2016)
Topic: Kenya7.1% (2016)
Topic: Kiribati46% (2016)
Topic: Korea, North6.8% (2016)
Topic: Korea, South4.7% (2016)
Topic: Kuwait37.9% (2016)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan16.6% (2016)
Topic: Laos5.3% (2016)
Topic: Latvia23.6% (2016)
Topic: Lebanon32% (2016)
Topic: Lesotho16.6% (2016)
Topic: Liberia9.9% (2016)
Topic: Libya32.5% (2016)
Topic: Lithuania26.3% (2016)
Topic: Luxembourg22.6% (2016)
Topic: Madagascar5.3% (2016)
Topic: Malawi5.8% (2016)
Topic: Malaysia15.6% (2016)
Topic: Maldives8.6% (2016)
Topic: Mali8.6% (2016)
Topic: Malta28.9% (2016)
Topic: Marshall Islands52.9% (2016)
Topic: Mauritania12.7% (2016)
Topic: Mauritius10.8% (2016)
Topic: Mexico28.9% (2016)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of45.8% (2016)
Topic: Moldova18.9% (2016)
Topic: Mongolia20.6% (2016)
Topic: Montenegro23.3% (2016)
Topic: Morocco26.1% (2016)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique7.2% (2016)
Topic: Namibia17.2% (2016)
Topic: Nauru61% (2016)
Topic: Nepal4.1% (2016)
Topic: Netherlands20.4% (2016)
Topic: New Zealand30.8% (2016)
Topic: Nicaragua23.7% (2016)
Topic: Niger5.5% (2016)
Topic: Nigeria8.9% (2016)
Topic: Niue50% (2016)
Topic: North Macedonia22.4% (2016)
Topic: Norway23.1% (2016)
Topic: Oman27% (2016)
Topic: Pakistan8.6% (2016)
Topic: Palau55.3% (2016)
Topic: Panama22.7% (2016)
Topic: Papua New Guinea21.3% (2016)
Topic: Paraguay20.3% (2016)
Topic: Peru19.7% (2016)
Topic: Philippines6.4% (2016)
Topic: Poland23.1% (2016)
Topic: Portugal20.8% (2016)
Topic: Qatar35.1% (2016)
Topic: Romania22.5% (2016)
Topic: Russia23.1% (2016)
Topic: Rwanda5.8% (2016)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis22.9% (2016)
Topic: Saint Lucia19.7% (2016)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines23.7% (2016)
Topic: Samoa47.3% (2016)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe12.4% (2016)
Topic: Saudi Arabia35.4% (2016)
Topic: Senegal8.8% (2016)
Topic: Serbia21.5% (2016)
Topic: Seychelles14% (2016)
Topic: Sierra Leone8.7% (2016)
Topic: Singapore6.1% (2016)
Topic: Slovakia20.5% (2016)
Topic: Slovenia20.2% (2016)
Topic: Solomon Islands22.5% (2016)
Topic: Somalia8.3% (2016)
Topic: South Africa28.3% (2016)
Topic: South Sudan6.6% (2014)
Topic: Spain23.8% (2016)
Topic: Sri Lanka5.2% (2016)
Topic: Sudan6.6% (2014)
Topic: Suriname26.4% (2016)
Topic: Sweden20.6% (2016)
Topic: Switzerland19.5% (2016)
Topic: Syria27.8% (2016)
Topic: Tajikistan14.2% (2016)
Topic: Tanzania8.4% (2016)
Topic: Thailand10% (2016)
Topic: Timor-Leste3.8% (2016)
Topic: Togo8.4% (2016)
Topic: Tonga48.2% (2016)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago18.6% (2016)
Topic: Tunisia26.9% (2016)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)32.1% (2016)
Topic: Turkmenistan18.6% (2016)
Topic: Tuvalu51.6% (2016)
Topic: Uganda5.3% (2016)
Topic: Ukraine24.1% (2016)
Topic: United Arab Emirates31.7% (2016)
Topic: United Kingdom27.8% (2016)
Topic: United States36.2% (2016)
Topic: Uruguay27.9% (2016)
Topic: Uzbekistan16.6% (2016)
Topic: Vanuatu25.2% (2016)
Topic: Venezuela25.6% (2016)
Topic: Vietnam2.1% (2016)
Topic: Yemen17.1% (2016)
Topic: Zambia8.1% (2016)
Topic: Zimbabwe15.5% (2016) |
20220901 | countries-palmyra-atoll | |
20220901 | countries-japan-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens Reconsider Travel to Japan due to COVID-19-related entry restrictions. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required for stays of less than 90 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [81] (03) 3224-5000; US Embassy in Tokyo, 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420, Japan; TokyoACS@state.gov;
https://jp.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 81
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 119; Fire: 119; Police: 110
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Currency (Code): Yen (JPY)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 100 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B
Major Languages: Japanese
Major Religions: Shintoism 69%, Buddhism 66.7%, Christianity 1.5%, other 6.2%; note: many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism
Time Difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Yes
International Driving Permit: required
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Tokyo (includes Imperial Palace, Skytree, Mount Fuji, Disneyland); Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; Historic Kyoto; Island Shrine of Itsukushima; Historic Nara; Himeji Castle; Nagasaki; Okinawa
Major Sports: Sumo wrestling, karate, judo
Cultural Practices: Shaking hands in Japan is less widespread than in other countries. Bowing is much more common.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not expected by the majority of service workers. This includes restaurant servers, hotel employees, and cab drivers. Some even regard tipping as rude or degrading. Staff connected with tourism, such as tour guides, may be grateful for tips.
Souvenirs: Silk kimonos, designer fashion and electronics, beauty products, bento boxes, art supplies, bamboo and paper wagasa umbrellas, printed tenugui cloth items, hand fans, tanuki statues; ceremonially dressed dolls, kites, and folk toys; maneki neko good fortune cat itemsPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Monday, April 18, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-yemen-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to this country due to COVID-19, terrorism, civil unrest, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: No US Embassy or Consulate currently in Yemen since 2015, due to ongoing conflict; Yemen Affairs Unit currently operates out of US Embassy Riyadh, [966] 11-488-3800; (967) 1 755-2000; US Embassy in Sana’a, Sa’awan Street, PO Box 22347; YemenEmergencyUSC@state.gov;
https://ye.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 967
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 191; Fire: 191; Police: 194
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Asia; Yemen is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Currency (Code): Yemeni rials (YER)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, D, G
Major Languages: Arabic
Major Religions: Muslim 99.1% (estimated 65% are Sunni and 35% are Shia), other 0.9% (includes Jewish, Baha'i, Hindu, and Christian)
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Al-Saleh Mosque; Old City of Sanaa; Socotra Island; Qalansiya Beach; Al Mukalla Harbor; Gulf of Aden, Shibam, Seiyun Palace, Thula Village
Major Sports: Soccer, boxing, mountain climbing
Cultural Practices: Yemenis greatly respect titles and positions of authority. Familiarity is commonly avoided in a work-related setting.
Tipping Guidelines: Leave a 10% tip in finer restaurants; otherwise round up the bill.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Tuesday, April 05, 2022 |
20220901 | field-internet-country-code | This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
Topic: Afghanistan.af
Topic: Albania.al
Topic: Algeria.dz
Topic: American Samoa.as
Topic: Andorra.ad
Topic: Angola.ao
Topic: Anguilla.ai
Topic: Antarctica.aq
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda.ag
Topic: Argentina.ar
Topic: Armenia.am
Topic: Aruba.aw
Topic: Australia.au
Topic: Austria.at
Topic: Azerbaijan.az
Topic: Bahamas, The.bs
Topic: Bahrain.bh
Topic: Bangladesh.bd
Topic: Barbados.bb
Topic: Belarus.by
Topic: Belgium.be
Topic: Belize.bz
Topic: Benin.bj
Topic: Bermuda.bm
Topic: Bhutan.bt
Topic: Bolivia.bo
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina.ba
Topic: Botswana.bw
Topic: Bouvet Island.bv
Topic: Brazil.br
Topic: British Indian Ocean Territory.io
Topic: British Virgin Islands.vg
Topic: Brunei.bn
Topic: Bulgaria.bg
Topic: Burkina Faso.bf
Topic: Burma.mm
Topic: Burundi.bi
Topic: Cabo Verde.cv
Topic: Cambodia.kh
Topic: Cameroon.cm
Topic: Canada.ca
Topic: Cayman Islands.ky
Topic: Central African Republic.cf
Topic: Chad.td
Topic: Chile.cl
Topic: China.cn
Topic: Christmas Island.cx
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islands.cc
Topic: Colombia.co
Topic: Comoros.km
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the.cd
Topic: Congo, Republic of the.cg
Topic: Cook Islands.ck
Topic: Costa Rica.cr
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire.ci
Topic: Croatia.hr
Topic: Cuba.cu
Topic: Curacao.cw.cw
Topic: Cyprus.cy
Topic: Czechia.cz
Topic: Denmark.dk
Topic: Djibouti.dj
Topic: Dominica.dm
Topic: Dominican Republic.do
Topic: Ecuador.ec
Topic: Egypt.eg
Topic: El Salvador.sv
Topic: Equatorial Guinea.gq
Topic: Eritrea.er
Topic: Estonia.ee
Topic: Eswatini.sz
Topic: Ethiopia.et
Topic: European Union.eu; note - see country entries of member states for individual country codes
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).fk
Topic: Faroe Islands.fo
Topic: Fiji.fj
Topic: Finland.fi
note - Aland Islands assigned .ax.fi
Topic: Francemetropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp; Martinique - .mq; Mayotte - .yt; Reunion - .re
Topic: French Polynesia.pf
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Lands.tf
Topic: Gabon.ga
Topic: Gambia, The.gm
Topic: Gaza Strip.psnote - same as the West Bank
Topic: Georgia.ge
Topic: Germany.de
Topic: Ghana.gh
Topic: Gibraltar.gi
Topic: Greece.gr
Topic: Greenland.gl
Topic: Grenada.gd
Topic: Guam.gu
Topic: Guatemala.gt
Topic: Guernsey.gg
Topic: Guinea.gn
Topic: Guinea-Bissau.gw
Topic: Guyana.gy
Topic: Haiti.ht
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islands.hm
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City).va
Topic: Honduras.hn
Topic: Hong Kong.hk
Topic: Hungary.hu
Topic: Iceland.is
Topic: India.in
Topic: Indonesia.id
Topic: Iran.ir
Topic: Iraq.iq
Topic: Ireland.ie
Topic: Isle of Man.im
Topic: Israel.il
Topic: Italy.it
Topic: Jamaica.jm
Topic: Japan.jp
Topic: Jersey.je
Topic: Jordan.jo
Topic: Kazakhstan.kz
Topic: Kenya.ke
Topic: Kiribati.ki
Topic: Korea, North.kp
Topic: Korea, South.kr
Topic: Kosovo.xk
note: assigned as a temporary code under UN Security Council resolution 1244/99
Topic: Kuwait.kw
Topic: Kyrgyzstan.kg
Topic: Laos.la
Topic: Latvia.lv
Topic: Lebanon.lb
Topic: Lesotho.ls
Topic: Liberia.lr
Topic: Libya.ly
Topic: Liechtenstein.li
Topic: Lithuania.lt
Topic: Luxembourg.lu
Topic: Macau.mo
Topic: Madagascar.mg
Topic: Malawi.mw
Topic: Malaysia.my
Topic: Maldives.mv
Topic: Mali.ml
Topic: Malta.mt
Topic: Marshall Islands.mh
Topic: Mauritania.mr
Topic: Mauritius.mu
Topic: Mexico.mx
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of.fm
Topic: Moldova.md
Topic: Monaco.mc
Topic: Mongolia.mn
Topic: Montenegro.me
Topic: Montserrat.ms
Topic: Morocco.ma
Topic: Mozambique.mz
Topic: Namibia.na
Topic: Nauru.nr
Topic: Nepal.np
Topic: Netherlands.nl
Topic: New Caledonia.nc
Topic: New Zealand.nz
Topic: Nicaragua.ni
Topic: Niger.ne
Topic: Nigeria.ng
Topic: Niue.nu
Topic: Norfolk Island.nf
Topic: North Macedonia.mk
Topic: Northern Mariana Islands.mp
Topic: Norway.no
Topic: Oman.om
Topic: Pakistan.pk
Topic: Palau.pw
Topic: Panama.pa
Topic: Papua New Guinea.pg
Topic: Paraguay.py
Topic: Peru.pe
Topic: Philippines.ph
Topic: Pitcairn Islands.pn
Topic: Poland.pl
Topic: Portugal.pt
Topic: Puerto Rico.pr
Topic: Qatar.qa
Topic: Romania.ro
Topic: Russia.ru; note - Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union and is being phased out
Topic: Rwanda.rw
Topic: Saint Barthelemy.bl; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.sh; note - Ascension Island assigned .ac
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis.kn
Topic: Saint Lucia.lc
Topic: Saint Martin.mf; note - .gp, the Internet country code for Guadeloupe, and .fr, the Internet country code for France, might also be encountered
Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelon.pm
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.vc
Topic: Samoa.ws
Topic: San Marino.sm
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe.st
Topic: Saudi Arabia.sa
Topic: Senegal.sn
Topic: Serbia.rs
Topic: Seychelles.sc
Topic: Sierra Leone.sl
Topic: Singapore.sg
Topic: Sint Maarten.sx; note - IANA has designated .sx for Sint Maarten, but has not yet assigned it to a sponsoring organization.sx; note - IANA has designated .sx for Sint Maarten, but has not yet assigned it to a sponsoring organization
Topic: Slovakia.sk
Topic: Slovenia.si
Topic: Solomon Islands.sb
Topic: Somalia.so
Topic: South Africa.za
Topic: South Sudan.ss
Topic: Spain.es
Topic: Sri Lanka.lk
Topic: Sudan.sd
Topic: Suriname.sr
Topic: Svalbard.sj
Topic: Sweden.se
Topic: Switzerland.ch
Topic: Syria.sy
Topic: Taiwan.tw
Topic: Tajikistan.tj
Topic: Tanzania.tz
Topic: Thailand.th
Topic: Timor-Leste.tl
Topic: Togo.tg
Topic: Tokelau.tk
Topic: Tonga.to
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago.tt
Topic: Tunisia.tn
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye).tr
Topic: Turkmenistan.tm
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islands.tc
Topic: Tuvalu.tv
Topic: Uganda.ug
Topic: Ukraine.ua
Topic: United Arab Emirates.ae
Topic: United Kingdom.uk
Topic: United States.us
Topic: Uruguay.uy
Topic: Uzbekistan.uz
Topic: Vanuatu.vu
Topic: Venezuela.ve
Topic: Vietnam.vn
Topic: Virgin Islands.vi
Topic: Wallis and Futuna.wf
Topic: West Bank.psnote - same as Gaza Strip
Topic: Yemen.ye
Topic: Zambia.zm
Topic: Zimbabwe.zw |
20220901 | countries-hungary-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The country fell under communist rule following World War II. Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The country fell under communist rule following World War II. Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 93,028 sq km
land: 89,608 sq km
water: 3,420 sq km
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Topic: People and Society
Population: 9,699,577 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 85.6%, Romani 3.2%, German 1.9%, other 2.6%, unspecified 14.1% (2011 est.)
Languages: Hungarian (official) 99.6%, English 16%, German 11.2%, Russian 1.6%, Romanian 1.3%, French 1.2%, other 4.2%; note - shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census; Hungarian is the mother tongue of 98.9% of Hungarian speakers (2011 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 37.2%, Calvinist 11.6%, Lutheran 2.2%, Greek Catholic 1.8%, other 1.9%, none 18.2%, no response 27.2% (2011 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.3% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Budapest
Executive branch: chief of state: President Katalin NOVAK (since 10 May 2022)
head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 29 May 2010)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (199 seats; 106 members directly elected in single-member constituencies by simple majority vote and 93 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote, using the d’Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: high-income EU and OECD economy; decreasing government spending; increasing judicial independence concerns; flat income taxation; increasingly dependent on energy imports; strong tourism and automotive manufacturinghigh-income EU and OECD economy; decreasing government spending; increasing judicial independence concerns; flat income taxation; increasingly dependent on energy imports; strong tourism and automotive manufacturing
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $302.32 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $31,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, wheat, milk, sunflower seed, barley, rapeseed, sugar beet, apples, pork, grapes
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Exports: $123.83 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Germany 27%, Romania 5%, Italy 5%, Slovakia 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, packaged medicines, spark-ignition engines, video displays, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Imports: $120.25 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Germany 25%, China 6%, Poland 6%, Austria 6%, Czechia 5%, Slovakia 5%, Italy 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars and vehicle parts, integrated circuits, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment, crude petroleum (2019)Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-nigeria |
Topic: Photos of Nigeria
Topic: Introduction
Background: In ancient and pre-colonial times, the area of present-day Nigeria was occupied by a great diversity of ethnic groups with different languages and traditions. These included Islamic empires in northern Nigeria and smaller organized political groupings in southern Nigeria. British influence and control over what would become Nigeria and Africa's most populous country grew through the 19th century. In 1914, the British amalgamated their separately administered northern and southern territories into modern-day Nigeria. A series of constitutions after World War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy. After independence in 1960, politics were marked by coups and mostly military rule, until the death of a military head of state in 1998 allowed for a political transition. In 1999, a new constitution was adopted and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The government continues to face the daunting task of institutionalizing democracy and reforming a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through decades of corruption and mismanagement. In addition, Nigeria continues to experience longstanding ethnic and religious tensions. Although both the 2003 and 2007 presidential elections were marred by significant irregularities and violence, Nigeria is currently experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence. The general elections of 2007 marked the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history. National and state elections in 2011 and 2015 were generally regarded as credible. The 2015 election was also heralded for the fact that the then-umbrella opposition party, the All Progressives Congress, defeated the long-ruling People's Democratic Party that had governed since 1999, and assumed the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another. Presidential and legislative elections were held in early 2019 and deemed broadly free and fair despite voting irregularities, intimidation, and violence.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 923,768 sq km
land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative: about six times the size of Georgia; slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,477 km
border countries (4): Benin 809 km; Cameroon 1,975 km; Chad 85 km; Niger 1,608 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation: highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 380 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 78% (2018 est.)
arable land: 37.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 7.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 9.5% (2018 est.)
other: 12.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,930 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System
Population distribution: largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; flooding
Geography - note: the Niger River enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea
Map description: Nigeria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.Nigeria map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Gulf of Guinea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 225,082,083 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Hausa 30%, Yoruba 15.5%, Igbo (Ibo) 15.2%, Fulani 6%, Tiv 2.4%, Kanuri/Beriberi 2.4%, Ibibio 1.8%, Ijaw/Izon 1.8%, other 24.9% (2018 est.)
note: Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani, over 500 additional indigenous languages
Religions: Muslim 53.5%, Roman Catholic 10.6%, other Christian 35.3%, other .6% (2018 est.)
Demographic profile: Nigeria’s population is projected to grow from more than 186 million people in 2016 to 392 million in 2050, becoming the world’s fourth most populous country. Nigeria’s sustained high population growth rate will continue for the foreseeable future because of population momentum and its high birth rate. Abuja has not successfully implemented family planning programs to reduce and space births because of a lack of political will, government financing, and the availability and affordability of services and products, as well as a cultural preference for large families. Increased educational attainment, especially among women, and improvements in health care are needed to encourage and to better enable parents to opt for smaller families.Nigeria needs to harness the potential of its burgeoning youth population in order to boost economic development, reduce widespread poverty, and channel large numbers of unemployed youth into productive activities and away from ongoing religious and ethnic violence. While most movement of Nigerians is internal, significant emigration regionally and to the West provides an outlet for Nigerians looking for economic opportunities, seeking asylum, and increasingly pursuing higher education. Immigration largely of West Africans continues to be insufficient to offset emigration and the loss of highly skilled workers. Nigeria also is a major source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking.Nigeria’s population is projected to grow from more than 186 million people in 2016 to 392 million in 2050, becoming the world’s fourth most populous country. Nigeria’s sustained high population growth rate will continue for the foreseeable future because of population momentum and its high birth rate. Abuja has not successfully implemented family planning programs to reduce and space births because of a lack of political will, government financing, and the availability and affordability of services and products, as well as a cultural preference for large families. Increased educational attainment, especially among women, and improvements in health care are needed to encourage and to better enable parents to opt for smaller families.Nigeria needs to harness the potential of its burgeoning youth population in order to boost economic development, reduce widespread poverty, and channel large numbers of unemployed youth into productive activities and away from ongoing religious and ethnic violence. While most movement of Nigerians is internal, significant emigration regionally and to the West provides an outlet for Nigerians looking for economic opportunities, seeking asylum, and increasingly pursuing higher education. Immigration largely of West Africans continues to be insufficient to offset emigration and the loss of highly skilled workers. Nigeria also is a major source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.7% (male 45,571,738/female 43,674,769)
15-24 years: 20.27% (male 22,022,660/female 21,358,753)
25-54 years: 30.6% (male 32,808,913/female 32,686,474)
55-64 years: 4.13% (male 4,327,847/female 4,514,264)
65 years and over: 3.3% (2020 est.) (male 3,329,083/female 3,733,801)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 86
youth dependency ratio: 80.9
elderly dependency ratio: 5.1
potential support ratio: 19.6 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.53% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 34.19 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: largest population of any African nation; significant population clusters are scattered throughout the country, with the highest density areas being in the south and southwest as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 53.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 15.388 million Lagos, 4.219 million Kano, 3.756 million Ibadan, 3.652 million ABUJA (capital), 3.325 million Port Harcourt, 1.841 million Benin City (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 20.4 years (2018 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 917 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 56.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 62.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.33 years
male: 59.51 years
female: 63.27 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 16.6% (2018)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 95.3% of population
rural: 68.8% of population
total: 82.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 4.7% of population
rural: 31.2% of population
total: 17.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.38 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 81.6% of population
rural: 41.4% of population
total: 62.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 18.4% of population
rural: 58.6% of population
total: 37.7% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.3% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.7 million (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 49,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: leptospirosis and schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever
note 1: on 4 May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in multiple states (Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Enugu); the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak
note 2: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 6 June 2022, Nigeria has reported a total of 256,148 cases of COVID-19 or 124.3 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 3,148 cumulative deaths or a rate of 1.5 cumulative death per 100,000 population; as of 22 May 2022, 12.97% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
note 3: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Nigeria is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 3.7% (2020 est.)
male: 6.9% (2020 est.)
female: 0.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.4% (2019/20)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 15.7%
women married by age 18: 43.4%
men married by age 18: 3.2% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62%
male: 71.3%
female: 52.7% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 9 years
male: 9 years
female: 8 years (2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.3%
male: 18.4% NA
female: 18.2% (2019 est.) NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: serious overpopulation and rapid urbanization have led to numerous environmental problems; urban air and water pollution; rapid deforestation; soil degradation; loss of arable land; oil pollution - water, air, and soil have suffered serious damage from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 2006
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 48.73 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 120.37 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 143.99 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Land use: agricultural land: 78% (2018 est.)
arable land: 37.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 7.4% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 33.3% (2018 est.)
forest: 9.5% (2018 est.)
other: 12.5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 53.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.92% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact diseases: leptospirosis and schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever
note 1: on 4 May 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Travel Health Notice for a Yellow Fever outbreak in Nigeria; a large, ongoing outbreak of yellow fever in Nigeria began in September 2017; the outbreak is now spread throughout the country with the Nigerian Ministry of Health reporting cases of the disease in multiple states (Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, and Enugu); the CDC recommends travelers going to Nigeria should receive vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days before travel and should take steps to prevent mosquito bites while there; those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak
note 2: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Nigeria; as of 6 June 2022, Nigeria has reported a total of 256,148 cases of COVID-19 or 124.3 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 3,148 cumulative deaths or a rate of 1.5 cumulative death per 100,000 population; as of 22 May 2022, 12.97% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
note 3: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Nigeria is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine
Food insecurity: widespread lack of access: due to persistent civil conflict in the northern areas - according to the latest analysis, between June and August 2022, the number of food insecure is projected to increase to 18 million people period as a result of worsening conflict that is driving new population displacements; the areas inaccessible to humanitarian interventions are facing the worst food insecurity conditions (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 27,614,830 tons (2009 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Chad (endorheic lake shared with Niger, Chad, and Cameroon) - 10,360-25,900 sq km
note - area varies by season and year to year
Major rivers (by length in km): Niger river mouth (shared with Guinea [s], Mali, Benin, and Niger) - 4,200 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Lake Chad Basin, Lullemeden-Irhazer Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 1.965 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 5.51 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 286.2 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria
etymology: named for the Niger River that flows through the west of the country to the Atlantic Ocean; from a native term "Ni Gir" meaning "River Gir"
Government type: federal presidential republic
Capital: name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 05 N, 7 32 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Abuja is a planned capital city, it replaced Lagos in 1991; situated in the center of the country, Abuja takes its name from a nearby town, now renamed Suleja
Administrative divisions: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 5 May 1999, effective 29 May 1999
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of both houses and approval by the Houses of Assembly of at least two thirds of the states; amendments to constitutional articles on the creation of a new state, fundamental constitutional rights, or constitution-amending procedures requires at least four-fifths majority vote by both houses of the National Assembly and approval by the Houses of Assembly in at least two thirds of the states; passage of amendments limited to the creation of a new state require at least two-thirds majority vote by the proposing National Assembly house and approval by the Houses of Assembly in two thirds of the states; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Nigeria
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Maj. Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
head of government: President Maj.Gen. (ret.) Muhammadu BUHARI (since 29 May 2015); Vice President Oluyemi "Yemi" OSINBAJO (since 29 May 2015)
cabinet: Federal Executive Council appointed by the president but constrained constitutionally to include at least one member from each of the 36 states
elections/appointments: president directly elected by qualified majority popular vote and at least 25% of the votes cast in 24 of Nigeria's 36 states; president elected for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 25 February 2023)
election results: Muhammadu BUHARI elected president; percent of vote - Muhammadu BUHARI (APC) 53%, Atiku ABUBAKAR (PDP) 39%, other 8% (2019)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Assembly consists of:
Senate (109 seats - 3 each for the 36 states and 1 for Abuja-Federal Capital Territory; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
House of Representatives (360 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 25 February 2023)
House of Representatives - last held on 23 February 2019 (next to be held on 25 February 2023)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 65, PDP 39, YPP 1, TBD 3; composition - men 101, women 8, percent of women 7.3%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 217, PDP 115, other 20, TBD 8; composition - men 347, women 13, percent of women 3.6%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 4.5%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 15 justices)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, a 23-member independent body of federal and state judicial officials; judge appointments confirmed by the Senate; judges serve until age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; Federal High Court; High Court of the Federal Capital Territory; Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory; state court system similar in structure to federal system
Political parties and leaders: Accord Party or ACC [Mohammad Lawal MALADO]
Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) [Ralph Okey NWOSU]
All Progressives Congress or APC [Abdullahi ADAMU]
All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Victor Ike OYE]
Labor Party or LP [Alhai Abdulkadir ABDULSALAM]
Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Iyourchia AYU]
Young Progressive Party or YPP [Olufemi FOLAYAN]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, CD, D-8, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LCBC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MNJTF, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Uzoma Elizabeth EMENIKE (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 800-7201 (ext. 100)
FAX: [1] (202) 362-6541
email address and website:
info@nigeriaembassyusa.org
https://www.nigeriaembassyusa.org/
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Beth LEONARD (since 24 December 2019)
embassy: Plot 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, Abuja
mailing address: 8320 Abuja Place, Washington DC 20521-8320
telephone: [234] (9) 461-4000
FAX: [234] (9) 461-4036
email address and website:
AbujaACS@state.gov
https://ng.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Lagos
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity
National symbol(s): eagle; national colors: green, white
National anthem: name: "Arise Oh Compatriots, Nigeria's Call Obey"
lyrics/music: John A. ILECHUKWU, Eme Etim AKPAN, B.A. OGUNNAIKE, Sotu OMOIGUI and P.O. ADERIBIGBE/Benedict Elide ODIASE
note: adopted 1978; lyrics are a mixture of the five top entries in a national contest
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Sukur Cultural Landscape; Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Nigeria is Sub Saharan Africa’s largest economy and relies heavily on oil as its main source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Following the 2008-09 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Since then, Nigeria’s economic growth has been driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services. Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels; over 62% of Nigeria's over 180 million people still live in extreme poverty. Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production had been contracting every year since 2012 until a slight rebound in 2017. President BUHARI, elected in March 2015, has established a cabinet of economic ministers that includes several technocrats, and he has announced plans to increase transparency, diversify the economy away from oil, and improve fiscal management, but has taken a primarily protectionist approach that favors domestic producers at the expense of consumers. President BUHARI ran on an anti-corruption platform, and has made some headway in alleviating corruption, such as implementation of a Treasury Single Account that allows the government to better manage its resources and a more transparent government payroll and personnel system that eliminated duplicate and "ghost workers." The government also is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power. Nigeria entered recession in 2016 as a result of lower oil prices and production, exacerbated by militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, coupled with detrimental economic policies, including foreign exchange restrictions. GDP growth turned positive in 2017 as oil prices recovered and output stabilized.Nigeria is Sub Saharan Africa’s largest economy and relies heavily on oil as its main source of foreign exchange earnings and government revenues. Following the 2008-09 global financial crises, the banking sector was effectively recapitalized and regulation enhanced. Since then, Nigeria’s economic growth has been driven by growth in agriculture, telecommunications, and services. Economic diversification and strong growth have not translated into a significant decline in poverty levels; over 62% of Nigeria's over 180 million people still live in extreme poverty. Despite its strong fundamentals, oil-rich Nigeria has been hobbled by inadequate power supply, lack of infrastructure, delays in the passage of legislative reforms, an inefficient property registration system, restrictive trade policies, an inconsistent regulatory environment, a slow and ineffective judicial system, unreliable dispute resolution mechanisms, insecurity, and pervasive corruption. Regulatory constraints and security risks have limited new investment in oil and natural gas, and Nigeria's oil production had been contracting every year since 2012 until a slight rebound in 2017. President BUHARI, elected in March 2015, has established a cabinet of economic ministers that includes several technocrats, and he has announced plans to increase transparency, diversify the economy away from oil, and improve fiscal management, but has taken a primarily protectionist approach that favors domestic producers at the expense of consumers. President BUHARI ran on an anti-corruption platform, and has made some headway in alleviating corruption, such as implementation of a Treasury Single Account that allows the government to better manage its resources and a more transparent government payroll and personnel system that eliminated duplicate and "ghost workers." The government also is working to develop stronger public-private partnerships for roads, agriculture, and power. Nigeria entered recession in 2016 as a result of lower oil prices and production, exacerbated by militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta region, coupled with detrimental economic policies, including foreign exchange restrictions. GDP growth turned positive in 2017 as oil prices recovered and output stabilized.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $1,013,530,000,000 (2020 est.)
$1,032,050,000,000 (2019 est.)
$1,009,750,000,000 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0.8% (2017 est.)
-1.6% (2016 est.)
2.7% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,900 (2020 est.)
$5,100 (2019 est.)
$5,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $475.062 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11.3% (2019 est.)
12.1% (2018 est.)
16.5% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: B (2020)
Moody's rating: B2 (2017)
Standard & Poors rating: B- (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 21.1% (2016 est.)
industry: 22.5% (2016 est.)
services: 56.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 80% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 5.8% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 14.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.7% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 11.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -13.2% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, yams, maize, oil palm fruit, rice, vegetables, sorghum, groundnuts, fruit, sweet potatoes
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 60.08 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16.5% (2017 est.)
13.9% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 18.3%
male: 18.4% NA
female: 18.2% (2019 est.) NA
Population below poverty line: 40.1% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.1 (2018 est.)
50.6 (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 38.2% (2010 est.)
Budget: revenues: 12.92 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 19.54 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 21.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
19.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $10.38 billion (2017 est.)
$2.714 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $39.94 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$69.93 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$66.04 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: India 16%, Spain 10%, United States 7%, France 7%, Netherlands 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, scrap vessels, flexible metal tubing, cocoa beans (2019)
Imports: $72.18 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$100.82 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$71.64 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 30%, Netherlands 11%, United States 6%, Belgium 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, wheat, laboratory glassware, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $38.77 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$25.84 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $26.847 billion (2019 est.)
$22.755 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: nairas (NGN) per US dollar -
383.5 (2020 est.)
362.75 (2019 est.)
363 (2018 est.)
192.73 (2014 est.)
158.55 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 62% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 91% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 30% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 11.691 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 24,611,480,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.713 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 78.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 21.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 44,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 85,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 12,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 77,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 344 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 1,646,900 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 483,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,889,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 36.89 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 35,010 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 2,332 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 223,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 46,296,835,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 18,787,602,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 27,509,177,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 5,760,883,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 104.494 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 231,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 67.406 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 36.856 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 8.466 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 107,031 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 204,228,678 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 99 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: one of the larger telecom markets in Africa subject to sporadic access to electricity and vandalism of infrastructure; most Internet connections are via mobile networks; foreign investment presence, particularly from China; market competition with affordable access; LTE technologies available but GSM is dominant; mobile penetration high due to use of multiple SIM cards and phones; government committed to expanding broadband penetration; operators to deploy fiber optic cable in six geopolitical zones and Lagos; operators invested in base stations to deplete network congestion; submarine cable break in 2020 slowed speeds and interrupted connectivity; importer of phones and broadcast equipment from China; Nigeria concluded its first 5G spectrum auction in 2021 and granted licenses to two firms: MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications; construction of 5G infrastructure has not yet been completed. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line subscribership remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services growing rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple cellular providers operate nationally with subscribership base over 99 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, NCSCS, MainOne, Glo-1 & 2, ACE, and Equiano fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: nearly 70 federal government-controlled national and regional TV stations; all 36 states operate TV stations; several private TV stations operational; cable and satellite TV subscription services are available; network of federal government-controlled national, regional, and state radio stations; roughly 40 state government-owned radio stations typically carry their own programs except for news broadcasts; about 20 private radio stations; transmissions of international broadcasters are available; digital broadcasting migration process completed in three states in 2018 (2019)
Internet country code: .ng
Internet users: total: 74,210,251 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 36% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 65,313 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.03 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 104
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,169,192 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19.42 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 5N
Airports: total: 54 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 40
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 3 (2021)
Heliports: 5 (2021)
Pipelines: 124 km condensate, 4,045 km gas, 164 km liquid petroleum gas, 4,441 km oil, 3,940 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 3,798 km (2014)
standard gauge: 293 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,505 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
note: as of the end of 2018, there were only six operational locomotives in Nigeria primarily used for passenger service; the majority of the rail lines are in a severe state of disrepair and need to be replaced
Roadways: total: 195,000 km (2017)
paved: 60,000 km (2017)
unpaved: 135,000 km (2017)
Waterways: 8,600 km (2011) (Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)
Merchant marine: total: 791
by type: general cargo 14, oil tanker 110, other 667 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos
oil terminal(s): Bonny Terminal, Brass Terminal, Escravos Terminal, Forcados Terminal, Pennington Terminal, Qua Iboe Terminal
LNG terminal(s) (export): Bonny Island
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Nigerian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard), Air Force; Ministry of Interior: Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC, a paramilitary agency commissioned to assist the military in the management of threats to internal security, including attacks and natural disasters) (2022)
note: some states have created local security forces in response to increased violence, insecurity, and criminality that have exceeded the response capacity of government security forces
Military expenditures: 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2019) (approximately $3.53 billion)
0.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $3.72 billion)
0.5% of GDP (2017) (approximately $3.42 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 135,000 active duty armed forces personnel (100,000 Army; 20,000 Navy/Coast Guard; 15,000 Air Force); approximately 80,000 Security and Civil Defense Corps (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Nigerian Armed Forces' inventory consists of a wide variety of imported weapons systems of Chinese, European, Middle Eastern, Russian (including Soviet-era), and US origin; since 2010, Nigeria has undertaken a considerable military modernization program, and has received equipment from some 20 countries with China, Russia, and the US as the leading suppliers; Nigeria is also developing a defense-industry capacity, including small arms, armored personnel vehicles, and small-scale naval production (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-26 years of age for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2022)
Military deployments: 200 Ghana (ECOMIG) (2022)
note: Nigeria has committed an Army combat brigade (approximately 3,000 troops) to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional counter-terrorism force comprised of troops from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger; MNJTF conducts operations against Boko Haram and other terrorist groups operating in the general area of the Lake Chad Basin and along Nigeria's northeast border; national MNJTF troop contingents are deployed within their own country territories, although cross‐border operations are conducted periodically
Military - note: as of 2022, the Nigerian military was sub-Saharan Africa’s largest and regarded as one of its most capable forces; it was focused largely on internal security and faced a number of challenges that have stretched its resources, however; the Army was deployed in all 36 of the country's states; in the northeast, it was conducting counterinsurgency/counter-terrorist operations against the Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA) terrorist groups, where it has deployed as many as 70,000 troops at times and jihadist-related violence has killed an estimated 35-40,000 people, mostly civilians, since 2009 (as of 2022); in the northwest, it faced growing threats from criminal gangs, bandits, and violence associated with historical and ongoing farmer-herder conflicts, as well as BH and ISWA terrorists; bandits in the northwest were estimated to number in the low 10,000s and violence there has killed more than 10,000 since the mid-2010s; the military also continued to protect the oil industry in the Niger Delta region against militants and criminal activity, although the levels of violence there have decreased in recent years; beginning in May 2021, a contingent of military troops and police were deployed to eastern Nigeria to quell renewed agitation for a state of Biafra (Biafra seceded from Nigeria in the late 1960s, sparking a civil war that caused more than 1 million deaths)
as of 2022, the Navy was focused on security in the Gulf of Guinea; since 2016, it has developed a maritime strategy, boosted naval training and its naval presence in the Gulf, increased participation in regional maritime security efforts, and acquired a significant number of new naval platforms, including offshore and coastal patrol craft, fast attack boats, and air assets
the Nigerian military traces its origins to the Nigeria Regiment of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF), a multi-regiment force formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria (Lagos and the protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria), Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia; the WAFF served with distinction in both East and West Africa during World War I; in 1928, it received royal recognition and was re-named the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF); the RWAFF went on to serve in World War II as part of the British 81st and 82nd (West African) divisions in the East Africa and Burma campaigns; in 1956, the Nigeria Regiment of the RWAFF was renamed the Nigerian Military Forces (NMF) and in 1958, the colonial government of Nigeria took over control of the NMF from the British War Office; the Nigerian Armed Forces were established following independence in 1960
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Boko Haram; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – West Africa; Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis-Sudan (Ansaru)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Nigeria-Benin: none identified Nigeria-Cameroon: Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; demarcation of the Bakassi Peninsula and adjoining border areas should be finalized in 2022; as Lake Chad’s evaporation exposed dry land, only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries Nigeria-Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea: the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation Nigeria-Niger: none identifiedNigeria-Benin: none identifiedNigeria-Cameroon: Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately ceded sovereignty of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phaseout of Nigerian control within two years while resolving patriation issues; demarcation of the Bakassi Peninsula and adjoining border areas should be finalized in 2022; as Lake Chad’s evaporation exposed dry land, only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundariesNigeria-Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea: the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementationNigeria-Niger: none identified
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 79,681 (Cameroon) (2022)
IDPs: 3,030,544 (northeast Nigeria; Boko Haram attacks and counterinsurgency efforts in northern Nigeria; communal violence between Christians and Muslims in the middle belt region, political violence; flooding; forced evictions; cattle rustling; competition for resources) (2022)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Nigeria along with victims from Nigeria abroad; internal trafficking involving recruiting victims from rural areas for commercial sex and forced labor in domestic work, street vending, mining, agriculture, begging and textile
manufacturing; traffickers operate “baby factories” where women held against their will are raped and children are sold into forced labor or sex trafficking or rented to beggars to increase their profits; women are often taken to other West and Central African countries, South Africa, Europe and the Middle East for commercial sex; Boko Haram and ISIS-WA forcibly recruit, abduct, and use child soldiers as young as 12 as cooks, spies, messengers, bodyguards, armed combatants, and suicide bombers; they abduct women and girls in the northern region of Nigeria for sexual slavery and forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Nigeria does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government is continuing to train officials and raise public awareness; the government established anti-trafficking task forces in Borno and Ekiti states and used new technology to collect victim testimony; authorities prosecuted three government officials complicit in human trafficking; the government is drafting a memoranda of understanding that will improve coordination between government agencies; however, security forces used at least two children in support roles; some security officials were involved in sex trafficking; no criminal charges were made against military officials or members of the Civilian Joint Task Force for sex trafficking or the use of child soldiers; no protections were given to female and child trafficking victims allegedly associated with insurgencies; fewer traffickers were convicted; Nigeria was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)
Illicit drugs: a significant source for cannabis cultivation and methamphetamine production; a major place for transnational drug trafficking networks that supply cocaine to Asia and Europe, heroin to Europe and North America, and methamphetamine to South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand; traffickers also involved in the transportation, facilitation, and distribution of illicitly diverted tramadol |
20220901 | field-literacy | This entry includes a definition of literacy and UNESCO's percentage estimates for populations aged 15 years and over, including total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Topic: Afghanistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.3%
male: 52.1%
female: 22.6% (2021)
Topic: Albaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.8% (2018)
Topic: Algeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.4%
male: 87.4%
female: 75.3% (2018)
Topic: Andorradefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2016)
Topic: Angoladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.1%
male: 82%
female: 60.7% (2015)
Topic: Antigua and Barbudadefinition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 98.4%
female: 99.4% (2015)
Topic: Argentinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 98.9%
female: 99.1% (2018)
Topic: Armeniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2020)
Topic: Arubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.8% (2018)
Topic: Azerbaijandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.7% (2019)
Topic: Bahraindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 94.9% (2018)
Topic: Bangladeshdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 77.8%
female: 72% (2020)
Topic: Barbadosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2014)
Topic: Belarusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2019)
Topic: Benindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 54%
female: 31.1% (2018)
Topic: Bhutandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.6%
male: 75%
female: 57.1% (2017)
Topic: Boliviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.5%
female: 88.6% (2015)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.5%
female: 97.5% (2015)
Topic: Botswanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.5%
male: 88%
female: 88.9% (2015)
Topic: Brazildefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 93%
female: 93.4% (2018)
Topic: Bruneidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 98.1%
female: 93.4% (2018)
Topic: Bulgariadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.1% (2015)
Topic: Burkina Fasodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 49.2%
female: 31% (2018)
Topic: Burmadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 92.4%
female: 86.3% (2019)
Topic: Burundidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 61.2% (2017)
Topic: Cabo Verdedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.8%
male: 91.7%
female: 82% (2015)
Topic: Cambodiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.5%
male: 86.5%
female: 75% (2015)
Topic: Cameroondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.1%
male: 82.6%
female: 71.6% (2018)
Topic: Central African Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.4%
male: 49.5%
female: 25.8% (2018)
Topic: Chaddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 22.3%
male: 31.3%
female: 14% (2016)
Topic: Chiledefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 96.3%
female: 96.3% (2017)
Topic: Chinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.2% (2018)
Topic: Colombiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 95.4%
female: 95.9% (2020)
Topic: Comorosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.8%
male: 64.6%
female: 53% (2018)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77%
male: 88.5%
female: 66.5% (2016)
Topic: Congo, Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.3%
male: 86.1%
female: 74.6% (2018)
Topic: Costa Ricadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.9% (2018)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoiredefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.1%
female: 86.7% (2019)
Topic: Croatiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.9% (2015)
Topic: Cubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.8% (2015)
Topic: Cyprusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Topic: Czechiadefinition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2011)
Topic: Dominican Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.8% (2016)
Topic: Ecuadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.6%
male: 94.8%
female: 92.5% (2020)
Topic: Egyptdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.2%
male: 76.5%
female: 65.5% (2017)
Topic: El Salvadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.3%
female: 87.3% (2019)
Topic: Equatorial Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.3%
male: 97.4%
female: 93% (2015)
Topic: Eritreadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 84.4%
female: 68.9% (2018)
Topic: Estoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)
Topic: Eswatinidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.4%
male: 88.3%
female: 88.5% (2018)
Topic: Ethiopiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.8%
male: 57.2%
female: 44.4% (2017)
Topic: Fijitotal population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.1% (2018)
Topic: Gabondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 85.9%
female: 83.4% (2018)
Topic: Gambia, Thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.8%
male: 61.8%
female: 41.6% (2015)
Topic: Gaza Stripdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020)
note: estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Topic: Georgiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2019)
Topic: Ghanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 83.5%
female: 74.5% (2018)
Topic: Greecedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.4% (2018)
Topic: Greenlanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Topic: Grenadadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 98.6% (2014 est.)
Topic: Guatemaladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.8%
male: 85.3%
female: 76.7% (2018)
Topic: Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.6%
male: 54.4%
female: 27.7% (2018)
Topic: Guinea-Bissaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.9%
male: 71.8%
female: 48.3% (2015)
Topic: Guyanadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 88.5%
male: 87.2%
female: 89.8% (2015)
Topic: Haitidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.7%
male: 65.3%
female: 58.3% (2016)
Topic: Hondurasdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.5%
male: 88.2%
female: 88.7% (2019)
Topic: Hungarydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99% (2015)
Topic: Indiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.4%
male: 82.4%
female: 65.8% (2018)
Topic: Indonesiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.4%
female: 94.6% (2020)
Topic: Irandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.5%
male: 90.4%
female: 80.8% (2016)
Topic: Iraqdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 91.2%
female: 79.9% (2017)
Topic: Israeldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98.7%
female: 96.8% (2011)
Topic: Italydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.2%
male: 99.4%
female: 99% (2018)
Topic: Jamaicadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 88.7%
male: 84%
female: 93.1% (2015)
Topic: Jordandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.6%
female: 97.8% (2018)
Topic: Kazakhstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2018)
Topic: Kenyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.5%
male: 85%
female: 78.2% (2018)
Topic: Korea, Northdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Topic: Korea, Southdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019)
Topic: Kuwaitdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.5%
male: 97.1%
female: 95.4% (2020)
Topic: Kyrgyzstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2018)
Topic: Laosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 90%
female: 79.4% (2015)
Topic: Latviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2018)
Topic: Lebanondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.1%
male: 96.9%
female: 93.3% (2018)
Topic: Lesothodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 70.1%
female: 88.3% (2015)
Topic: Liberiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.3%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.1% (2017)
Topic: Libyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 96.7%
female: 85.6% (2015)
Topic: Lithuaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)
Topic: Macaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.5%
male: 98.2%
female: 95% (2016)
Topic: Madagascardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78.4%
female: 75.1% (2018)
Topic: Malawidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.1%
male: 69.8%
female: 55.2% (2015)
Topic: Malaysiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 96.2%
female: 93.6% (2019)
Topic: Maldivesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.3%
female: 98.1% (2016)
Topic: Malidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 46.2%
female: 25.7% (2018)
Topic: Maltadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 93%
female: 96% (2018)
Topic: Marshall Islandsdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.3%
male: 98.3%
female: 98.2% (2011)
Topic: Mauritaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.5%
male: 63.7%
female: 43.4% (2017)
Topic: Mauritiusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 93.4%
female: 89.4% (2018)
Topic: Mexicodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 96.1%
female: 94.5% (2020)
Topic: Moldovadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.1% (2015)
Topic: Mongoliadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.2%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.2% (2020)
Topic: Montenegrodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.3% (2018)
Topic: Moroccodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.8%
male: 83.3%
female: 64.6% (2018)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambiquedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 50.3% (2017)
Topic: Namibiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.5%
male: 91.6%
female: 91.4% (2018)
Topic: Nepaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78.6%
female: 59.7% (2018)
Topic: New Caledoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.9%
male: 97.3%
female: 96.5% (2015)
Topic: Nicaraguadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 82.4%
female: 82.8% (2015)
Topic: Nigerdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.1%
male: 43.6%
female: 26.7% (2018)
Topic: Nigeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62%
male: 71.3%
female: 52.7% (2018)
Topic: North Macedoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.6% (2020)
Topic: Omandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 97%
female: 92.7% (2018)
Topic: Pakistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 69.3%
female: 46.5% (2019)
Topic: Palaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.6%
male: 96.8%
female: 96.3% (2015)
Topic: Panamadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 98.8%
female: 95.4% (2019)
Topic: Papua New Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.2%
male: 65.6%
female: 62.8% (2015)
Topic: Paraguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 94.9%
female: 94.2% (2020)
Topic: Perudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97%
female: 92% (2020)
Topic: Philippinesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 95.7%
female: 96.9% (2019)
Topic: Polanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Topic: Portugaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 97.4%
female: 95.1% (2018)
Topic: Puerto Ricodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.4% (2017)
Topic: Qatardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 94.7% (2017)
Topic: Romaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.6% (2018)
Topic: Russiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2018)
Topic: Rwandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.2%
male: 77.6%
female: 69.4% (2018)
Topic: Samoadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99%
female: 99.2% (2018)
Topic: San Marinototal population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2018)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 96.2%
female: 89.5% (2018)
Topic: Saudi Arabiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 96% (2020)
Topic: Senegaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.9%
male: 64.8%
female: 39.8% (2017)
Topic: Serbiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.1% (2019)
Topic: Seychellesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 95.4%
female: 96.4% (2018)
Topic: Sierra Leonedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 43.2%
male: 51.6%
female: 39.8% (2018)
Topic: Singaporedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.1% (2019)
Topic: Sloveniadefinition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Topic: South Africadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95.5%
female: 94.5% (2019)
Topic: South Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.5%
male: 40.3%
female: 28.9% (2018)
Topic: Spaindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.2% (2020)
Topic: Sri Lankadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.3%
male: 93%
female: 91.6% (2019)
Topic: Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 65.4%
female: 56.1% (2018)
Topic: Surinamedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.4%
male: 96.1%
female: 92.7% (2018)
Topic: Syriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 91.7%
female: 81% (2015)
Topic: Taiwandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 97.3% (2014)
Topic: Tajikistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Topic: Tanzaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 77.9%
male: 83.2%
female: 73.1% (2015)
Topic: Thailanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 95.2%
female: 92.4% (2018)
Topic: Timor-Lestedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.1%
male: 71.9%
female: 64.2% (2018)
Topic: Togodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.5%
male: 80%
female: 55.1% (2019)
Topic: Tongadefinition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.4%
female: 99.5% (2018)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Topic: Tunisiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 74.2% (2015)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99.1%
female: 94.4% (2019)
Topic: Turkmenistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2015)
Topic: Ugandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.5%
male: 82.7%
female: 70.8% (2018)
Topic: Ukrainedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Topic: United Arab Emiratesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98%
female: 96.9% (2019)
Topic: Uruguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 99% (2019)
Topic: Uzbekistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2019)
Topic: Vanuatudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.5%
male: 88.3%
female: 86.7% (2018)
Topic: Venezueladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97%
female: 97.2% (2016)
Topic: Vietnamdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.8%
male: 97%
female: 94.6% (2019)
Topic: West Bankdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020)
note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank
Topic: Worlddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.1%
female: 83.3% (2020)
note: more than three-quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two-thirds are women (2016)
Topic: Yemendefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.1%
male: 85.1%
female: 55% (2015)
Topic: Zambiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.6%
female: 83.1% (2018)
Topic: Zimbabwedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.5%
female: 84.6% (2015) |
20220901 | countries-philippines |
Topic: Photos of Philippines
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 21-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010 and was succeeded by Rodrigo DUTERTE in May 2016. The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and a separate agreement with a break away faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. In 2017, Philippine armed forces battled an ISIS-East Asia siege in Marawi City, driving DUTERTE to declare martial law in the region. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected president and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence. A 21-year rule by Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a "people power" movement in Manila ("EDSA 1") forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts that prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992. His administration was marked by increased stability and by progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998. He was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and another "people power" movement ("EDSA 2") demanded his resignation. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2004. Her presidency was marred by several corruption allegations, but the Philippine economy was one of the few to avoid contraction following the 2008 global financial crisis, expanding each year of her administration. Benigno AQUINO III was elected to a six-year term as president in May 2010 and was succeeded by Rodrigo DUTERTE in May 2016.The Philippine Government faces threats from several groups, some of which are on the US Government's Foreign Terrorist Organization list. Manila has waged a decades-long struggle against ethnic Moro insurgencies in the southern Philippines, which led to a peace accord with the Moro National Liberation Front and a separate agreement with a break away faction, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The decades-long Maoist-inspired New People's Army insurgency also operates through much of the country. In 2017, Philippine armed forces battled an ISIS-East Asia siege in Marawi City, driving DUTERTE to declare martial law in the region. The Philippines faces increased tension with China over disputed territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation: highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 442 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use: agricultural land: 41% (2018 est.)
arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)
forest: 25.9% (2018 est.)
other: 33.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,270 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km
Population distribution: population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population
Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms each year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamisvolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Taal (311 m), which has shown recent unrest and may erupt in the near future, has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Mayon (2,462 m), the country's most active volcano, erupted in 2009 forcing over 33,000 to be evacuated; other historically active volcanoes include Biliran, Babuyan Claro, Bulusan, Camiguin, Camiguin de Babuyanes, Didicas, Iraya, Jolo, Kanlaon, Makaturing, Musuan, Parker, Pinatubo, and Ragang; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641 - though not all of the new islands have been verified; the country is favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait note 2: Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire note 3: the Philippines sits astride the Pacific typhoon belt and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year - with about 5 of these being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical stormsnote 1: for decades, the Philippine archipelago was reported as having 7,107 islands; in 2016, the national mapping authority reported that hundreds of new islands had been discovered and increased the number of islands to 7,641 - though not all of the new islands have been verified; the country is favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Straitnote 2: Philippines is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world's earthquakes and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Firenote 3: the Philippines sits astride the Pacific typhoon belt and an average of 9 typhoons make landfall on the islands each year - with about 5 of these being destructive; the country is the most exposed in the world to tropical storms
Map description: Philippines map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean.Philippines map showing the major islands of this archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 114,597,229 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups: Tagalog 24.4%, Bisaya/Binisaya 11.4%, Cebuano 9.9%, Ilocano 8.8%, Hiligaynon/Ilonggo 8.4%, Bikol/Bicol 6.8%, Waray 4%, other local ethnicity 26.1%, other foreign ethnicity 0.1% (2010 est.)
Languages: unspecified Filipino (official; based on Tagalog) and English (official); eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
major-language sample(s):
Ang World Factbook, ang mapagkukunan ng kailangang impormasyon. (Tagalog)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 79.5%, Muslim 6%, Iglesia ni Cristo 2.6%, Evangelical 2.4%, National Council of Churches in the Philippines 1.1%, other 7.4%, none <0.1% (2015 est.)
Demographic profile: The Philippines is an ethnically diverse country that is in the early stages of demographic transition. Its fertility rate has dropped steadily since the 1950s. The decline was more rapid after the introduction of a national population program in the 1970s in large part due to the increased use of modern contraceptive methods, but fertility has decreased more slowly in recent years. The country’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – dropped below 5 in the 1980s, below 4 in the 1990s, and below 3 in the 2010s. TFR continues to be above replacement level at 2.9 and even higher among the poor, rural residents, and the less-educated. Significant reasons for elevated TFR are the desire for more than two children, in part because children are a means of financial assistance and security for parents as they age, particularly among the poor. The Philippines are the source of one of the world’s largest emigrant populations, much of which consists of legal temporary workers known as Overseas Foreign Workers or OFWs. As of 2019, there were 2.2 million OFWs. They work in a wide array of fields, most frequently in services (such as caregivers and domestic work), skilled trades, and construction but also in professional fields, including nursing and engineering. OFWs most often migrate to Middle Eastern countries, but other popular destinations include Hong Kong, China, and Singapore, as well as employment on ships. Filipino seafarers make up 35-40% of the world’s seafarers, as of 2014. Women OFWs, who work primarily in domestic services and entertainment, have outnumbered men since 1992. Migration and remittances have been a feature of Philippine culture for decades. The government has encouraged and facilitated emigration, regulating recruitment agencies and adopting legislation to protect the rights of migrant workers. Filipinos began emigrating to the US and Hawaii early in the 20th century. In 1934, US legislation limited Filipinos to 50 visas per year except during labor shortages, causing emigration to plummet. It was not until the 1960s, when the US and other destination countries – Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – loosened their immigration policies, that Filipino emigration expanded and diversified. The government implemented an overseas employment program in the 1970s, promoting Filipino labor to Gulf countries needing more workers for their oil industries. Filipino emigration increased rapidly. The government had intended for international migration to be temporary, but a lack of jobs and poor wages domestically, the ongoing demand for workers in the Gulf countries, and new labor markets in Asia continue to spur Philippine emigration.The Philippines is an ethnically diverse country that is in the early stages of demographic transition. Its fertility rate has dropped steadily since the 1950s. The decline was more rapid after the introduction of a national population program in the 1970s in large part due to the increased use of modern contraceptive methods, but fertility has decreased more slowly in recent years. The country’s total fertility rate (TFR) – the average number of births per woman – dropped below 5 in the 1980s, below 4 in the 1990s, and below 3 in the 2010s. TFR continues to be above replacement level at 2.9 and even higher among the poor, rural residents, and the less-educated. Significant reasons for elevated TFR are the desire for more than two children, in part because children are a means of financial assistance and security for parents as they age, particularly among the poor.The Philippines are the source of one of the world’s largest emigrant populations, much of which consists of legal temporary workers known as Overseas Foreign Workers or OFWs. As of 2019, there were 2.2 million OFWs. They work in a wide array of fields, most frequently in services (such as caregivers and domestic work), skilled trades, and construction but also in professional fields, including nursing and engineering. OFWs most often migrate to Middle Eastern countries, but other popular destinations include Hong Kong, China, and Singapore, as well as employment on ships. Filipino seafarers make up 35-40% of the world’s seafarers, as of 2014. Women OFWs, who work primarily in domestic services and entertainment, have outnumbered men since 1992. Migration and remittances have been a feature of Philippine culture for decades. The government has encouraged and facilitated emigration, regulating recruitment agencies and adopting legislation to protect the rights of migrant workers. Filipinos began emigrating to the US and Hawaii early in the 20th century. In 1934, US legislation limited Filipinos to 50 visas per year except during labor shortages, causing emigration to plummet. It was not until the 1960s, when the US and other destination countries – Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – loosened their immigration policies, that Filipino emigration expanded and diversified. The government implemented an overseas employment program in the 1970s, promoting Filipino labor to Gulf countries needing more workers for their oil industries. Filipino emigration increased rapidly. The government had intended for international migration to be temporary, but a lack of jobs and poor wages domestically, the ongoing demand for workers in the Gulf countries, and new labor markets in Asia continue to spur Philippine emigration.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.42% (male 18,060,976/female 17,331,781)
15-24 years: 19.16% (male 10,680,325/female 10,243,047)
25-54 years: 37.37% (male 20,777,741/female 20,027,153)
55-64 years: 6.18% (male 3,116,485/female 3,633,301)
65 years and over: 4.86% (2020 est.) (male 2,155,840/female 3,154,166)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.2
youth dependency ratio: 46.6
elderly dependency ratio: 8.6
potential support ratio: 11.7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 24.1 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 22.28 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population concentrated where good farmlands lie; highest concentrations are northwest and south-central Luzon, the southeastern extension of Luzon, and the islands of the Visayan Sea, particularly Cebu and Negros; Manila is home to one-eighth of the entire national population
Urbanization: urban population: 48% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 14.406 million MANILA (capital), 1.908 million Davao, 1.009 million Cebu City, 931,000 Zamboanga, 925,000 Antipolo, 786,000 Cagayan de Oro City (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 23.5 years (2017 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 121 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 22.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.14 years
male: 66.6 years
female: 73.86 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.78 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.1% (2017)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99.1% of population
rural: 95% of population
total: 97% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population
rural: 5% of population
total: 3% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4.1% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96% of population
rural: 91% of population
total: 93.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 4% of population
rural: 9% of population
total: 6.6% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 120,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,600 (2020 est.) <1,000
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact diseases: leptospirosis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 22.9% (2020 est.)
male: 39.3% (2020 est.)
female: 6.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 19.1% (2018)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 2.2%
women married by age 18: 16.5% (2017 est.)
Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 95.7%
female: 96.9% (2019)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2017)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7%
male: 6.1%
female: 8.5% (2020 est.)
People - note: one of only two predominantly Christian nations in Southeast Asia, the other being Timor-Leste
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; illegal mining and logging; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds; coastal erosion; dynamite fishing; wildlife extinction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.38 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 122.29 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 51.32 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Land use: agricultural land: 41% (2018 est.)
arable land: 18.2% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 17.8% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 5% (2018 est.)
forest: 25.9% (2018 est.)
other: 33.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 48% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 2.04% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.18% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.07% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria
water contact diseases: leptospirosis
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,631,923 tons (2016 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 4,096,938 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28% (2014 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Laguna de Bay - 890 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 8.929 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 15.85 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 67.97 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 479 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas
etymology: named in honor of King PHILLIP II of Spain by Spanish explorer Ruy LOPEZ de VILLALOBOS, who visited some of the islands in 1543
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 36 N, 120 58 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: derives from the Tagalog "may-nila" meaning "where there is indigo" and refers to the presence of indigo-yielding plants growing in the area surrounding the original settlement
Administrative divisions: 81 provinces and 38 chartered cities provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay; chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga81 provinces and 38 chartered citiesprovinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay;chartered cities: Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Caloocan, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Davao, General Santos, Iligan, Iloilo, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Lucena, Makati, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Naga, Navotas, Olongapo, Ormoc, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, San Juan, Santiago, Tacloban, Taguig, Valenzuela, Zamboanga
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from the US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US
Constitution: history: several previous; latest ratified 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
amendments: proposed by Congress if supported by three fourths of the membership, by a constitutional convention called by Congress, or by public petition; passage by either of the three proposal methods requires a majority vote in a national referendum; note - the constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1987
Legal system: mixed legal system of civil, common, Islamic (sharia), and customary law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew from the ICCt in March 2019
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Philippines
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr (since 30 June 2022); Vice President Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ferdinand "BongBong" MARCOS, Jr (since 30 June 2022); Vice President Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (since 30 June 2022)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments, an independent body of 25 Congressional members including the Senate president (ex officio chairman), appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on separate ballots by simple majority popular vote for a single 6-year term; election last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held on 9 May 2028)
election results: Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr elected president; percent of vote - Ferdinand MARCOS, Jr (PFP) 58.7%, Leni ROBREDO (independent) 27.9%, Manny PACQUIAO (PROMDI) 6.8%; Sara DUTERTE-Carpio elected vice president; percent of vote Sara DUTERTE-Carpio (Lakas-CMD) 61.53%, Francis PANGILINAN (LP) 17.82%, Tito SOTTO 15.8%
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of:
Senate or Senado (24 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by majority vote; members serve 6-year terms with one-half of the membership renewed every 3 years)
House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (316 seats; 253 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 63 representing minorities directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 3-year terms)
elections:
Senate - elections last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2025)
House of Representatives - elections last held on 9 May 2022 (next to be held in May 2025)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPC 5, PDP-Laban 5, NP 4, other 5, independent 5; composition - men 17, women 7, percent of women 29%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP-Laban 22.7%, NP 13.7%, NUP 12.6%, NPC 11.7%, Lakas-CMD 9.4%,LP 3.8%, HNP 2.5%, other 19.6% independent 4%; seats by party - PDP-Laban 66, NP, NPC 35, NUP 33, Lakas-CMD 26, LP 10, HNP 6, other 35, independent 6, party-list 63; composition - men 193, women 123, percent of women 38.9%; note - total Congress percent of women 38.2%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 14 associate justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council, a constitutionally created, 6-member body that recommends Supreme Court nominees; justices serve until age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; Sandiganbayan (special court for corruption cases of government officials); Court of Tax Appeals; regional, metropolitan, and municipal trial courts; sharia courts
Political parties and leaders: Aksyon Demokratiko [Francisco "Isko Moreno" DOMAGOSO]
Lakas ng EDSA-Christian Muslim Democrats or Lakas-CMD [Ramon "Bong" REVILLA Jr ]
Liberal Party or LP [Leni ROBREDO]
Nacionalista Party or NP [Manuel "Manny" VILLAR]
National Unity Party or NUP [Ronaldo V. PUNO]
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas or PFP [Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.]
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL III]
International organization participation: ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, BIS, CD, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Manuel del Gallego ROMUALDEZ (since 29 November 2017)
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
email address and website:
washington.pe@dfa.gov.ph; consular@phembassy-us.org
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands), San Francisco, Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Heather VARIAVA (since 17 September 2021)
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila 1000
mailing address: 8600 Manila Place, Washington DC 20521-8600
telephone: [63] (2) 5301-2000
FAX: [63] (2) 5301-2017
email address and website:
acsinfomanila@state.gov
https://ph.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897
note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top
National symbol(s): three stars and sun, Philippine eagle; national colors: red, white, blue, yellow
National anthem: name: "Lupang Hinirang" (Chosen Land)
lyrics/music: Jose PALMA (revised by Felipe PADILLA de Leon)/Julian FELIPE
note: music adopted 1898, original Spanish lyrics adopted 1899, Filipino (Tagalog) lyrics adopted 1956; although the original lyrics were written in Spanish, later English and Filipino versions were created; today, only the Filipino version is used
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 6 (3 cultural, 3 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Baroque Churches of the Philippines (c); Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (n); Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (c); Historic Vigan (c); Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (n); Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary (n)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The economy has been relatively resilient to global economic shocks due to less exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from about 10 million overseas Filipino workers and migrants, and a rapidly expanding services industry. During 2017, the current account balance fell into the negative range, the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, in part due to an ambitious new infrastructure spending program announced this year. However, international reserves remain at comfortable levels and the banking system is stable. Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditures management have helped ease the Philippines' debt burden and tight fiscal situation. The Philippines received investment-grade credit ratings on its sovereign debt under the former AQUINO administration and has had little difficulty financing its budget deficits. However, weak absorptive capacity and implementation bottlenecks have prevented the government from maximizing its expenditure plans. Although it has improved, the low tax-to-GDP ratio remains a constraint to supporting increasingly higher spending levels and sustaining high and inclusive growth over the longer term. Economic growth has accelerated, averaging over 6% per year from 2011 to 2017, compared with 4.5% under the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO government; and competitiveness rankings have improved. Although 2017 saw a new record year for net foreign direct investment inflows, FDI to the Philippines has continued to lag regional peers, in part because the Philippine constitution and other laws limit foreign investment and restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors - such as land ownership and public utilities. Although the economy grew at a rapid pace under the AQUINO government, challenges to achieving more inclusive growth remain. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of the rich. The unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 5.7% between 2010 and 2017; while there has been some improvement, underemployment remains high at around 17% to 18% of the employed population. At least 40% of the employed work in the informal sector. Poverty afflicts more than a fifth of the total population but is as high as 75% in some areas of the southern Philippines. More than 60% of the poor reside in rural areas, where the incidence of poverty (about 30%) is more severe - a challenge to raising rural farm and non-farm incomes. Continued efforts are needed to improve governance, the judicial system, the regulatory environment, the infrastructure, and the overall ease of doing business. 2016 saw the election of President Rodrigo DUTERTE, who has pledged to make inclusive growth and poverty reduction his top priority. DUTERTE believes that illegal drug use, crime and corruption are key barriers to economic development. The administration wants to reduce the poverty rate to 17% and graduate the economy to upper-middle income status by the end of President DUTERTE’s term in 2022. Key themes under the government’s Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda include continuity of macroeconomic policy, tax reform, higher investments in infrastructure and human capital development, and improving competitiveness and the overall ease of doing business. The administration sees infrastructure shortcomings as a key barrier to sustained economic growth and has pledged to spend $165 billion on infrastructure by 2022. Although the final outcome has yet to be seen, the current administration is shepherding legislation for a comprehensive tax reform program to raise revenues for its ambitious infrastructure spending plan and to promote a more equitable and efficient tax system. However, the need to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the southern region of Mindanao following the 2017 Marawi City siege may compete with other spending on infrastructure.The economy has been relatively resilient to global economic shocks due to less exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from about 10 million overseas Filipino workers and migrants, and a rapidly expanding services industry. During 2017, the current account balance fell into the negative range, the first time since the 2008 global financial crisis, in part due to an ambitious new infrastructure spending program announced this year. However, international reserves remain at comfortable levels and the banking system is stable. Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditures management have helped ease the Philippines' debt burden and tight fiscal situation. The Philippines received investment-grade credit ratings on its sovereign debt under the former AQUINO administration and has had little difficulty financing its budget deficits. However, weak absorptive capacity and implementation bottlenecks have prevented the government from maximizing its expenditure plans. Although it has improved, the low tax-to-GDP ratio remains a constraint to supporting increasingly higher spending levels and sustaining high and inclusive growth over the longer term. Economic growth has accelerated, averaging over 6% per year from 2011 to 2017, compared with 4.5% under the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO government; and competitiveness rankings have improved. Although 2017 saw a new record year for net foreign direct investment inflows, FDI to the Philippines has continued to lag regional peers, in part because the Philippine constitution and other laws limit foreign investment and restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors - such as land ownership and public utilities. Although the economy grew at a rapid pace under the AQUINO government, challenges to achieving more inclusive growth remain. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of the rich. The unemployment rate declined from 7.3% to 5.7% between 2010 and 2017; while there has been some improvement, underemployment remains high at around 17% to 18% of the employed population. At least 40% of the employed work in the informal sector. Poverty afflicts more than a fifth of the total population but is as high as 75% in some areas of the southern Philippines. More than 60% of the poor reside in rural areas, where the incidence of poverty (about 30%) is more severe - a challenge to raising rural farm and non-farm incomes. Continued efforts are needed to improve governance, the judicial system, the regulatory environment, the infrastructure, and the overall ease of doing business. 2016 saw the election of President Rodrigo DUTERTE, who has pledged to make inclusive growth and poverty reduction his top priority. DUTERTE believes that illegal drug use, crime and corruption are key barriers to economic development. The administration wants to reduce the poverty rate to 17% and graduate the economy to upper-middle income status by the end of President DUTERTE’s term in 2022. Key themes under the government’s Ten-Point Socioeconomic Agenda include continuity of macroeconomic policy, tax reform, higher investments in infrastructure and human capital development, and improving competitiveness and the overall ease of doing business. The administration sees infrastructure shortcomings as a key barrier to sustained economic growth and has pledged to spend $165 billion on infrastructure by 2022. Although the final outcome has yet to be seen, the current administration is shepherding legislation for a comprehensive tax reform program to raise revenues for its ambitious infrastructure spending plan and to promote a more equitable and efficient tax system. However, the need to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the southern region of Mindanao following the 2017 Marawi City siege may compete with other spending on infrastructure.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $871.56 billion (2020 est.)
$963.83 billion (2019 est.)
$908.26 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 6.04% (2019 est.)
6.34% (2018 est.)
6.94% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $8,000 (2020 est.)
$8,900 (2019 est.)
$8,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $377.205 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2019 est.)
5.2% (2018 est.)
2.8% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB (2017)
Moody's rating: Baa2 (2014)
Standard & Poors rating: BBB+ (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 9.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 30.6% (2017 est.)
services: 59.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 73.5% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 11.3% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 31% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -40.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, rice, coconuts, maize, bananas, vegetables, tropical fruit, plantains, pineapples, cassava
Industries: semiconductors and electronics assembly, business process outsourcing, food and beverage manufacturing, construction, electric/gas/water supply, chemical products, radio/television/communications equipment and apparatus, petroleum and fuel, textile and garments, non-metallic minerals, basic metal industries, transport equipment
Industrial production growth rate: 7.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 41.533 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 18.3%
services: 56.3% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.11% (2019 est.)
5.29% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 7%
male: 6.1%
female: 8.5% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 16.7% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 44.4 (2015 est.)
46 (2012 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2015 est.)
Budget: revenues: 49.07 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 56.02 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 39.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
39% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 15.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$3.386 billion (2019 est.)
-$8.877 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $78.82 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$94.74 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$90.37 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: China 16%, United States 15%, Japan 13%, Hong Kong 12%, Singapore 7%, Germany 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: integrated circuits, office machinery/parts, insulated wiring, semiconductors, transformers (2019)
Imports: $97.58 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$131.01 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$129.74 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 29%, Japan 8%, South Korea 7%, United States 6%, Singapore 6%, Indonesia 6%, Thailand 5%, Taiwan 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: integrated circuits, refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $81.57 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$80.69 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $81.995 billion (2019 est.)
$75.192 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (PHP) per US dollar -
48.055 (2020 est.)
50.81 (2019 est.)
52.71 (2018 est.)
45.503 (2014 est.)
44.395 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 96% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 100% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 93% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 27.885 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 90,926,990,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 9.994 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 77.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 11% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 13.752 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 32.855 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 7.554 million metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 28.358 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 361 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 10,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 527,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 12,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,500 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 138.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 215,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 26,710 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 211,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 3,632,507,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 98.542 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 142.282 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 70.82 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 64.418 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7.044 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 19.261 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 4,731,196 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 149,579,406 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 137 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the Covid-19 pandemic had a relatively minor impact on the Philippine’s telecom sector in 2020; subscriber numbers fell in some areas, but this was offset by strong growth in mobile data and broadband usage since a significant proportion of the population transitioned to working or studying from home; major investment programs covering LTE, 5G, and fiber broadband networks suffered slight delays due to holdups in supply chains, but activity has since ramped up in an attempt to complete the roll outs as per the original schedule; the major telecom operators had mixed financial results for the past year; PLDT reported record revenues, whereas Globe Telecom’s performance dropped below 2019 levels; the pandemic was partly the cause in both cases: shifts in customer behavior during the enforced lock down bolstered mobile data and broadband, whereas Globe Telecom’s leadership of the mobile market saw it suffer to a greater extent overall, as the total number of mobile subscribers fell in the first quarter of 2021; in spite of the setback, both companies predict a positive outlook for growth through the rest of 2021 and into 2022; overall, the number of mobile subscribers is expected to grow to 153 million by the end of 2021, with the penetration rate approaching 144%; PLDT and Globe Telecom have maintained their dominance of the Philippines telecom market, despite having their duopoly status removed by the government as far back as 2017; two new entrants – DITO Telecommunity and NOW Telecom – have since become the third and fourth operators, but delays in their respective launch programs have caused minimal impact to the leaders’ market share; the government remains keen, and committed, to seeing strong competition, growth, and service excellence in the telecom sector, so there is likely to be continued support (financially as well as through legislation such as enabling mobile tower sharing and number portability) to ensure that the sector remains viable for emerging players; the mobile sector will remain the Philippines’ primary market for telecommunications well into the future; the unique terrain and resulting challenges associated with accessing remote parts of the archipelago means that in many areas fixed networks are neither cost-effective nor logistically viable; both PLDT and Globe Telecom continue to roll out fixed networks in some urban areas where it remains feasible to do so (primarily to support fixed broadband or — in Globe Telecom’s case — fixed wireless services); the bulk of telecoms investment over the coming years will continue to be in 5G and 5G-enabled LTE networks; coverage of LTE and 5G networks extends to over 95% of the population, and for the vast majority of people mobile will likely remain their only platform for telecom services. (2021)
domestic: telecommunications infrastructure includes the following platforms: fixed line, mobile cellular, cable TV, over-the-air TV, radio and (very small aperture terminal) VSAT, fiber-optic cable, and satellite for redundant international connectivity; fixed-line nearly 4 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 155 per 100 (2019)
international: country code - 63; landing points for the NDTN, TGN-IA, AAG, PLCN, EAC-02C, DFON, SJC, APCN-2, SeaMeWe, Boracay-Palawan Submarine Cable System, Palawa-Illoilo Cable System, NDTN, SEA-US, SSSFOIP, ASE and JUPITAR submarine cables that together provide connectivity to the US, Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: multiple national private TV and radio networks; multi-channel satellite and cable TV systems available; more than 400 TV stations; about 1,500 cable TV providers with more than 2 million subscribers, and some 1,400 radio stations; the Philippines adopted Japan’s Integrated Service Digital Broadcast – Terrestrial standard for digital terrestrial television in November 2013 and is scheduled to complete the switch from analog to digital broadcasting by the end of 2023 (2019)
Internet country code: .ph
Internet users: total: 54,790,543 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 50% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 7,936,574 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 13 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 200
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 43,080,118 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 835.9 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: RP
Airports: total: 247 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 89
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 10 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 158
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 56
under 914 m: 99 (2021)
Heliports: 2 (2021)
Pipelines: 530 km gas, 138 km oil (non-operational), 185 km refined products (2017)
Railways: total: 77 km (2017)
standard gauge: 49 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 28 km (2017) 1.067-m gauge
Roadways: total: 216,387 km (2014)
paved: 61,093 km (2014)
unpaved: 155,294 km (2014)
Waterways: 3,219 km (2011) (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m)
Merchant marine: total: 1,805
by type: bulk carrier 62, container ship 44, general cargo 716, oil tanker 205, other 778 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Liman, Manila
container port(s) (TEUs): Manila (5,315,500) (2019)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force (2021)
note 1: the Philippine Coast Guard is an armed and uniformed service under the Department of Transportation; it would be attached to the AFP in wartime; the Philippine National Police Force (PNP) falls under the Department of the Interior
note 2: the Philippine Government also arms and supports civilian militias; the AFP controls Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, while the Civilian Volunteer Organizations fall under PNP command
Military expenditures: 1.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2020)
1.1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $6.19 billion)
1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $5.31 billion)
1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $6.21 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 130,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 25,000 Navy, including about 8,000 marines; 15,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the AFP is equipped with a mix of imported weapons systems, particularly second-hand equipment from the US; since 2014, its top weapons suppliers include South Korea and the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-23 years of age (officers 21-29; 21-26 for women officers) for voluntary military service (men and women); no conscription (2021)
note: as of 2020, women made up about 6% of the active military; women were allowed to enter the Philippine Military Academy and train as combat soldiers in 1993
Military - note: the US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; the Philippines has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments as of 2022, the AFP's primary air and ground operational focus was on internal security duties, particularly in the south, where several separatist insurgent and terrorist groups operated and up to 60% of the armed forces were deployed; additional combat operations were being conducted against the Communist Peoples Party/New People’s Army, which was active mostly on Luzon, the Visayas, and areas of Mindanao
in addition to its typical roles of patrolling and defending the country's maritime claims, the Navy conducts interdiction operations against terrorist, insurgent, and criminal groups around the southern islands; in 2017, the Philippines began conducting joint maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia to counter regional terrorist activities, particularly in the Sulu Sea; the Philippine Marine Corps assists the Army in counterinsurgency operations
the Philippines National Police (PNP) also has an active role in counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism operations alongside the AFP, particularly the Special Action Force, a PNP commando unit that specializes in urban counter-terrorism operationsthe US and Philippines agreed to a mutual defense treaty in 1951; the Philippines has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolenthe International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of littoral states and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; an emerging threat area lies in the Celebes and Sulu Seas between the Philippines and Malaysia where 11 ships were attacked in 2021; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargoes stolen
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Abu Sayyaf Group; Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham – East Asia (ISIS-EA) in the Philippines
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Philippines-Taiwan-China-Malaysia-Vietnam: Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands Philippines-Malaysia: Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; the disagreement resurfaced in September 2020 , when Malaysia’s submission to the UN about extending its continental shelf was sharply countered by the Philippines because it included the disputed territory Philippines-Palau: maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau, as of March 2022Philippines-Taiwan-China-Malaysia-Vietnam: Philippines claims sovereignty over Scarborough Reef (also claimed by China together with Taiwan) and over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly IslandsPhilippines-Malaysia: Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf; the disagreement resurfaced in September 2020 , when Malaysia’s submission to the UN about extending its continental shelf was sharply countered by the Philippines because it included the disputed territoryPhilippines-Palau: maritime delimitation negotiations continue with Palau, as of March 2022
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 108,000 (government troops fighting the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf Group, and the New People's Army; clan feuds; armed attacks, political violence, and communal tensions in Mindanao) (2021)
stateless persons: 392 (mid-year 2021); note - stateless persons are descendants of Indonesian migrants
Illicit drugs: cannabis products, methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as "shabu"), and MDMA (ecstasy) are locally used; Chinese Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) are the main source of methamphetamine; precursor chemicals are in transit from China to Burma |
20220901 | countries-bouvet-island |
Topic: Photos of Bouvet Island
Topic: Introduction
Background: This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the most remote island on Earth. (It is furthest in distance from any other point of land, 1,639 km from Antarctica.) Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom it is named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In February 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 29.6 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation: highest point: Olavtoppen (Olav Peak) 780 m
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter
Geography - note: almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth
Map description: Bouvet Island map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.Bouvet Island map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: uninhabited
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: none; almost entirely ice covered
Climate: antarctic
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
etymology: named after the French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles BOUVET who discovered the island in 1739
note: pronounced boo-vay i-land
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police
Legal system: the laws of Norway apply where applicable
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Topic: Communications
Internet country code: .bv
Communications - note: has an automated meteorological station
Topic: Transportation
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | countries-christmas-island |
Topic: Photos of Christmas Island
Topic: Introduction
Background: Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore.
Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it.
In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island and the migrants claimed refugee status since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.Although Europeans sighted the island as early as 1615, it was only named in 1643 by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery. Another English ship sailed by the island in 1688 and found it uninhabited. Attempts to explore the island over the next two centuries were hampered by steep cliffs and dense jungle. Phosphate discovery on the island in 1887, lead to the UK annexing it the following year. In 1898, the Christmas Island Phosphate Company brought in 200 Chinese indentured servants to work the mines, along with Malays, Sikhs, and a small number of Europeans. The UK administered Christmas Island from Singapore.
Japan invaded the island in 1942, but islanders sabotaged Japanese mining operations, making the mines relatively unproductive. After World War II, Australia and New Zealand bought the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and in 1958, the UK transferred sovereignty from Singapore to Australia in exchange for $20 million for the loss of future phosphate income. In 1980, Australia set up the Christmas Island National Park and expanded its boundaries throughout the 1980s until it covered more than 60% of the island’s territory. The phosphate mine was closed in 1987 because of environmental concerns and Australia has rejected several efforts to reopen it.
In the 1980s, boats of asylum seekers started landing on Christmas Island and the migrants claimed refugee status since they were on Australian territory. In 2001, Australia declared Christmas Island outside the Australian migration zone and built an immigration detention center on the island. Completed in 2008, the controversial detention center was officially closed in 2018, but then reopened in early 2019. In 2020, the center served as a coronavirus quarantine facility for Australian citizens evacuated from China.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation: highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: phosphate, beaches
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of the Indian Ocean
Map description: Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.Christmas Island map showing the Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,205 (2016 est.)
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% (2001)
note: no indigenous population
Languages: English (official) 27.6%, Mandarin 17.2%, Malay 17.1%, Cantonese 3.9%, Min Nan 1.6%, Tagalog 1%, other 4.5%, unspecified 27.1% (2016 est.)
note: data represent language spoken at home
Religions: Muslim 19.4%, Buddhist 18.3%, Roman Catholic 8.8%, Protestant 6.5% (includes Anglican 3.6%, Uniting Church 1.2%, other 1.7%), other Christian 3.3%, other 0.6%, none 15.3%, unspecified 27.7% (2016 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 12.79% (2017 est.) (male 147/female 135)
15-24 years: 12.2% (2017 est.) (male 202/female 67)
25-54 years: 57.91% (2017 est.) (male 955/female 322)
55-64 years: 11.66% (2017 est.) (male 172/female 85)
65 years and over: 5.44% (2017 est.) (male 84/female 36)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Population growth rate: 1.11% (2014 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Population distribution: majority of the population lives on the northern tip of the island
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Climate: tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
etymology: named by English Captain William MYNORS for the day of its rediscovery, Christmas Day (25 December 1643); the island had been sighted by Europeans as early as 1615
Government type: non-self-governing overseas territory of Australia
Dependency status: non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities & Regional Development
Capital: name: The Settlement (Flying Fish Cove)
geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: self-descriptive name for the main locus of population
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Australia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Constitution: history: 1 October 1958 (Christmas Island Act 1958)
amendments: amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: legal system is under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law
Citizenship: see Australia
Suffrage: 18 years of age
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia General David HURLEY (since 1 July 2019)
head of government: Administrator Natasha GRIGGS (since 5 October 2017)
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Australian prime minister; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a 2-year term and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: held every 2 years with half the members standing for election; last held in October 2021 (next to be held in October 2023)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats by party - independent 9; composition as of 17 October 2021 - men 8, women 1, percent of women 11.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: under the terms of the Territorial Law Reform Act 1992, Western Australia provides court services as needed for the island, including the Supreme Court and subordinate courts (District Court, Magistrate Court, Family Court, Children's Court, and Coroners' Court)
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed; the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island
note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
National symbol(s): golden bosun bird
National anthem: note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)note: as a territory of Australia, "Advance Australia Fair" remains official as the national anthem, while "God Save the Queen" serves as the royal anthem (see Australia)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The main economic activities on Christmas Island are the mining of low grade phosphate, limited tourism, the provision of government services and, since 2005, the construction and operation of the Immigration Detention Center. The government sector includes administration, health, education, policing, customs, quarantine, and defense.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): NANA
Agricultural products: NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Labor force: NA
Budget: revenues: NA
expenditures: NA
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Exports: NANA
Exports - partners: Malaysia 36%, New Zealand 21%, Indonesia 20%, Australia 10% (2019)
Exports - commodities: calcium phosphates, fertilizers, valves, air pumps, industrial printers (2019)
Imports: NANA
Imports - partners: Australia 80%, United States 7%, Canada 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cars, iron structures, aircraft, crustaceans (2019)
Exchange rates: Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.311 (2017 est.)
1.3442 (2016 est.)
1.3442 (2015)
1.3291 (2014 est.)
1.1094 (2013 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: local area code - 08; GSM mobile-cellular telephone service is provided by Telstra as part of the Australian network
international: international code - 61 8; ASC submarine cable to Singapore and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat provides telephone and telex service) (2019)
Broadcast media: 1 community radio station; satellite broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations (2017)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet users: total: 790 (2016 est.)
percent of population: 36% (2016 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Railways: total: 18 km (2017)
standard gauge: 18 km (2017) 1.435-m (not in operation)
note: the 18-km Christmas Island Phosphate Company Railway between Flying Fish Cove and South Point was decommissioned in 1987; some tracks and scrap remain in place
Roadways: total: 142 km (2011)
paved: 32 km (2011)
unpaved: 110 km (2011)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Flying Fish Cove
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: nonenone |
20220901 | countries-greece |
Topic: Photos of Greece
Topic: Introduction
Background: Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974 following the collapse of the dictatorship, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. Greece has suffered a severe economic crisis since late 2009, due to nearly a decade of chronic overspending and structural rigidities. Beginning in 2010, Greece entered three bailout agreements - the first two with the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF; and the third in 2015 with the European Stability Mechanism - worth in total about $300 billion. The Greek Government formally exited the third bailout in August 2018.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 131,957 sq km
land: 130,647 sq km
water: 1,310 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries: total: 1,110 km
border countries (4): Albania 212 km; Bulgaria 472 km; North Macedonia 234 km; Turkey 192 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 6 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mountainous with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation: highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 498 m
note: Mount Olympus actually has 52 peaks but its highest point, Mytikas (meaning "nose"), rises to 2,917 meters; in Greek mythology, Olympus' Mytikas peak was the home of the Greek gods
Natural resources: lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use: agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 30.5% (2018 est.)
other: 6.1% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,550 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: one-third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters
Natural hazards: severe earthquakesvolcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically activesevere earthquakesvolcanism: Santorini (367 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; although there have been very few eruptions in recent centuries, Methana and Nisyros in the Aegean are classified as historically active
Geography - note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
Map description: Greece map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.Greece map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 10,533,871 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 91.6%, Albanian 4.4%, other 4% (2011 est.)
note: data represent citizenship; Greece does not collect data on ethnicity
Languages: Greek (official) 99%, other (includes English and French) 1%
major-language sample(s):
Το Παγκόσμιο Βιβλίο Δεδομένων, η απαραίτητη πηγή βασικών πληροφοριών. (Greek)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Greek Orthodox 81-90%, Muslim 2%, other 3%, none 4-15%, unspecified 1% (2015 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.53% (male 794,918/female 745,909)
15-24 years: 10.34% (male 577,134/female 519,819)
25-54 years: 39.6% (male 2,080,443/female 2,119,995)
55-64 years: 13.1% (male 656,404/female 732,936)
65 years and over: 22.43% (2020 est.) (male 1,057,317/female 1,322,176)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.1
youth dependency ratio: 21.3
elderly dependency ratio: 34.8
potential support ratio: 2.9 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 45.3 years
male: 43.7 years
female: 46.8 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 7.61 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 12.04 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: one-third of the population lives in and around metropolitan Athens; the remainder of the country has moderate population density mixed with sizeable urban clusters
Urbanization: urban population: 80.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.154 million ATHENS (capital), 814,000 Thessaloniki (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 30.7 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.49 years
male: 78.96 years
female: 84.2 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.8% (2019)
Physicians density: 6.31 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 17,000 (2020 est.)
note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <100
note: estimate does not include children
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 33.5% (2020 est.)
male: 36.5% (2020 est.)
female: 30.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.4% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 20 years
male: 20 years
female: 20 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 35%
male: 31.4%
female: 39.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution; air emissions from transport and electricity power stations; water pollution; degradation of coastal zones; loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems; increasing municipal and industrial waste
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.69 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 62.43 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 9.8 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Land use: agricultural land: 63.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 19.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 8.9% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 34.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 30.5% (2018 est.)
other: 6.1% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 80.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 5,477,424 tons (2014 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 1,040,711 tons (2014 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 19% (2014 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.991 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 208.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 9.041 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 68.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic
conventional short form: Greece
local long form: Elliniki Dimokratia
local short form: Ellas or Ellada
former: Hellenic State, Kingdom of Greece
etymology: the English name derives from the Roman (Latin) designation "Graecia," meaning "Land of the Greeks"; the Greeks call their country "Hellas" or "Ellada"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: Athens is the oldest European capital city; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; in actuality, the appellation probably derives from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (perifereies, singular - perifereia) and 1 autonomous monastic state* (aftonomi monastiki politeia); Agion Oros* (Mount Athos), Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki (East Macedonia and Thrace), Attiki (Attica), Dytiki Ellada (West Greece), Dytiki Makedonia (West Macedonia), Ionia Nisia (Ionian Islands), Ipeiros (Epirus), Kentriki Makedonia (Central Macedonia), Kriti (Crete), Notio Aigaio (South Aegean), Peloponnisos (Peloponnese), Sterea Ellada (Central Greece), Thessalia (Thessaly), Voreio Aigaio (North Aegean)
Independence: 3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire); note - 25 March 1821, outbreak of the national revolt against the Ottomans; 3 February 1830, signing of the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence by Great Britain, France, and Russia
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution: history: many previous; latest entered into force 11 June 1975
amendments: proposed by at least 50 members of Parliament and agreed by three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots at least 30 days apart; passage requires absolute majority vote by the next elected Parliament; entry into force finalized through a "special parliamentary resolution"; articles on human rights and freedoms and the form of government cannot be amended; amended 1986, 2001, 2008, 2019
Legal system: civil legal system based on Roman law
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ekaterini SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020)
head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 8 July 2019)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections/appointments: president elected by Hellenic Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2020 (next to be held by February 2025); president appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Hellenic Parliament
election results: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (independent) elected president by Parliament - 261 of 300 votes; note - SAKELLAROPOULOU is Greece's first woman president
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Hellenic Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; 280 members in multi-seat constituencies and 12 members in a single nationwide constituency directly elected by open party-list proportional representation vote; 8 members in single-seat constituencies elected by simple majority vote; members serve up to 4 years); note - only parties surpassing a 3% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; parties need 10 seats to become formal parliamentary groups but can retain that status if the party participated in the last election and received the minimum 3% threshold
elections: last held on 7 July 2019 (next to be held by July 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND 39.9%, SYRIZA 31.5%, KINAL 8.1%, KKE 5.3%, Greek Solution 3.7%, MeRA25 3.4%, other 8.1%; seats by party - ND 158, SYRIZA 86, KINAL 22, KKE 15, Greek Solution 10, MeRA25 9; composition - men 244, women 56, percent of women 18.7%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or Areios Pagos (consists of 56 judges, including the court presidents); Council of State (supreme administrative court) (consists of the president, 7 vice presidents, 42 privy councilors, 48 associate councilors and 50 reporting judges, organized into six 5- and 7-member chambers; Court of Audit (government audit and enforcement) consists of the president, 5 vice presidents, 20 councilors, and 90 associate and reporting judges
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by presidential decree on the advice of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), which includes the president of the Supreme Court, other judges, and the prosecutor of the Supreme Court; judges appointed for life following a 2-year probationary period; Council of State president appointed by the Greek Cabinet to serve a 4-year term; other judge appointments and tenure NA; Court of Audit president appointed by decree of the president of the republic on the advice of the SJC; court president serves a 4-year term or until age 67; tenure of vice presidents, councilors, and judges NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance (district courts)
Political parties and leaders: Anticapitalist Left Cooperation for the Overthrow or ANTARSYA [collective leadership]
Coalition of the Radical Left or SYRIZA [Alexios (Alexis) TSIPRAS]
Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Dimitrios KOUTSOUMBAS]
Democratic Left or DIMAR [Athanasios (Thanasis) THEOCHAROPOULOS]
European Realistic Disobedience Front or MeRA25 [Ioannis (Yanis) VAROUFAKIS]
Greek Solution [Kyriakos VELOPOULOS]
Independent Greeks or ANEL [Panagiotis (Panos) KAMMENOS]
Movement for Change or KINAL [Nikos ANDROULAKIS]
New Democracy or ND [Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS]
Popular Unity or LAE [Nikolaos CHOUNTIS]
Union of Centrists or EK [Vasileios (Vasilis) LEVENTIS]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandra PAPADOPOULOU (since 6 February 2021)
chancery: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
email address and website:
gremb.was@mfa.gr
https://www.mfa.gr/usa/en/the-embassy/
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Tampa (FL), San Francisco
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George James TSUNIS (since 10 May 2022)
embassy: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: 7100 Athens Place, Washington DC 20521-7100
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 724-5313
email address and website:
athensamericancitizenservices@state.gov
https://gr.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors
note: Greek legislation states that the flag colors are cyan and white, but cyan can mean "blue" in Greek, so the exact shade of blue has never been set and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time; in general, the hue of blue normally encountered is a form of azure
National symbol(s): Greek cross (white cross on blue field, arms equal length); national colors: blue, white
National anthem: name: "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty)
lyrics/music: Dionysios SOLOMOS/Nikolaos MANTZAROS
note: adopted 1864; the anthem is based on a 158-stanza poem by the same name, which was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottomans (only the first two stanzas are used); Cyprus also uses "Hymn to Liberty" as its anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 18 (16 cultural, 2 mixed)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Acropolis, Athens (c); Archaeological site of Delphi (c); Meteora (m); Medieval City of Rhodes (c); Archaeological site of Olympia (c); Archaeological site of Mycenae and Tiryns (c); Old Town of Corfu (c); Mount Athos (m); Delos (c); Archaeological Site of Philippi (c)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 18% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy averaged growth of about 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, but the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. By 2013, the economy had contracted 26%, compared with the pre-crisis level of 2007. Greece met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP in 2007-08, but violated it in 2009, when the deficit reached 15% of GDP. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009 and led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government accepted a bailout program that called on Athens to cut government spending, decrease tax evasion, overhaul the civil-service, health-care, and pension systems, and reform the labor and product markets. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to 1.3% in 2017. Successive Greek governments, however, failed to push through many of the most unpopular reforms in the face of widespread political opposition, including from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. In April 2010, a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating, and in May 2010, the IMF and euro-zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. Greece, however, struggled to meet the targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal called for holders of Greek government bonds to write down a significant portion of their holdings to try to alleviate Greece’s government debt burden. However, Greek banks, saddled with a significant portion of sovereign debt, were adversely affected by the write down and $60 billion of the second bailout package was set aside to ensure the banking system was adequately capitalized. In 2014, the Greek economy began to turn the corner on the recession. Greece achieved three significant milestones: balancing the budget - not including debt repayments; issuing government debt in financial markets for the first time since 2010; and generating 0.7% GDP growth — the first economic expansion since 2007. Despite the nascent recovery, widespread discontent with austerity measures helped propel the far-left Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) party into government in national legislative elections in January 2015. Between January and July 2015, frustrations grew between the SYRIZA-led government and Greece’s EU and IMF creditors over the implementation of bailout measures and disbursement of funds. The Greek government began running up significant arrears to suppliers, while Greek banks relied on emergency lending, and Greece’s future in the euro zone was called into question. To stave off a collapse of the banking system, Greece imposed capital controls in June 2015, then became the first developed nation to miss a loan payment to the IMF, rattling international financial markets. Unable to reach an agreement with creditors, Prime Minister Alexios TSIPRAS held a nationwide referendum on 5 July on whether to accept the terms of Greece’s bailout, campaigning for the ultimately successful "no" vote. The TSIPRAS government subsequently agreed, however, to a new $96 billion bailout in order to avert Greece’s exit from the monetary bloc. On 20 August 2015, Greece signed its third bailout, allowing it to cover significant debt payments to its EU and IMF creditors and to ensure the banking sector retained access to emergency liquidity. The TSIPRAS government — which retook office on 20 September 2015 after calling new elections in late August — successfully secured disbursal of two delayed tranches of bailout funds. Despite the economic turmoil, Greek GDP did not contract as sharply as feared, boosted in part by a strong tourist season. In 2017, Greece saw improvements in GDP and unemployment. Unfinished economic reforms, a massive non-performing loan problem, and ongoing uncertainty regarding the political direction of the country hold the economy back. Some estimates put Greece’s black market at 20- to 25% of GDP, as more people have stopped reporting their income to avoid paying taxes that, in some cases, have risen to 70% of an individual’s gross income.Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 18% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in agricultural and unskilled jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy averaged growth of about 4% per year between 2003 and 2007, but the economy went into recession in 2009 as a result of the world financial crisis, tightening credit conditions, and Athens' failure to address a growing budget deficit. By 2013, the economy had contracted 26%, compared with the pre-crisis level of 2007. Greece met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criterion of no more than 3% of GDP in 2007-08, but violated it in 2009, when the deficit reached 15% of GDP. Deteriorating public finances, inaccurate and misreported statistics, and consistent underperformance on reforms prompted major credit rating agencies to downgrade Greece's international debt rating in late 2009 and led the country into a financial crisis. Under intense pressure from the EU and international market participants, the government accepted a bailout program that called on Athens to cut government spending, decrease tax evasion, overhaul the civil-service, health-care, and pension systems, and reform the labor and product markets. Austerity measures reduced the deficit to 1.3% in 2017. Successive Greek governments, however, failed to push through many of the most unpopular reforms in the face of widespread political opposition, including from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public. In April 2010, a leading credit agency assigned Greek debt its lowest possible credit rating, and in May 2010, the IMF and euro-zone governments provided Greece emergency short- and medium-term loans worth $147 billion so that the country could make debt repayments to creditors. Greece, however, struggled to meet the targets set by the EU and the IMF, especially after Eurostat - the EU's statistical office - revised upward Greece's deficit and debt numbers for 2009 and 2010. European leaders and the IMF agreed in October 2011 to provide Athens a second bailout package of $169 billion. The second deal called for holders of Greek government bonds to write down a significant portion of their holdings to try to alleviate Greece’s government debt burden. However, Greek banks, saddled with a significant portion of sovereign debt, were adversely affected by the write down and $60 billion of the second bailout package was set aside to ensure the banking system was adequately capitalized. In 2014, the Greek economy began to turn the corner on the recession. Greece achieved three significant milestones: balancing the budget - not including debt repayments; issuing government debt in financial markets for the first time since 2010; and generating 0.7% GDP growth — the first economic expansion since 2007. Despite the nascent recovery, widespread discontent with austerity measures helped propel the far-left Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) party into government in national legislative elections in January 2015. Between January and July 2015, frustrations grew between the SYRIZA-led government and Greece’s EU and IMF creditors over the implementation of bailout measures and disbursement of funds. The Greek government began running up significant arrears to suppliers, while Greek banks relied on emergency lending, and Greece’s future in the euro zone was called into question. To stave off a collapse of the banking system, Greece imposed capital controls in June 2015, then became the first developed nation to miss a loan payment to the IMF, rattling international financial markets. Unable to reach an agreement with creditors, Prime Minister Alexios TSIPRAS held a nationwide referendum on 5 July on whether to accept the terms of Greece’s bailout, campaigning for the ultimately successful "no" vote. The TSIPRAS government subsequently agreed, however, to a new $96 billion bailout in order to avert Greece’s exit from the monetary bloc. On 20 August 2015, Greece signed its third bailout, allowing it to cover significant debt payments to its EU and IMF creditors and to ensure the banking sector retained access to emergency liquidity. The TSIPRAS government — which retook office on 20 September 2015 after calling new elections in late August — successfully secured disbursal of two delayed tranches of bailout funds. Despite the economic turmoil, Greek GDP did not contract as sharply as feared, boosted in part by a strong tourist season. In 2017, Greece saw improvements in GDP and unemployment. Unfinished economic reforms, a massive non-performing loan problem, and ongoing uncertainty regarding the political direction of the country hold the economy back. Some estimates put Greece’s black market at 20- to 25% of GDP, as more people have stopped reporting their income to avoid paying taxes that, in some cases, have risen to 70% of an individual’s gross income.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $292.4 billion (2020 est.)
$318.68 billion (2019 est.)
$312.87 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 1.87% (2019 est.)
1.91% (2018 est.)
1.44% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $27,300 (2020 est.)
$29,700 (2019 est.)
$29,200 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $209.79 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.2% (2019 est.)
0.6% (2018 est.)
1.1% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB (2020)
Moody's rating: Ba3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2019)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.1% (2017 est.)
industry: 16.9% (2017 est.)
services: 79.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 69.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 20.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 12.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 33.4% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -34.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: maize, olives, wheat, milk, peaches/nectarines, oranges, tomatoes, grapes, milk, potatoes
Industries: tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 4 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 12.6%
industry: 15%
services: 72.4% (30 October 2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 17.3% (2019 est.)
19.34% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 35%
male: 31.4%
female: 39.3% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17.9% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.4 (2017 est.)
35.7 (2011)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 26.7% (2015 est.)
Budget: revenues: 97.99 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 96.35 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 181.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
183.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 48.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$3.114 billion (2019 est.)
-$6.245 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $59.02 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$81.18 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$81.87 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Italy 10%, Germany 7%, Turkey 5%, Cyprus 5%, Bulgaria 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, packaged medicines, aluminum plating, computers, cotton (2019)
Imports: $71.76 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$83.19 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$85.8 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Germany 11%, China 9%, Italy 8%, Iraq 7%, Russia 6%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, cars, ships (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.807 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$6.026 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $484.888 billion (2019 est.)
$478.646 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.82771 (2020 est.)
0.90338 (2019 est.)
0.87789 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 21.545 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 46.18 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 967 million kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 9.831 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.256 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 56.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 10.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 23% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 13.851 million metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 13.828 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 7,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 305,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 2.876 billion metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4,800 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 309,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 4,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 491,300 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 10 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 655,400 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 371,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 192,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas: production: 5.748 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 5,831,987,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 33.244 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 5,219,409,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
proven reserves: 991 million cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 70.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.404 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 46.401 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 10.358 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 108.022 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 5,028,332 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 48 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 11,412,995 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Greece’s telecom market is susceptible to the country’s volatile economy, and as a result revenue among the key networks has been variable; the incumbent telco OTE, supported by the organizational and financial clout of its parent Deutsche Telekom, reported a 16.6% fall in revenue for 2020, and the economic fallout of the pandemic continued to reduce revenue into 2021; broadband subscriptions in Greece are developing steadily despite the difficult economic conditions; the main networks are concentrating investment on fiber-based next generation networks, enabling them to reach the European broadband targets for 2025; their work is also supported by government ultra-fast broadband projects, largely funded by the EC and aimed at delivering a service of at least 100Mb/s to under served areas; Greece’s well-developed mobile market is dominated by the three MNOs Wind Hellas, Vodafone Greece, and Cosmote; Networks continue to invest in LTE infrastructure and technologies to provide networks capable of meeting customer demand for data services; after extensive trials of 5G, the MNOs were able to launch commercial services in early 2021 following the December 2020 allocation of frequencies in a range of bands; the rapid rollout of 5G encouraged Cosmote to close down its 3G network (a process expected to be completed by the end of 2021) and reallocate for LTE and 5G. (2022)
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands; nearly 46 per 100 subscribers for fixed-line and 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2020)
international: country code - 30; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, Adria-1, Italy-Greece 1, OTEGLOBE, MedNautilus Submarine System, Aphrodite 2, AAE-1 and Silphium optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia and Australia; tropospheric scatter; satellite earth stations - 4 (2 Intelsat - 1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat - Indian Ocean region) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: broadcast media dominated by the private sector; roughly 150 private TV channels, about 10 of which broadcast nationwide; 1 government-owned terrestrial TV channel with national coverage; 3 privately owned satellite channels; multi-channel satellite and cable TV services available; upwards of 1,500 radio stations, all of them privately owned; government-owned broadcaster has 2 national radio stations
Internet country code: .gr
Internet users: total: 8,346,434 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 4,257,026 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 41 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 11 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 97
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 15,125,933 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 21.91 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: SX
Airports: total: 77 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 68
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 10 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2021)
Heliports: 9 (2021)
Pipelines: 1,466 km gas, 94 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 2,548 km (2014)
standard gauge: 1,565 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 961 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge
220.750 km-mm gauge
Roadways: total: 117,000 km (2018)
Waterways: 6 km (2012) (the 6-km-long Corinth Canal crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; it shortens a sea voyage by 325 km)
Merchant marine: total: 1,236
by type: bulk carrier 158, container ship 5, general cargo 89, oil tanker 337, other 647 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Aspropyrgos, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
oil terminal(s): Agioi Theodoroi
container port(s) (TEUs): Piraeus (5,648,000) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Revithoussa
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Hellenic Armed Forces: Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES; includes National Guard reserves), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA; includes air defense); Ministry of Shipping Affairs and Island Policy: Coast Guard (2022)
note: the police (under the Ministry of Citizen Protection) and the armed forces (Ministry of National Defense) share law enforcement duties in certain border areas; border protection is coordinated by a deputy minister for national defense
Military expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.9% of GDP (2020)
2.3% of GDP (2019) (approximately $7.95 billion)
2.5% of GDP (2018) (approximately $8.31 billion)
2.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $7.56 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 125,000 active duty personnel (90,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 20,000 Air Force); approximately 35,000 National Guard (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the inventory of the Hellenic Armed Forces consists mostly of a mix of imported weapons from Europe and the US, as well as a limited number of domestically produced systems, particularly naval vessels; Germany is the leading supplier of weapons systems to Greece since 2010; Greece's defense industry is capable of producing a range of military hardware, including naval vessels and associated subsystems (2021)
note: in addition to finalizing an update to the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement with the US, Greece also entered into a security agreement with France in 2021 that included the sale of frigates and fighter aircraft to augment its aging weapons systems
Military service age and obligation: 19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; 12-month obligation for all services (note - as an exception, the duration of the full military service is 9 instead of 12 months if conscripts, after the initial training, serve the entire remaining time in certain areas of the eastern borders, in Cyprus, or in certain military units); 18 years of age for volunteers; women are eligible for voluntary military service (2021)
note 1: approximately 40-50% of the Greek military is comprised of conscripts
note 2: as of 2019, women comprised approximately 19% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: approximately 1,000 Cyprus; 100 Kosovo (NATO); 100 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2022)
Military - note: Greece joined NATO in 1952
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Revolutionary Struggle; Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and ItalyGreece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 38,496 (Syria), 25,188 (Afghanistan), 12,657 (Iraq), 5,002 (West Bank and Gaza) (mid-year 2021); 18,045 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2022)
stateless persons: 5,552 (mid-year 2021)
note: 1,221,800 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2022); as of the end of February 2022, Greece hosted an estimated 161,419 refugees and asylum seekers
Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis products and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime |
20220901 | countries-belarus-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Belarus due to the arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of detention, the Russian military attack on neighboring Ukraine, the buildup of Russian military in Belarus along the border with Ukraine, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions. U.S. citizens in Belarus should depart immediately via commercial or private means. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 3 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 2 blank pages in their passport for any entry stamp and or visa that will be required. A visa is required if you stay in the country more than 30 calendar days or if you enter or exit at border crossings other than the Minsk Airport, or if you travel from the Russian Federation. US citizens will need to get in touch with the country’s embassy or nearest consulate to obtain a visa prior to visiting the country.
US Embassy/Consulate: [375] (17) 210-12-83/217-73-47/217-73-48; US Embassy Minsk, 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002, Belarus; https://by.usembassy.gov/; ConsularMinsk@state.gov
Telephone Code: 375
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 03; Fire: 01; Police: 02
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime
Currency (Code): Rubles (BYB/BYR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F (all plugs are symmetrical 2 pins)
Major Languages: Russian, Belarusian
Major Religions: Orthodox 48.3%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, other 3.5%, non-believers 41.1%
Time Difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Nyasvizh Castle; Mir Castle; Minsk (includes Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum and Vul Kastrychnitskaya); Homel Palace; Brest Fortress
Major Sports: Ice hockey, athletics (track and field), wrestling, soccer, tennis, swimming
Cultural Practices: Avoid using the "thumbs up" gesture in Belarus; it is considered rude.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is entirely discretionary and service charges are not automatically added to the bill. If you want to tip in a restaurant or café, give about 5% of the total amount. A few rubles are a common and appropriate tip for metered taxi drivers.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-tajikistan-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s. In 1929, the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.The Tajik people came under Russian imperial rule in the 1860s and 1870s. In 1929, the USSR designated Tajikistan a separate republic. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 144,100 sq km
land: 141,510 sq km
water: 2,590 sq km
Climate: mid-latitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Natural resources: hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Topic: People and Society
Population: 9,119,347 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Tajik 84.3% (includes Pamiri and Yagnobi), Uzbek 13.8%, other 2% (includes Kyrgyz, Russian, Turkmen, Tatar, Arab) (2014 est.)
Languages: Tajik (official) 84.4%, Uzbek 11.9%, Kyrgyz 0.8%, Russian 0.5%, other 2.4% (2010 est.)
Religions: Muslim 98% (Sunni 95%, Shia 3%) other 2% (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.4% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Dushanbe
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Qohir RASULZODA (since 23 November 2013)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of:
National Assembly or Majlisi Milli (34 seats; 25 members indirectly elected by local representative assemblies or majlisi, 8 appointed by the president, and 1 reserved for each living former president; members serve 5-year terms)
Assembly of Representatives or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; 41 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by 2-round absolute majority vote and 22 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: lower middle-income Central Asian economy; key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter; declining poverty; sustained high growth; very limited private sector; substantial illicit drug trade; significant remittances; environmentally fragilelower middle-income Central Asian economy; key gold, cotton, and aluminum exporter; declining poverty; sustained high growth; very limited private sector; substantial illicit drug trade; significant remittances; environmentally fragile
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $34.88 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $3,700 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, potatoes, wheat, watermelons, onions, tomatoes, vegetables, cotton, carrots/turnips, beef
Industries: aluminum, cement, coal, gold, silver, antimony, textile, vegetable oil
Exports: $1.41 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Turkey 24%, Switzerland 22%, Uzbekistan 16%, Kazakhstan 12%, China 10% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, aluminum, cotton, zinc, antimony, lead (2019)
Imports: $3.13 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 40%, Russia 38%, Kazakhstan 19%, Uzbekistan 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, wheat, natural gas, bauxite, aircraft (2019)Page last updated: Wednesday, Jun 15, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-cuba |
Topic: Photos of Cuba
Topic: Introduction
Background: The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency in February 2008 to his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on 19 April 2021 following the retirement of Raul CASTRO, and continues to serve as both president and first secretary. Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since FY 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2021, the US Coast Guard interdicted 838 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2021, 39,303 Cuban nationals presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US.The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the arrival of Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations, and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule eventually provoked an independence movement and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 assisted the Cubans in overthrowing Spanish rule. The Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence from Spain in 1898 and, following three-and-a-half years of subsequent US military rule, Cuba became an independent republic in 1902 after which the island experienced a string of governments mostly dominated by the military and corrupt politicians. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his authoritarian rule held the subsequent regime together for nearly five decades. He handed off the presidency in February 2008 to his younger brother Raul CASTRO. Cuba's communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez, hand-picked by Raul CASTRO to succeed him, was approved as president by the National Assembly and took office on 19 April 2018. DIAZ-CANEL was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party on 19 April 2021 following the retirement of Raul CASTRO, and continues to serve as both president and first secretary.Cuba traditionally and consistently portrays the US embargo, in place since 1961, as the source of its difficulties. As a result of efforts begun in December 2014 to reestablish diplomatic relations with the Cuban Government, which were severed in January 1961, the US and Cuba reopened embassies in their respective countries in July 2015. The embargo remains in place, and the relationship between the US and Cuba remains tense. Illicit migration of Cuban nationals to the US via maritime and overland routes has been a longstanding challenge. On 12 January 2017, the US and Cuba signed a Joint Statement ending the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy – by which Cuban nationals who reached US soil were permitted to stay. Irregular Cuban maritime migration has dropped significantly since FY 2016, when migrant interdictions at sea topped 5,000, but land border crossings continue. In FY 2021, the US Coast Guard interdicted 838 Cuban nationals at sea. Also in FY 2021, 39,303 Cuban nationals presented themselves at various land border ports of entry throughout the US.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 110,860 sq km
land: 109,820 sq km
water: 1,040 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 28.5 km
border countries (1): US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 28.5 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and remains part of Cuba
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast
Elevation: highest point: Pico Turquino 1,974 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 108 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 27.3% (2018 est.)
other: 12.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,700 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Geography - note: largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles
Map description: Cuba map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea.Cuba map showing the island country in the Caribbean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 11,008,112 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: White 64.1%, Mulatto or mixed 26.6%, Black 9.3% (2012 est.)
note: data represent racial self-identification from Cuba's 2012 national census
Languages: Spanish (official)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 58.9%, folk religion 17.6%, Buddhist <1%, Hindu <1%, Jewish <1%, Muslim <1%, other <1%, none 23.2% (2020 est.)
note: folk religions include religions of African origin, spiritualism, and others intermingled with Catholicism or Protestantism; data is estimative because no authoritative source on religious affiliation exists for Cuba
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.34% (male 929,927/female 877,035)
15-24 years: 11.81% (male 678,253/female 627,384)
25-54 years: 41.95% (male 2,335,680/female 2,303,793)
55-64 years: 14.11% (male 760,165/female 799,734)
65 years and over: 15.8% (2020 est.) (male 794,743/female 952,348)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.7
youth dependency ratio: 23.3
elderly dependency ratio: 23.3
potential support ratio: 4.3 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 42.1 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 43.8 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.21% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.11 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: large population clusters found throughout the country, the more significant ones being in the larger towns and cities, particularly the capital of Havana
Urbanization: urban population: 77.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.146 million HAVANA (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 36 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.64 years
male: 77.29 years
female: 82.14 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.71 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 69% (2019)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 98.9% of population
rural: 97% of population
total: 98.5% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.1% of population
rural: 3% of population
total: 1.5% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 11.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 8.42 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 5.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 94.8% of population
rural: 87% of population
total: 93% of population
unimproved: urban: 5.2% of population
rural: 13% of population
total: 7% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.4% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 33,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 24.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 17.9% (2020 est.)
male: 25.5% (2020 est.)
female: 10.3% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 2.4% (2019)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 4.8%
women married by age 18: 29.4%
men married by age 18: 5.9% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.8% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2020)
People - note: illicit emigration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border; the number of Cubans migrating to the US surged after the announcement of normalization of US-Cuban relations in late December 2014 but has decreased since the end of the so-called "wet-foot, dry-foot" policy on 12 January 2017
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: soil degradation and desertification (brought on by poor farming techniques and natural disasters) are the main environmental problems; biodiversity loss; deforestation; air and water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 18.37 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 28.28 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 9.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)
Land use: agricultural land: 60.3% (2018 est.)
arable land: 33.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 3.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 27.3% (2018 est.)
other: 12.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 77.4% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.19% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.06% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,692,692 tons (2007 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 255,536 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 9.5% (2015 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 1.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 740 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 4.519 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 38.12 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba
etymology: name derives from the Taino Indian designation for the island "coabana" meaning "great place"
Government type: communist state
Capital: name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 07 N, 82 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November; note - Cuba has been known to alter the schedule of DST on short notice in an attempt to conserve electricity for lighting
etymology: the sites of Spanish colonial cities often retained their original Taino names; Habana, the Spanish name for the city, may be based on the name of a local Taino chief, HABAGUANEX
Administrative divisions: 15 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Artemisa, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence
National holiday: Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest drafted 14 July 2018, approved by the National Assembly 22 December 2018, approved by referendum 24 February 2019
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly of People’s Power; passage requires approval of at least two-thirds majority of the National Assembly membership; amendments to constitutional articles on the authorities of the National Assembly, Council of State, or any rights and duties in the constitution also require approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on the Cuban political, social, and economic system cannot be amended
Legal system: civil law system based on Spanish civil code
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: unknown
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (since 19 April 2018); Vice President Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (since 10 October 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Manuel MARRERO Cruz (since 21 December 2019); Deputy Prime Ministers Ramiro VALDES Menendez, Ines Maria CHAPMAN Waugh, Jorge Luis TAPIA Fonseca, Alejandro GIL Fernandez, Ricardo CABRISAS Ruiz (since 21 December 2019), and Jorge Luis PERDOMO DI-LELLA (since 20 April 2021)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president and appointed by the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly for a 5-year term (may be reelected for another 5-year term); election last held on 10 October 2019 (next to be held NA)
election results: Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez (PCC) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.8%; Salvador Antonio VALDES Mesa (PCC) elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote - 98.1%
note - on 19 April 2018, DIAZ-CANEL succeeded Raul CASTRO as president of the Councils of State and Ministers; on 10 October 2019 he was elected to the newly created position of President of the Republic, which replaced the position of President of the Councils of State and Ministers
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asamblea Nacional del Poder Popular (605 seats; (586 seats filled in 2021); members directly elected by absolute majority vote; members serve 5-year terms); note 1 - the National Candidature Commission submits a slate of approved candidates; to be elected, candidates must receive more than 50% of valid votes otherwise the seat remains vacant or the Council of State can declare another election; note 2 - in July 2019, the National Assembly passed a law which reduces the number of members from 605 to 474, effective with the 2023 general election
elections: last held on 11 March 2018 (next to be held in early 2023)
election results: Cuba's Communist Party is the only legal party, and officially sanctioned candidates run unopposed; composition (as of June 2021) - men 273, women 313, percent of women 53.4%
Judicial branch: highest courts: People's Supreme Court (consists of court president, vice president, 41 professional justices, and NA lay judges); organization includes the State Council, criminal, civil, administrative, labor, crimes against the state, and military courts)
judge selection and term of office: professional judges elected by the National Assembly are not subject to a specific term; lay judges nominated by workplace collectives and neighborhood associations and elected by municipal or provincial assemblies; lay judges appointed for 5-year terms and serve up to 30 days per year
subordinate courts: People's Provincial Courts; People's Regional Courts; People's Courts
Political parties and leaders: Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Miguel DIAZ-CANEL Bermudez]
International organization participation: ACP, ALBA, AOSIS, CELAC, EAEU (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lianys TORRES RIVERA (since 14 January 2021)
chancery: 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-8515 through 8518
FAX: [1] (202) 797-8521
email address and website:
recepcion@usadc.embacuba.cu
http://misiones.minrex.gob.cu/en/usa
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Timothy ZUNIGA-BROWN (since 31 July 2020)
embassy: Calzada between L & M Streets, Vedado, Havana
mailing address: 3200 Havana Place, Washington DC 20521-3200
telephone: [53] (7) 839-4100
FAX: [53] (7) 839-4247
email address and website:
acshavana@state.gov
https://cu.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria (the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the flag of Texas
note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National symbol(s): royal palm; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "La Bayamesa" (The Bayamo Song)
lyrics/music: Pedro FIGUEREDO
note: adopted 1940; Pedro FIGUEREDO first performed "La Bayamesa" in 1868 during the Ten Years War against the Spanish; a leading figure in the uprising, FIGUEREDO was captured in 1870 and executed by a firing squad; just prior to the fusillade he is reputed to have shouted, "Morir por la Patria es vivir" (To die for the country is to live), a line from the anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 9 (7 cultural, 2 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Old Havana (c); Trinidad and the Valley de los Ingenios (c); San Pedro de la Roca Castle (c); Desembarco del Granma National Park (n); Viñales Valley (c); Archaeological Landscape of the First Coffee Plantations (c); Alejandro de Humboldt National Park (n); Historic Cienfuegos (c); Historic Camagüey (c)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The government continues to balance the need for loosening its socialist economic system against a desire for firm political control. In April 2011, the government held the first Cuban Communist Party Congress in almost 13 years, during which leaders approved a plan for wide-ranging economic changes. Since then, the government has slowly and incrementally implemented limited economic reforms, including allowing Cubans to buy electronic appliances and cell phones, stay in hotels, and buy and sell used cars. The government has cut state sector jobs as part of the reform process, and it has opened up some retail services to "self-employment," leading to the rise of so-called "cuentapropistas" or entrepreneurs. More than 500,000 Cuban workers are currently registered as self-employed. The Cuban regime has updated its economic model to include permitting the private ownership and sale of real estate and new vehicles, allowing private farmers to sell agricultural goods directly to hotels, allowing the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives, adopting a new foreign investment law, and launching a "Special Development Zone" around the Mariel port. Since 2016, Cuba has attributed slowed economic growth in part to problems with petroleum product deliveries from Venezuela. Since late 2000, Venezuela provided petroleum products to Cuba on preferential terms, supplying at times nearly 100,000 barrels per day. Cuba paid for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 30,000 medical professionals.The government continues to balance the need for loosening its socialist economic system against a desire for firm political control. In April 2011, the government held the first Cuban Communist Party Congress in almost 13 years, during which leaders approved a plan for wide-ranging economic changes. Since then, the government has slowly and incrementally implemented limited economic reforms, including allowing Cubans to buy electronic appliances and cell phones, stay in hotels, and buy and sell used cars. The government has cut state sector jobs as part of the reform process, and it has opened up some retail services to "self-employment," leading to the rise of so-called "cuentapropistas" or entrepreneurs. More than 500,000 Cuban workers are currently registered as self-employed.The Cuban regime has updated its economic model to include permitting the private ownership and sale of real estate and new vehicles, allowing private farmers to sell agricultural goods directly to hotels, allowing the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives, adopting a new foreign investment law, and launching a "Special Development Zone" around the Mariel port.Since 2016, Cuba has attributed slowed economic growth in part to problems with petroleum product deliveries from Venezuela. Since late 2000, Venezuela provided petroleum products to Cuba on preferential terms, supplying at times nearly 100,000 barrels per day. Cuba paid for the oil, in part, with the services of Cuban personnel in Venezuela, including some 30,000 medical professionals.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $137 billion (2017 est.)
$134.8 billion (2016 est.)
$134.2 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2017 est.)
0.5% (2016 est.)
4.4% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,300 (2016 est.)
$12,200 (2015 est.)
$12,100 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $93.79 billion (2017 est.)
note: data are in Cuban Pesos at 1 CUP = 1 US$; official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (2017 est.)
4.5% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Caa2 (2014)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4% (2017 est.)
industry: 22.7% (2017 est.)
services: 73.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 57% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 31.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 9.6% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 14.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -12.7% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, vegetables, plantains, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, milk, pumpkins, mangoes/guavas, rice
Industries: petroleum, nickel, cobalt, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, construction, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, sugar
Industrial production growth rate: -1.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 4.691 million (2017 est.)
note: state sector 72.3%, non-state sector 27.7%
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18%
industry: 10%
services: 72% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2017 est.)
2.4% (2016 est.)
note: data are official rates; unofficial estimates are about double
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 54.52 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 64.64 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 47.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
42.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 58.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $985.4 million (2017 est.)
$2.008 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $2.63 billion (2017 est.)
$2.546 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: China 38%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 5%, Germany 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cigars, raw sugar, nickel products, rum, zinc (2019)
Imports: $11.06 billion (2017 est.)
$10.28 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 19%, China 15%, Italy 6%, Canada 5%, Russia 5%, United States 5%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: poultry meat, wheat, soybean products, corn, concentrated milk (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $11.35 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$12.3 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $30.06 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$29.89 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (CUP) per US dollar -
1 (2017 est.)
1 (2016 est.)
1 (2015 est.)
1 (2014 est.)
22.7 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 7.479 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 16,097,460,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 3.429 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 95.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 4,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 38,400 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 164,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 48,500 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 124 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 104,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 24,190 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 52,750 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 976.023 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 976.023 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 70.792 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.478 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 28,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 14.636 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 1.814 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 32.785 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,502,230 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 6,661,763 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: internet availability has increased substantially over the past few years, but only about 64 percent of Cubans have Internet access, and even fewer Cubans--about 60 percent of the population--have access to cell phone service; in 2021 the Cuban Government passed a decree that strengthened its authority to censor Internet and telephonic communications; state control of the telecom sector hinders development; Cuba has the lowest mobile phone and Internet subscription rates in the region; fixed-line density is also very low; thaw of US-Cuba relations encouraged access to services, such as Wi-Fi hot spots; access to sites is controlled and censored; DSL and Internet are available in Havana, though costs are too high for most Cubans; international investment and agreement to improve Internet access through cost-free and direct connection between networks (2021)
domestic: fixed-line density remains low at a little over 13 per 100 inhabitants; mobile-cellular service has expanded to about 59 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 53; the ALBA-1, GTMO-1, and GTMO-PR fiber-optic submarine cables link Cuba, Jamaica, and Venezuela; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: government owns and controls all broadcast media: five national TV channels (Cubavision, Tele Rebelde, Multivision, Educational Channel 1 and 2), two international channels (Cubavision Internacional and Caribe), 16 regional TV stations, 6 national radio networks, and multiple regional stations; the Cuban Government beams over the Radio-TV Marti signal; although private ownership of electronic media is prohibited, several online independent news sites exist; those that are not openly critical of the government are often tolerated; the others are blocked by the government; there are no independent TV channels, but several outlets have created strong audiovisual content (El Toque, for example); a community of young Youtubers is also growing, mostly with channels about sports, technology and fashion; Christian denominations are creating original video content to distribute via social media (2019)
Internet country code: .cu
Internet users: total: 8,381,696 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 74% (2020 est.)
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet"; issues relating to COVID-19 impact research into internet adoption, so actual internet user figures may be different than published numbers suggest
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 231,654 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 4 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 18
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,754 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 17.76 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: CU
Airports: total: 133 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 64
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 27 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 58 (2021)
Pipelines: 41 km gas, 230 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 8,367 km (2017)
standard gauge: 8,195 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge (124 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 172 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
note: As of 2013, 70 km of standard gauge and 12 km of narrow gauge track were not for public use
Roadways: total: 60,000 km (2015)
paved: 20,000 km (2001)
unpaved: 40,000 km (2001)
Waterways: 240 km (2011) (almost all navigable inland waterways are near the mouths of rivers)
Merchant marine: total: 59
by type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 40 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Antilla, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Havana, Matanzas, Mariel, Nuevitas Bay, Santiago de Cuba
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Revolucionario, ER), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR, includes Marine Corps), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR); Paramilitary forces: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Civil Defense Force; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards, State Security, National Revolutionary Police (2022)
Military expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $5.9 billion)
2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $5.6 billion)
2.9% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $5.5 billion)
3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $5.5 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: limited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (approximately 40,000 Army; 3,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Cuban military inventory is comprised of ageing Russian and Soviet-era equipment; the last recorded arms delivery to Cuba was by Russia in 2004; in 2019, Russia approved a loan for approximately $43-50 million for Cuba's purchase of spare parts and armored vehicles (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 17-28 years of age for compulsory (men) and volunteer (men and women) military service; 2-year service obligation for men (2022)
Military - note: the FAR has a large role in the Cuban economy through several military owned and operated conglomerates, including such sectors as banking, hotels, industry, retail, transportation, and tourism (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the leaseUS Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the facility can terminate the lease
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Cuba and Cubans abroad; individuals are forced or coerced into participating and threatened to stay in labor export programs, most notably foreign medical missions; sex trafficking and sex tourism occur within Cuba; traffickers exploit Cubans in sex trafficking and forced labor in South America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the US; foreigners from Africa and Asia are subject to sex trafficking and forced labor in Cuba to pay off travel debts; the government uses high school students in some rural areas to harvest crops without pay, claiming that the work is voluntary
tier rating: Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made some efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex traffickers and sex tourists and identified and provided assistance to some victims; however, no efforts were made to address forced labor; there was a government policy or pattern to profit from labor export programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly in foreign medical missions; authorities did not protect potential trafficking victims, leaving them at risk of being detained or charged for crimes their traffickers forced them to commit (2020)Tier 3 — Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government made some efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict sex traffickers and sex tourists and identified and provided assistance to some victims; however, no efforts were made to address forced labor; there was a government policy or pattern to profit from labor export programs with strong indications of forced labor, particularly in foreign medical missions; authorities did not protect potential trafficking victims, leaving them at risk of being detained or charged for crimes their traffickers forced them to commit (2020)
Illicit drugs: Cuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasingCuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasing |
20220901 | countries-puerto-rico |
Topic: Photos of Puerto Rico
Topic: Introduction
Background: Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Christopher COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status with the US, but the results of a 2012 vote left open the possibility of American statehood. Economic recession on the island has led to a net population loss since about 2005, as large numbers of residents moved to the US mainland. The trend has accelerated since 2010; in 2014, Puerto Rico experienced a net population loss to the mainland of 64,000, more than double the net loss of 26,000 in 2010. Hurricane Maria struck the island on 20 September 2017 causing catastrophic damage, including destruction of the electrical grid that had been crippled by Hurricane Irma just two weeks before. It was the worst storm to hit the island in eight decades, and damage is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars. A referendum held in late 2020 showed a narrow preference for American statehood.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 9,104 sq km
land: 8,959 sq km
water: 145 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain in north; precipitous mountains to the sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation: highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 261 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: agricultural land: 22% (2018 est.)
arable land: 6.6% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 63.2% (2018 est.)
other: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; hurricanes
Geography - note: important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
Map description: Puerto Rico map showing major population centers and islands of this US territory in the Caribbean Sea.Puerto Rico map showing major population centers and islands of this US territory in the Caribbean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 3,098,423 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: White 75.8%, Black/African American 12.4%, other 8.5% (includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, other Pacific Islander, and others), mixed 3.3% (2010 est.)
note: 99% of the population is Latino
Languages: Spanish, English
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 56%, Protestant 33% (largely Pentecostal), other 2%, atheist 1%, none 7% (2014 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.22% (male 231,406/female 222,061)
15-24 years: 12.78% (male 207,169/female 200,373)
25-54 years: 37.73% (male 573,114/female 630,276)
55-64 years: 13.5% (male 197,438/female 232,931)
65 years and over: 21.77% (2020 est.) (male 297,749/female 396,551)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.7
youth dependency ratio: 24.8
elderly dependency ratio: 32.8
potential support ratio: 3 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 43.6 years
male: 41.6 years
female: 45.3 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.38% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 7.87 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: population clusters tend to be found along the coast, the largest of these is found in and around San Juan; an exception to this is a sizeable population located in the interior of the island immediately south of the capital around Caguas; most of the interior, particularly in the western half of the island, is dominated by the Cordillera Central mountains, where population density is low
Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 2.443 million SAN JUAN (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.85 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 21 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 81.68 years
male: 78.47 years
female: 85.08 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: 3.06 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 6.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.4% (2017)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 18 years (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6%
male: 28.9%
female: 23.1% (2012 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; occasional droughts cause water shortages; industrial pollution
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Land use: agricultural land: 22% (2018 est.)
arable land: 6.6% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 5.6% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 63.2% (2018 est.)
other: 14.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 93.6% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,170,953 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 583,933 tons (2013 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14% (2013 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 796 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 2.365 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 113.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 7.1 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
abbreviation: PR
etymology: Christopher COLUMBUS named the island San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist) and the capital city and main port Cuidad de Puerto Rico (Rich Port City); over time, however, the names were shortened and transposed and the island came to be called Puerto Rico and its capital San Juan
Government type: unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches; note - reference Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, 2 March 1917, as amended by Public Law 600, 3 July 1950
Dependency status: unincorporated organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Capital: name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name dates to 1521 and the founding of the city under the name "Ciudad de San Juan Bautista de Puerto Rico" (City of Saint John the Baptist of Puerto Rico)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Constitution: history: previous 1900 (Organic Act, or Foraker Act); latest ratified by referendum 3 March 1952, approved 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
amendments: proposed by a concurrent resolution of at least two-thirds majority by the total Legislative Assembly membership; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses and approval by a majority of voters in a special referendum; if passed by at least three-fourths Assembly vote, the referendum can be held concurrently with the next general election; constitutional articles such as the republican form of government or the bill of rights cannot be amended; amended 1952
Legal system: civil law system based on the Spanish civil code and within the framework of the US federal system
Citizenship: see United States
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)
head of government: Governor Pedro PIERLUISI (since 2 January 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor with the consent of the Legislative Assembly
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state; president and vice president serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of Puerto Rico do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on November 2024)
election results: Pedro PIERLUISI elected governor; percent of vote - Pedro PIERLUISI (PNP) 32.9%, Carlos DELGADO (PPD) 31.6%, Alexandra LUGARO (independent) 14.2%, Juan DALMAU (PIP) 13.7%
note: on 24 July 2019, Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO announced his resignation effective 2 August 2019; as Secretary of State, Pedro PIERLUISI succeeded Governor Ricardo ROSSELLO; on 7 August 2019 the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico ruled Pedro PIERLUISI accession was unconstitutional and Wanda VAZQUEZ is sworn in as governor
Legislative branch: description:
bicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa consists of:
Senate or Senado (30 seats statutory, 27 current; 16 members directly elected in 8 2-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 11 at-large members directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (51 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024 )
House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2024)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 12, NP 10, MVC 2, PD 1, PIP 1, independent 1; composition - men 17, women 10; percent of women 37% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 26, PNP 21, MVC 2, PIP 1, PD 1; composition - men 41, women 10, percent of women 19.6%; note - total Legislative Assembly percent of women 25.6% note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 12, NP 10, MVC 2, PD 1, PIP 1, independent 1; composition - men 17, women 10; percent of women 37%note: Puerto Rico directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 4-year term as a commissioner to the US House of Representatives; the commissioner can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House but not when legislation is submitted for a 'full floor' House vote; election of commissioner last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 8 associate justices)
judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by majority Senate vote; judges serve until compulsory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; First Instance Court comprised of superior and municipal courts
Political parties and leaders: Citizens' Victory Movement (Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana) or MVC [Manuel NATAL Alberto]
National Democratic Party [Charlie RODRIGUEZ]
National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Jenniffer GONZALEZ]
New Progressive Party or PNP [Ricardo ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood)
Popular Democratic Party or PPD [Alejandro GARCIA Padillo] (pro-commonwealth)
Project Dignity (Projecto Dignidad) or PD [Cesar VASQUEZ Muniz]
Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
International organization participation: AOSIS (observer), Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WFTU (NGOs)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace
note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
National symbol(s): Puerto Rican spindalis (bird), coqui (frog); national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "La Borinquena" (The Puerto Rican)
lyrics/music: Manuel Fernandez JUNCOS/Felix Astol ARTES
note: music adopted 1952, lyrics adopted 1977; the local anthem's name is a reference to the indigenous name of the island, Borinquen; the music was originally composed as a dance in 1867 and gained popularity in the early 20th century; there is some evidence that the music was written by Francisco RAMIREZ; as a commonwealth of the US, "The Star-Spangled Banner" is official (see United States)
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural); note - excerpted from the US entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: La Fortaleza and San Juan National Historic Site
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity. Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 11.5% in December 2017. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about two-thirds that of the US mainland. The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus about 10% of GDP. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP. Public debt remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, about $17,000 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland.Puerto Rico had one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region until 2006; however, growth has been negative for each of the last 11 years. The downturn coincided with the phaseout of tax preferences that had led US firms to invest heavily in the Commonwealth since the 1950s, and a steep rise in the price of oil, which generates most of the island's electricity. Diminished job opportunities prompted a sharp rise in outmigration, as many Puerto Ricans sought jobs on the US mainland. Unemployment reached 16% in 2011, but declined to 11.5% in December 2017. US minimum wage laws apply in Puerto Rico, hampering job expansion. Per capita income is about two-thirds that of the US mainland. The industrial sector greatly exceeds agriculture as the locus of economic activity and income. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of more than 3.6 million tourists in 2008. Puerto Rico's merchandise trade surplus is exceptionally strong, with exports nearly 50% greater than imports, and its current account surplus about 10% of GDP. Closing the budget deficit while restoring economic growth and employment remain the central concerns of the government. The gap between revenues and expenditures amounted to 0.6% of GDP in 2016, although analysts believe that not all expenditures have been accounted for in the budget and a better accounting of costs would yield an overall deficit of roughly 5% of GDP. Public debt remained steady at 92.5% of GDP in 2017, about $17,000 per person, or nearly three times the per capita debt of the State of Connecticut, the highest in the US. Much of that debt was issued by state-run schools and public corporations, including water and electric utilities. In June 2015, Governor Alejandro GARCIA Padilla announced that the island could not pay back at least $73 billion in debt and that it would seek a deal with its creditors. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico square on in September 2017, causing electrical power outages to 90% of the territory, as well as extensive loss of housing and infrastructure and contamination of potable water. Despite massive efforts, more than 40% of the territory remained without electricity as of yearend 2017. As a result of the destruction, many Puerto Ricans have emigrated to the US mainland.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $106.82 billion (2020 est.)
$111.16 billion (2019 est.)
$109.53 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -2.4% (2017 est.)
-1.3% (2016 est.)
-1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $33,400 (2020 est.)
$34,800 (2019 est.)
$34,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $104.2 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.8% (2017 est.)
-0.3% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Standard & Poors rating: D (2015)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 50.1% (2017 est.)
services: 49.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 87.7% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 12.2% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 11.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.5% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 117.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -129.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, plantains, bananas, poultry, tomatoes, mangoes/guavas, eggs, oranges, gourds, papayas
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: -2.1% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 1.139 million (December 2014 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.8% (2017 est.)
11.8% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26.6%
male: 28.9%
female: 23.1% (2012 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 9.268 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 9.974 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -0.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 51.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 8.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: $0 (2017 est.)
$0 (2016 est.)
Exports: $73.17 billion (2017 est.)
$73.2 billion (2016 est.)
Exports - partners: Italy 15%, Netherlands 15%, Belgium 9%, Japan 8%, Germany 8%, Austria 8%, Spain 7%, China 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, medical cultures/vaccines, hormones, orthopedic and medical appliances, sulfur compounds (2019)
Imports: $49.01 billion (2017 est.)
$48.86 billion (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: Ireland 38%, Singapore 9%, Switzerland 8%, South Korea 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, refined petroleum, medical cultures/vaccines, cars (2019)
Debt - external: $56.82 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$52.98 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 6.18 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 15,203,140,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.5 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 94.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 3.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 1.361 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 1.502 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 79,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 18,420 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 127,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 1,366,512,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 1,366,512,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 18.999 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.774 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 11.407 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 3.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 94.379 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 711,512 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,483,570 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 122 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Puerto Rico has a small telecom market which in recent years has been deeply affected by a combination of economic mismanagement and natural disasters, including two hurricanes which landed in late 2017 and an earthquake which struck in January 2020; these disasters caused considerable destruction of telecom infrastructure, which in turn led to a marked decline in the number of subscribers for all services; compounding these difficulties have been a long-term economic downturn which encouraged many people not to resume telecom services after these were restored; after some delay, the FCC in late 2019 issued an order relating to the release of funds to help rebuild telecom infrastructure; although Puerto Rico is a US territory it lags well behind the mainland US states in terms of fixed-line and broadband services; this is partly due to high unemployment rates (and consequently low disposable income) and poor telecoms investment in a market largely dominated by the incumbent Puerto Rico Telephone Company; this dominance was augmented after the company was acquired by the largest wireless operator in Latin America, América Móvil, in 2007; the acquisition by Liberty Global of the remaining cable TV operator Choice Cable, completed in mid-2015, created a monopoly player in this sector; Liberty Cablevisión (renamed Liberty Communications of Puerto Rico in 2020), now wholly-owned by Liberty Global’s LLA division, is in a stronger position to capitalize on scale, and so provide improved services based on greater investment and on the use of technology based on the DOCSIS3.1 standard; Liberty Communications has also become better placed in the bundled service market following LLA’s acquisition of AT&T’s wireless and wire line units in Puerto Rico; the mobile market has been impacted by several mergers and acquisitions over the last few years; in early 2017 Sprint and Open Wireless agreed to merge their networks in a bid to offer better market competition by increasing their scale and combining spectrum holdings; the T-Mobile US acquisition of Sprint Communications was approved in April 2020, and LLA’s acquisition of AT&T’s Puerto Rican and US Virgin Islands operations was finalized in October 2020; the activities of large multinational telcos such as América Móvil, T-Mobile US, and LLA, continue to impact the Puerto Rican market; operators have secured spectrum in the 600MHz and 3.5GHz bands, thus enabling them to expand the reach of LTE services and launch services based on 5G; the growing number of submarine cables landing in Puerto Rico is helping to drive down the cost of telecom services, creating a demand for streaming content from abroad; the uptake of cloud-based applications for both business and individuals is also creating a heightened demand for affordable services. (2021)
domestic: digital telephone system; mobile-cellular services; fixed-line nearly 25 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 122 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 1-787, 939; landing points for the GTMO-PR, AMX-1, BRUSA, GCN, PCCS, SAm-1, Southern Caribbean Fiber, Americas-II, Antillas, ARCOS, SMPR-1, and Taino-Carib submarine cables providing connectivity to the mainland US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: more than 30 TV stations operating; cable TV subscription services are available; roughly 125 radio stations
Internet country code: .pr
Internet users: total: 2,559,600 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 78% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 671,284 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 24 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 29 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2021)
Roadways: total: 26,862 km (2012) (includes 454 km of expressways)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Ensenada Honda, Mayaguez, Playa de Guayanilla, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
container port(s) (TEUs): San Juan (2,142,662) (2019)
LNG terminal(s) (import): Guayanilla Bay
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular indigenous military forces; National Guard, State Guard, Police Force
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for workillegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work |
20220901 | countries-world |
Topic: Photos of World
Topic: Introduction
Background: Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about environmental degradation including deforestation, energy and water shortages, declining biological diversity, and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820 to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1987, 6 billion in 1999, and 7 billion in 2012. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine and agriculture) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Geographic overview: The surface of the Earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large bodies termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Because of their immense size, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are generally divided at the equator into the North and South Pacific Oceans and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, thus creating seven major water bodies - the so-called "Seven Seas." Some 97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. Of the 2.5% that is fresh, about two-thirds is frozen mostly locked up in the Antarctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers worldwide. If all the surface ice on earth fully melted, the sea level would rise about 70 m (230 ft).
In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere. Groundwater can take 50 years to just traverse 1 km (0.6 mi). Earth's land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents. Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if the Eurasia designation is used). North America is commonly understood to include the island of Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Portions of five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey - fall within both Europe and Asia, but in every instance the larger section is in Asia. These countries are considered part of both continents. Armenia and Cyprus, which lie completely in Western Asia, are geopolitically European countries. Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass" termed Oceania or Australasia. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa. Although the above groupings are the most common, different continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural spheres rather than physical geographic considerations. Based on the seven-continent model, and grouping islands with adjacent continents, Africa has the most countries with 54. Europe contains 49 countries and Asia 48, but these two continents share five countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. North America consists of 23 sovereign states, Oceania has 14, and South America 12. countries by continent: Africa (54): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Europe (49): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia*, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan*, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, Ukraine, United Kingdom (* indicates part of the country is also in Asia); Asia (48): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia*, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia*, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey*, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen (* indicates part of the country is also in Europe); North America (23): Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States; Oceania (14): Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; South America (12): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
Three of the states described above – France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – consist of smaller political entities that are referred to as countries. France considers French Polynesia an overseas country; the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to all four of its constituent parts (Netherlands [proper], and the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten) as countries; and the United Kingdom comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. While not recognized as sovereign states, The World Factbook does includes descriptive entries for the French and Dutch island "countries."
the world from space: Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to have water in its three states of matter: liquid (oceans, lakes, and rivers), solid (ice), and gas (water vapor in clouds); from a distance, Earth would be the brightest of the eight planets in the Solar System; this luminous effect would be because of the sunlight reflected by the planet's water
Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System known to be active with earthquakes and volcanoes; these events form the landscape, replenish carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and erase impact craters caused by meteors
Earth has a slight equatorial bulge - a difference between its equatorial and polar diameters - because of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the planet about its axis. The equatorial diameter is 12,756 km, but the polar diameter is 12,714 km. This results in the Earth's circumference at the equator being 40,075 km, while the polar circumference is 40,008 km.The surface of the Earth is approximately 70.9% water and 29.1% land. The former portion is divided into large bodies termed oceans. The World Factbook recognizes and describes five oceans, which are in decreasing order of size: the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. Because of their immense size, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are generally divided at the equator into the North and South Pacific Oceans and the North and South Atlantic Oceans, thus creating seven major water bodies - the so-called "Seven Seas."Some 97.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater. Of the 2.5% that is fresh, about two-thirds is frozen mostly locked up in the Antarctic ice sheets and mountain glaciers worldwide. If all the surface ice on earth fully melted, the sea level would rise about 70 m (230 ft).
In a 100-year period, a water molecule spends 98 years in the ocean, 20 months as ice, about two weeks in lakes and rivers, and less than a week in the atmosphere. Groundwater can take 50 years to just traverse 1 km (0.6 mi).Earth's land portion is generally divided into several, large, discrete landmasses termed continents. Depending on the convention used, the number of continents can vary from five to seven. The most common classification recognizes seven, which are (from largest to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Asia and Europe are sometimes lumped together into a Eurasian continent resulting in six continents. Alternatively, North and South America are sometimes grouped as simply the Americas, resulting in a continent total of six (or five, if the Eurasia designation is used).North America is commonly understood to include the island of Greenland, the isles of the Caribbean, and to extend south all the way to the Isthmus of Panama. The easternmost extent of Europe is generally defined as being the Ural Mountains and the Ural River; on the southeast the Caspian Sea; and on the south the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean. Portions of five countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey - fall within both Europe and Asia, but in every instance the larger section is in Asia. These countries are considered part of both continents. Armenia and Cyprus, which lie completely in Western Asia, are geopolitically European countries.Asia usually incorporates all the islands of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The islands of the Pacific are often lumped with Australia into a "land mass" termed Oceania or Australasia. Africa's northeast extremity is frequently delimited at the Isthmus of Suez, but for geopolitical purposes, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula is often included as part of Africa.Although the above groupings are the most common, different continental dispositions are recognized or taught in certain parts of the world, with some arrangements more heavily based on cultural spheres rather than physical geographic considerations.Based on the seven-continent model, and grouping islands with adjacent continents, Africa has the most countries with 54. Europe contains 49 countries and Asia 48, but these two continents share five countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey. North America consists of 23 sovereign states, Oceania has 14, and South America 12.countries by continent: Africa (54): Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe;Europe (49): Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan*, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia*, Germany, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan*, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia*, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey*, Ukraine, United Kingdom (* indicates part of the country is also in Asia);Asia (48): Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia*, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan*, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia*, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey*, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen (* indicates part of the country is also in Europe);North America (23): Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States;Oceania (14): Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu;South America (12): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela
Three of the states described above – France, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom – consist of smaller political entities that are referred to as countries. France considers French Polynesia an overseas country; the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to all four of its constituent parts (Netherlands [proper], and the islands of Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten) as countries; and the United Kingdom comprises the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. While not recognized as sovereign states, The World Factbook does includes descriptive entries for the French and Dutch island "countries."
the world from space: Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to have water in its three states of matter: liquid (oceans, lakes, and rivers), solid (ice), and gas (water vapor in clouds); from a distance, Earth would be the brightest of the eight planets in the Solar System; this luminous effect would be because of the sunlight reflected by the planet's water
Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System known to be active with earthquakes and volcanoes; these events form the landscape, replenish carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and erase impact craters caused by meteors
Earth has a slight equatorial bulge - a difference between its equatorial and polar diameters - because of the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the planet about its axis. The equatorial diameter is 12,756 km, but the polar diameter is 12,714 km. This results in the Earth's circumference at the equator being 40,075 km, while the polar circumference is 40,008 km.
Map references: Physical Map of the World
Area: total: 510.072 million sq km
land: 148.94 million sq km
water: 361.9 million sq km
note: 70.9% of the world's surface is water, 29.1% is land
Area - comparative: land area about 16 times the size of the USland area about 16 times the size of the US
Area - rankings: top fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq km top ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2,834,000 sq km; Bering Sea 2,520,000 sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2,469,000 sq km top ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30,065,000 sq km; North America 24,473,000 sq km; South America 17,819,000 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Europe 9,948,000 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq km top ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq km top ten longest mountain ranges (land-based): Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) 7,000 km; Rocky Mountains (Canada, US) 4,830 km; Great Dividing Range (Australia) 3,700 km; Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica) 3,500 km; Kunlun Mountains (China) 3,000 km; Ural Mountains (Russia, Kazakhstan) 2,640 km; Atlas Mountains (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) 2,500 km; Appalachian Mountains (Canada, US) 2,400 km; Himalayas (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan) 2,300 km; Altai Mountains (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia) 2,000 km; note - lengths are approximate; if oceans are included, the Mid-Ocean Ridge is by far the longest mountain range at 40,389 km top ten largest forested countries (sq km and percent of land): Russia 8,149,310 (49.8%); Brazil 4,935,380 (58.9%); Canada 3,470,690 (38.2%); United States 3,103,700 (33.9%); China 2,098,640 (22.3%); Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,522,670 (67.2%); Australia 1,250,590 (16.3%); Indonesia 903,250 (49.9%); Peru 738,054 (57.7%); India 708,600 (23.8%) (2016 est.) top ten most densely forested countries (percent of land): Suriname (98.3%), Federated States of Micronesia (91.9%), Gabon (90%), Seychelles (88.4%), Palau (87.6%), Guyana (83.9%), Laos (82.1%), Solomon Islands (77.9%), Papua New Guinea (74.1%), Finland (73.1%) (2016 est.) top ten largest (non-polar) deserts: Sahara (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia) 9,200,000 sq km; Arabian (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) 2,330,000 sq km; Gobi (China, Mongolia) 1,295,000 sq km; Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) 900,000 sq km; Patagonian (Argentina) 673,000 sq km; Syrian (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) 500,000 sq km; Chihuahuan (Mexico) 362,000 sq km; Kara-Kum (Turkmenistan) 350,000 sq km; Great Victoria (Australia) 348,750 sq km; Great Basin (United States) 343,169 sq km; note - if the two polar deserts are included, they would rank first and second: Antarctic Desert 14,200,000 sq km and Arctic Desert 13,900,000 sq km ten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km; Maldives 298 sq km; Malta 316 sq kmtop fifteen World Factbook entities ranked by size: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Russia 17,098,242 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Canada 9,984,670 sq km; United States 9,826,675 sq km; China 9,596,960 sq km; Brazil 8,515,770 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; European Union 4,324,782 sq km; India 3,287,263 sq km; Argentina 2,780,400 sq kmtop ten largest water bodies: Pacific Ocean 155,557,000 sq km; Atlantic Ocean 76,762,000 sq km; Indian Ocean 68,556,000 sq km; Southern Ocean 20,327,000 sq km; Arctic Ocean 14,056,000 sq km; Coral Sea 4,184,100 sq km; South China Sea 3,595,900 sq km; Caribbean Sea 2,834,000 sq km; Bering Sea 2,520,000 sq km; Mediterranean Sea 2,469,000 sq kmtop ten largest landmasses: Asia 44,568,500 sq km; Africa 30,065,000 sq km; North America 24,473,000 sq km; South America 17,819,000 sq km; Antarctica 14,200,000 sq km; Europe 9,948,000 sq km; Australia 7,741,220 sq km; Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea 785,753 sq km; Borneo 751,929 sq kmtop ten largest islands: Greenland 2,166,086 sq km; New Guinea (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea) 785,753 sq km; Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia) 751,929 sq km; Madagascar 587,713 sq km; Baffin Island (Canada) 507,451 sq km; Sumatra (Indonesia) 472,784 sq km; Honshu (Japan) 227,963 sq km; Victoria Island (Canada) 217,291 sq km; Great Britain (United Kingdom) 209,331 sq km; Ellesmere Island (Canada) 196,236 sq kmtop ten longest mountain ranges (land-based): Andes (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina) 7,000 km; Rocky Mountains (Canada, US) 4,830 km; Great Dividing Range (Australia) 3,700 km; Transantarctic Mountains (Antarctica) 3,500 km; Kunlun Mountains (China) 3,000 km; Ural Mountains (Russia, Kazakhstan) 2,640 km; Atlas Mountains (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) 2,500 km; Appalachian Mountains (Canada, US) 2,400 km; Himalayas (Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan) 2,300 km; Altai Mountains (Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia) 2,000 km; note - lengths are approximate; if oceans are included, the Mid-Ocean Ridge is by far the longest mountain range at 40,389 kmtop ten largest forested countries (sq km and percent of land): Russia 8,149,310 (49.8%); Brazil 4,935,380 (58.9%); Canada 3,470,690 (38.2%); United States 3,103,700 (33.9%); China 2,098,640 (22.3%); Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,522,670 (67.2%); Australia 1,250,590 (16.3%); Indonesia 903,250 (49.9%); Peru 738,054 (57.7%); India 708,600 (23.8%) (2016 est.)top ten most densely forested countries (percent of land): Suriname (98.3%), Federated States of Micronesia (91.9%), Gabon (90%), Seychelles (88.4%), Palau (87.6%), Guyana (83.9%), Laos (82.1%), Solomon Islands (77.9%), Papua New Guinea (74.1%), Finland (73.1%) (2016 est.)top ten largest (non-polar) deserts: Sahara (Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan, Tunisia) 9,200,000 sq km; Arabian (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) 2,330,000 sq km; Gobi (China, Mongolia) 1,295,000 sq km; Kalahari (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa) 900,000 sq km; Patagonian (Argentina) 673,000 sq km; Syrian (Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) 500,000 sq km; Chihuahuan (Mexico) 362,000 sq km; Kara-Kum (Turkmenistan) 350,000 sq km; Great Victoria (Australia) 348,750 sq km; Great Basin (United States) 343,169 sq km; note - if the two polar deserts are included, they would rank first and second: Antarctic Desert 14,200,000 sq km and Arctic Desert 13,900,000 sq kmten smallest independent countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 0.44 sq km; Monaco 2 sq km; Nauru 21 sq km; Tuvalu 26 sq km; San Marino 61 sq km; Liechtenstein 160 sq km; Marshall Islands 181 sq km; Saint Kitts and Nevis 261 sq km; Maldives 298 sq km; Malta 316 sq km
Land boundaries: the land boundaries in The World Factbook total 279,035.5 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries
note 1: the total is actually misleading in terms of accuracy, since one cannot accurately measure every river meander along a boundary; a number rounded slightly higher - to 280,000 km - makes more sense and has been coordinated with and approved by the US State Department note 2: 46 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked
note 3: worldwide, some one-quarter of interior (non-coastal) borders are rivers; South America with 43% leads the continents, followed by North America with 32%, Africa with 30%, Europe with 23%, and Asia with 18%; Australia has no interior national river bordersthe land boundaries in The World Factbook total 279,035.5 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries
note 1: the total is actually misleading in terms of accuracy, since one cannot accurately measure every river meander along a boundary; a number rounded slightly higher - to 280,000 km - makes more sense and has been coordinated with and approved by the US State Departmentnote 2: 46 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czechia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked
note 3: worldwide, some one-quarter of interior (non-coastal) borders are rivers; South America with 43% leads the continents, followed by North America with 32%, Africa with 30%, Europe with 23%, and Asia with 18%; Australia has no interior national river borders
Coastline: 356,000 km
note: 95 nations and other entities are islands that border no other countries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Baker Island, Barbados, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cabo Verde, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island, Jersey, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, Navassa Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Solomon Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, Taiwan, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna
Maritime claims: a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nma variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm
Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates, bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates
Ten Driest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in)
Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in)
Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in)
Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in)
Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in)
Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in)
El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in)
Ten Wettest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in)
Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in)
Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in)
Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in)
San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in)
Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in)
Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in)
Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in)
Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in)
Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in)
Ten Coldest Places on Earth (Lowest Average Monthly Temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January
Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January
Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February
Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February
Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February
Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March
Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February
Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February
Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January
Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February
Ten Hottest Places on Earth (Highest Average Monthly Temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July
Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June
Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July
Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July
Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July
Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July
Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June
Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July
Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January
Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June
Terrain: tremendous variation of terrain on each of the continents; check the World "Elevation" entry for a compilation of terrain extremes; the world's ocean floors are marked by mid-ocean ridges while the ocean surfaces form a dynamic, continuously changing environment; check the "Terrain" field and its 'major surface currents' and 'ocean zones' subfields under each of the five ocean entries (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern) for further information on oceanic environs
Ten Cave Superlatives: compiled from "Geography - note(s)" under various country entries where more details may be found
largest cave: Son Doong in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam is the world's largest cave (greatest cross sectional area) and is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume; it currently measures a total of 38.5 million cu m (about 1.35 billion cu ft); it connects to Thung cave (but not yet officially); when recognized, it will add an additional 1.6 million cu m in volume
largest ice cave: the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, Austria is the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi)
longest cave: Mammoth Cave, in west-central Kentucky, is the world's longest known cave system with more than 650 km (405 mi) of surveyed passageways
longest salt cave: the Malham Cave in Mount Sodom in Israel is the world's longest salt cave at 10 km (6 mi); its survey is not complete and its length will undoubtedly increase
longest underwater cave: the Sac Actun cave system in Mexico at 348 km (216 mi) is the longest underwater cave in the world and the second longest cave worldwide
longest lava tube cave: Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii is the world's longest and deepest lava tube cave; it has been surveyed at 66 km (41 mi) long and 1,102 m (3,614 ft) deep
deepest cave: Veryovkina Cave in the Caucasus country of Georgia is the world's deepest cave, plunging down 2,212 m (7,257 ft)
deepest underwater cave: the Hranice Abyss in Czechia is the world's deepest surveyed underwater cave at 404 m (1,325 ft); its survey is not complete and it could end up being some 800-1,200 m deep
largest cave chamber: the Miao Room in the Gebihe cave system at China's Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park encloses some 10.78 million cu m (380.7 million cu ft) of volume
largest bat cave: Bracken Cave outside of San Antonio, Texas is the world's largest bat cave; it is the summer home to the largest colony of bats in the world; an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the cave from March to October making it the world's largest known concentration of mammals
Elevation: highest point: Mount Everest 8,849 m
lowest point: Denman Glacier (Antarctica) more than -3,500 m (in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean)
mean elevation: 840 m
top ten highest mountains (measured from sea level): Mount Everest (China-Nepal) 8,849 m; K2 (Pakistan) 8,611 m; Kanchenjunga (India-Nepal) 8,598 m; Lhotse (Nepal) 8,516 m; Makalu (China-Nepal) 8,463 m; Cho Oyu (China-Nepal) 8,201 m; Dhaulagiri (Nepal) 8,167 m; Manaslu (Nepal) 8,163 m; Nanga Parbat (Pakistan) 8,125 m; Anapurna (Nepal) 8,091 m; note - Mauna Kea (United States) is the world's tallest mountain as measured from base to summit; the peak of this volcanic colossus lies on the island of Hawaii, but its base begins more than 70 km offshore and at a depth of about 6,000 m; total height estimates range from 9,966 m to 10,203 m
top ten highest island peaks: Puncak Jaya (New Guinea) 4,884 m (Indonesia)*; Mauna Kea (Hawaii) 4,207 m (United States); Gunung Kinabalu (Borneo) 4,095 m (Malaysia)*; Yu Shan (Taiwan) 3,952 (Taiwan)*; Mount Kerinci (Sumatra) 3,805 m (Indonesia); Mount Erebus (Ross Island) 3,794 (Antarctica); Mount Fuji (Honshu) 3,776 m (Japan)*; Mount Rinjani (Lombok) 3,726 m (Indonesia); Aoraki-Mount Cook (South Island) 3,724 m (New Zealand)*; Pico de Teide (Tenerife) 3,718 m (Spain)*; note - * indicates the highest peak for that Factbook entry
highest point on each continent: Asia - Mount Everest (China-Nepal) 8,849 m; South America - Cerro Aconcagua (Argentina) 6,960 m; North America - Denali (Mount McKinley) (United States) 6,190 m; Africa - Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) 5,895 m; Europe - El'brus (Russia) 5,633 m; Antarctica - Vinson Massif 4,897 m; Australia - Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
highest capital on each continent: South America - La Paz (Bolivia) 3,640 m; Africa - Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) 2,355 m; Asia - Thimphu (Bhutan) 2,334 m; North America - Mexico City (Mexico) 2,240 m; Europe - Andorra la Vella (Andorra) 1,023 m; Australia - Canberra (Australia) 605 m
lowest point on each continent: Antarctica - Denman Glacier more than -3,500 m; Asia - Dead Sea (Israel-Jordan) -431 m; Africa - Lac Assal (Djibouti) -155 m; South America - Laguna del Carbon (Argentina) -105 m; North America - Death Valley (United States) -86 m; Europe - Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-Russia) -28 m; Australia - Lake Eyre -15
lowest capital on each continent: Asia - Baku (Azerbaijan) -28 m; Europe - Amsterdam (Netherlands) -2 m; Africa - Banjul (Gambia); Bissau (Guinea-Bissau), Conakry (Guinea), Djibouti (Djibouti), Libreville (Gabon), Male (Maldives), Monrovia (Liberia), Tunis (Tunisia), Victoria (Seychelles) 0 m; North America - Basseterre (Saint Kitts and Nevis), Kingstown (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Panama City (Panama), Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago), Roseau (Dominica), Saint John's (Antigua and Barbuda), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) 0 m; South America - Georgetown (Guyana) 0 m; Australia - Canberra (Australia) 605 m
Natural resources: the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality pose serious long-term problems
Irrigated land: 3,242,917 sq km (2012 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): top ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km
note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water
note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world
Major rivers (by length in km): top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 km
note: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes
Major watersheds (area sq km): summary statement: a watershed is a drainage basin on an area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water; oceans ultimately take in the drainage from 83% of all land area; the remaining 17% of the land drains into internal (endorheic) basins, e.g., the Caspian Sea; The World Factbook lists 51 different watersheds across 102 countries; of these, 18 are in Asia, 9 in Europe, 9 in Africa, 8 in North and Central America, 5 in South America, and 2 in Australia; all watersheds with an area of at least 500,000 sq km have been included along with a number of smaller, regionally significant watersheds; together, these watersheds represent the surface hydrology water flows that are the World's primary sources of fresh water for individual consumption, industry, and agriculture
Major aquifers: summary statement: aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock formations; they include alluvial formations such as unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers, sedimentary rock formations of sandstone and karst (carbonate rocks such as limestone) aquifers, as well as volcanic aquifers, and basement aquifers (igneous and metamorphic rocks that underlie sedimentary and volcanic rock sequences); groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well; The World Factbook lists 37 major aquifers across 52 countries; of these, 13 are in Africa, 10 in Asia, 5 in North America, 3 in South America, 4 in Europe, and 2 in Australia; although aquifers can vary in size, the major aquifers listed in The Factbook contain the bulk of the stored volume of groundwater; the fresh water held in these aquifers represents more than 30% of the World's fresh water; in the US, groundwater is primarily used for irrigation and globally, 70% of groundwater withdrawn is used for agriculture; groundwater also supplies almost half of all drinking water worldwide
Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is easily the most populous continent with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15% of the earth's populace, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation
Natural hazards: large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions) volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note"large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones); natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)volcanism: volcanism is a fundamental driver and consequence of plate tectonics, the physical process reshaping the Earth's lithosphere; the world is home to more than 1,500 potentially active volcanoes, with over 500 of these having erupted in historical times; an estimated 500 million people live near these volcanoes; associated dangers include lava flows, lahars (mudflows), pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, ash fall, ballistic projectiles, gas emissions, landslides, earthquakes, and tsunamis; in the 1990s, the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, created a list of 16 Decade Volcanoes worthy of special study because of their great potential for destruction: Avachinsky-Koryaksky (Russia), Colima (Mexico), Etna (Italy), Galeras (Colombia), Mauna Loa (United States), Merapi (Indonesia), Nyiragongo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Rainier (United States), Sakurajima (Japan), Santa Maria (Guatemala), Santorini (Greece), Taal (Philippines), Teide (Spain), Ulawun (Papua New Guinea), Unzen (Japan), Vesuvius (Italy); see second note under "Geography - note"
Geography - note: note 1: the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13.8-billion-year age estimated for the universe; the earliest widely accepted date for life appearing on earth is 3.48 billion years ago, but this date is conservative and may get pushed back further note 2: although earthquakes can strike anywhere at any time, the vast majority occur in three large zones of the earth; the world's greatest earthquake belt, the Circum-Pacific Belt (popularly referred to as the Ring of Fire), is the zone of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; about 90% of the world's earthquakes (81% of the largest earthquakes) and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; the belt extends northward from Chile, along the South American coast, through Central America, Mexico, the western US, southern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, to Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, island groups in the southwestern Pacific, and New Zealand
the second prominent belt, the Alpide, extends from Java to Sumatra, northward along the mountains of Burma, then eastward through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic Ocean; it accounts for about 17% of the world's largest earthquakes; the third important belt follows the long Mid-Atlantic Ridge
note 3: information on the origin sites for many of the world's major food crops may be found in the "Geography - note" for the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, and the United Statesnote 1: the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13.8-billion-year age estimated for the universe; the earliest widely accepted date for life appearing on earth is 3.48 billion years ago, but this date is conservative and may get pushed back furthernote 2: although earthquakes can strike anywhere at any time, the vast majority occur in three large zones of the earth; the world's greatest earthquake belt, the Circum-Pacific Belt (popularly referred to as the Ring of Fire), is the zone of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; about 90% of the world's earthquakes (81% of the largest earthquakes) and some 75% of the world's volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire; the belt extends northward from Chile, along the South American coast, through Central America, Mexico, the western US, southern Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, to Japan, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, island groups in the southwestern Pacific, and New Zealand
the second prominent belt, the Alpide, extends from Java to Sumatra, northward along the mountains of Burma, then eastward through the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and out into the Atlantic Ocean; it accounts for about 17% of the world's largest earthquakes; the third important belt follows the long Mid-Atlantic Ridge
note 3: information on the origin sites for many of the world's major food crops may be found in the "Geography - note" for the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States
Map description: World map shown in a cylindrical equal area projection, oblique case view with each of the seven continents labeled.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 7,905,336,896 (July 2022 est.)
top ten most populous countries (in millions): China 1410.54; India 1389.37; United States 337.34; Indonesia 277.33; Pakistan 242.92; Nigeria 225.08; Brazil 217.24; Bangladesh 165.65; Russia 142.02; Mexico 129.15
ten least populous countries: Holy See (Vatican City) 1,000; Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5,257; Montserrat 5,414; Saint Barthelemy 7,103; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan de Cunha 7,925; Cook Islands 8,128; Nauru 9,811; Tuvalu 11,544; Wallis and Futuna 15,891; Anguilla 18,741
ten most densely populated countries (population per sq km): Macau 22,689; Monaco 15,700; Singapore 8,351.5; Hong Kong 6,781.5; Gaza Strip 5,548.1; Gibraltar 4,224.7; Bahrain 2,027; Malta 1,468.9; Bermuda 1,339.6; Maldives 1,327.2
ten least densely populated countries (population per sq km): Greenland .026; Falkland Islands .26; Mongolia 2.1; Namibia 3.3; Australia 3.4; Iceland 3.6; Guyana 4; Mauritania 4; Suriname 4.1; Libya 4.1
Languages: most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.) note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018) note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018) note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)most-spoken language: English 16.5%, Mandarin Chinese 14.6%, Hindi 8.3%, Spanish 7%, French 3.6%, Arabic 3.6%, Bengali 3.4%, Russian 3.4%, Portuguese 3.3%, Indonesian 2.6% (2020 est.)
most-spoken first language: Mandarin Chinese 12.3%, Spanish 6%, English 5.1%, Arabic 5.1%, Hindi 3.5%, Bengali 3.3%, Portuguese 3%, Russian 2.1%, Japanese 1.7%, Punjabi, Western 1.3%, Javanese 1.1% (2018 est.)note 1: the six UN languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian, and Spanish (Castilian) - are the mother tongue or second language of about 45% of the world's population, and are the official languages in more than half the states in the world; some 400 languages have more than a million first-language speakers (2018)note 2: all told, there are estimated to be just over 7,151 languages spoken in the world (2022); approximately 80% of these languages are spoken by less than 100,000 people; about 150 languages are spoken by fewer than 10 people; communities that are isolated from each other in mountainous regions often develop multiple languages; Papua New Guinea, for example, boasts about 840 separate languages (2018)note 3: approximately 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia, 2,140, in Africa, 1,310 in the Pacific, 1,060 in the Americas, and 290 in Europe (2020)
Religions: Christian 31.1%, Muslim 24.9%, Hindu 15.2%, Buddhist 6.6%, folk religions 5.6%, Jewish <1%, other <1%, unaffiliated 15.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.18% (male 1,010,373,278/female 946,624,579)
15-24 years: 15.29% (male 614,046,344/female 574,513,854)
25-54 years: 40.6% (male 1,597,805,095/female 1,557,807,873)
55-64 years: 9.23% (male 351,094,945/female 366,240,730)
65 years and over: 9.69% (2021 est.) male 337,244,947/female 415,884,753)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 53.3
youth dependency ratio: 39
elderly dependency ratio: 14.3
potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 31 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 31.8 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.03% (2021 est.)
note: this rate results in about 154 net additions to the worldwide population every minute or 2.6 people every second
Birth rate: 18.1 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)
note: this rate results in about 259 worldwide births per minute or 4.3 births every second
Death rate: 7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)
note: this rate results in about 108 worldwide deaths per minute or 1.8 deaths every second
Population distribution: six of the world's seven continents are widely and permanently inhabited; Asia is easily the most populous continent with about 60% of the world's population (China and India together account for over 35%); Africa comes in second with over 15% of the earth's populace, Europe has about 10%, North America 8%, South America almost 6%, and Oceania less than 1%; the harsh conditions on Antarctica prevent any permanent habitation
Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: ten largest urban agglomerations: Tokyo (Japan) - 37,393,000; New Delhi (India) - 30,291,000; Shanghai (China) - 27,058,000; Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 22,043,000; Mexico City (Mexico) - 21,782,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 21,006,000; Cairo (Egypt) - 20,901,000; Beijing (China) - 20,463,000; Mumbai (India) - 20,411,000; Osaka (Japan) - 19,165,000 (2020)
ten largest urban agglomerations, by continent:
Africa - Cairo (Egypt) - 20,901,000; Lagos (Nigeria) - 134,368,000; Kinshasha (DRC) - 14,342,000; Luanda (Angola) - 8,330,000; Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) - 6,702,000; Khartoum (Sudan) - 5,829,000; Johannesburg (South Africa) - 5,783,000; Alexandria (Egypt) - 5,281,000; Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) - 5,203,000; Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) - 4,794,000
Asia - Tokyo (Japan) - 37,393,000; New Delhi (India) - 30,291,000; Shanghai (China) - 27,058,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) - 21,006,000; Beijing (China) - 20,463,000; Mumbai (India) - 20,411,000; Osaka (Japan) - 19,165,000; Karachi (Pakistan) - 16,094,000; Chongqing (China) - 15,872,000; Istanbul (Turkey) - 15,190,000
Europe - Moscow (Russia) - 12,538,000; Paris (France) - 11,017,000; London (United Kingdom) - 9,304,000; Madrid (Spain) - 6,618,000; Barcelona (Spain) - 5,586,000, Saint Petersburg (Russia) - 5,468,000; Rome (Italy) - 4,257,000; Berlin (Germany) - 3,562,000; Athens (Greece) - 3,153,000; Milan (Italy) - 3,140,000
North America - Mexico City (Mexico) - 21,782,000; New York-Newark (United States) - 18,804,000; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (United States) - 12,447,000; Chicago (United States) - 8,865,000; Houston (United States) - 6,371,000; Dallas-Fort Worth (United States) - 6,301,000; Toronto (Canada) - 6,197,000; Miami (United States) - 6,122,000; Atlanta (United States) - 5,803,000; Philadelphia (United States) - 5,717,000
Oceania - Melbourne (Australia) - 4,968,000, Sydney (Australia) - 4,926,000; Brisbane (Australia) - 2,406,000; Perth (Australia) - 2,042,000; Auckland (New Zealand) - 1,607,000; Adelaide (Australia) - 1,336,000; Gold Coast-Tweed Head (Australia) - 699,000; Canberra (Australia) - 457,000; Newcastle-Maitland (Australia) - 450,000; Wellington (New Zealand) - 415,000
South America - Sao Paulo (Brazil) - 22,043,000; Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 15,154,000; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) - 13,458,000; Bogota (Colombia) - 10,978,000; Lima (Peru) - 10,719,000; Santiago (Chile) - 6,767,000; Belo Horizonte (Brazil) - 6,084,000; Brasilia (Brazil) - 4,646,000; Porto Alegre (Brazil) - 4,137,000; Recife (Brazil) - 4,127,000 (2020)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 211 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 30.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.5 years
male: 68.4 years
female: 72.6 years (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (2020 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 96.5% of population
rural: 84.7% of population
total: 91.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.5% of population
rural: 15.3% of population
total: 8.9% of population (2015 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 10% (2016)
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 82.3% of population
rural: 50.5% of population
total: 67.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 17.7% of population
rural: 49.5% of population
total: 32.3% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.7% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 37.7 million (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 680,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally; older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease; some health care systems are becoming overwhelmed and there may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas; many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice; US residents may have difficulty returning to the United States; as of 18 August 2022, 590,659,276 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,440,163 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization; as of 17 August 2022, 67.41% of the World population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.1%
female: 83.3% (2020)
note: more than three quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two thirds are women (2016)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2020)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of biodiversity; soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion; ozone layer depletion; waste disposal; global warming becoming a greater concern
Climate: a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates, bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones that separate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates
Ten Driest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica 0 mm (0 in)
Arica, Chile 0.76 mm (0.03 in)
Al Kufrah, Libya 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Aswan, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Luxor, Egypt 0.86 mm (0.03 in)
Ica, Peru 2.29 mm (0.09 in)
Wadi Halfa, Sudan 2.45 mm (0.1 in)
Iquique, Chile 5.08 mm (0.2 in)
Pelican Point, Namibia 8.13 mm (0.32 in)
El Arab (Aoulef), Algeria 12.19 mm (0.48 in)
Ten Wettest Places on Earth (Average Annual Precipitation): Mawsynram, India 11,871 mm (467.4 in)
Cherrapunji, India 11,777 mm (463.7 in)
Tutunendo, Colombia 11,770 mm (463.4 in)
Cropp River, New Zealand 11,516 mm (453.4 in)
San Antonia de Ureca, Equatorial Guinea 10,450 mm (411.4 in)
Debundsha, Cameroon 10,299 mm (405.5 in)
Big Bog, US (Hawaii) 10,272 mm (404.4 in)
Mt Waialeale, US (Hawaii) 9,763 mm (384.4 in)
Kukui, US (Hawaii) 9,293 mm (365.9 in)
Emeishan, China 8,169 mm (321.6 in)
Ten Coldest Places on Earth (Lowest Average Monthly Temperature): Verkhoyansk, Russia (Siberia) -47°C (-53°F) January
Oymyakon, Russia (Siberia) -46°C (-52°F) January
Eureka, Canada -38.4°C (-37.1°F) February
Isachsen, Canada -36°C (-32.8°F) February
Alert, Canada -34°C (-28°F) February
Kap Morris Jesup, Greenland -34°C (-29°F) March
Cornwallis Island, Canada -33.5°C (-28.3°F) February
Cambridge Bay, Canada -33.5°C (28.3°F) February
Ilirnej, Russia -33°C (-28°F) January
Resolute, Canada -33°C (-27.4°F) February
Ten Hottest Places on Earth (Highest Average Monthly Temperature): Death Valley, US (California) 39°C (101°F) July
Iranshahr, Iran 38.3°C (100.9°F) June
Ouallene, Algeria 38°C (100.4°F) July
Kuwait City, Kuwait 37.7°C (100°F) July
Medina, Saudi Arabia 36°C (97°F) July
Buckeye, US (Arizona) 34°C (93°F) July
Jazan, Saudi Arabia 33°C (91°F) June
Al Kufrah, Libya 31°C (87°F) July
Alice Springs, Australia 29°C (84°F) January
Tamanrasset, Algeria 29°C (84°F) June
Urbanization: urban population: 57% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.73% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases: note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring globally; older adults and people of any age with serious chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for severe disease; some health care systems are becoming overwhelmed and there may be limited access to adequate medical care in affected areas; many countries are implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice; US residents may have difficulty returning to the United States; as of 18 August 2022, 590,659,276 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6,440,163 deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization; as of 17 August 2022, 67.41% of the World population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Major lakes (area sq km): top ten largest natural lakes: Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 374,000 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,100 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 62,940 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,600 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,750 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,000 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,328 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,500 sq km; Lake Malawi (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 22,490 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,568 sq km
note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water
note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world
Major rivers (by length in km): top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,650 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Yangtze (Asia) 6,300 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,275 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,539 km; Huang He/Yellow (Asia) 5,464 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,410 km; Congo (Africa) 4,700 km; Amur (Asia) 4,444 km; Lena (Asia) 4,400 km
note: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya), 1 in the Americas (Bahamas), 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen), 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes
Major watersheds (area sq km): summary statement: a watershed is a drainage basin on an area of land where precipitation collects and drains off into a common outlet, such as into a river, bay, or other body of water; oceans ultimately take in the drainage from 83% of all land area; the remaining 17% of the land drains into internal (endorheic) basins, e.g., the Caspian Sea; The World Factbook lists 51 different watersheds across 102 countries; of these, 18 are in Asia, 9 in Europe, 9 in Africa, 8 in North and Central America, 5 in South America, and 2 in Australia; all watersheds with an area of at least 500,000 sq km have been included along with a number of smaller, regionally significant watersheds; together, these watersheds represent the surface hydrology water flows that are the World's primary sources of fresh water for individual consumption, industry, and agriculture
Major aquifers: summary statement: aquifers are underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock formations; they include alluvial formations such as unconsolidated sand and gravel aquifers, sedimentary rock formations of sandstone and karst (carbonate rocks such as limestone) aquifers, as well as volcanic aquifers, and basement aquifers (igneous and metamorphic rocks that underlie sedimentary and volcanic rock sequences); groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well; The World Factbook lists 37 major aquifers across 52 countries; of these, 13 are in Africa, 10 in Asia, 5 in North America, 3 in South America, 4 in Europe, and 2 in Australia; although aquifers can vary in size, the major aquifers listed in The Factbook contain the bulk of the stored volume of groundwater; the fresh water held in these aquifers represents more than 30% of the World's fresh water; in the US, groundwater is primarily used for irrigation and globally, 70% of groundwater withdrawn is used for agriculture; groundwater also supplies almost half of all drinking water worldwide
Total renewable water resources: 53,789.29 cubic meters (2011)
Topic: Government
Country name: note: countries with names connected to animals include: Albania "Land of the Eagles"; Anguilla (the name means "eel"); Bhutan "Land of the Thunder Dragon"; Cameroon (the name derives from "prawns"); Cayman Islands (named after the caiman, a marine crocodile); Faroe Islands (from Old Norse meaning "sheep"); Georgia "Land of the Wolves"; Italy "Land of Young Cattle"; Kosovo "Field of Blackbirds"; Sierra Leone "Lion Mountains"; Singapore "Lion City"
Capital: time difference: there are 21 World entities (20 countries and 1 dependency) with multiple time zones: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, France, Greenland (part of the Danish Kingdom), Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, Spain, United States
note 1: in some instances, the time zones pertain to portions of a country that lie overseas
note 2: in 1851, the British set their prime meridian (0° longitude) through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England; this meridian became the international standard in 1884 and thus the basis for the standard time zones of the world; today, GMT is officially known as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and is also referred to as "Zulu time"; UTC is the basis for all civil time, with the world divided into time zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC
note 3: each time zone is based on 15° starting from the prime meridian; in theory, there are 24 time zones based on the solar day, but there are now upward of 40 because of fractional hour offsets that adjust for various political and physical geographic realities; see the Standard Time Zones of the World map included with the World and Regional Maps
daylight saving time: some 67 countries - including most of the world's leading industrialized nations - use daylight savings time (DST) in at least a portion of the country; China, Japan, India, and Russia are major industrialized countries that do not use DST; Asia and Africa generally do not observe DST and it is generally not observed near the equator, where sunrise and sunset times do not vary enough to justify it; some countries observe DST only in certain regions; for example, only southeastern Australia observes it; in fact, only a minority of the world's population - about 20% - uses DST
Administrative divisions: 195 countries, 71 dependent areas and other entities
Dependent areas: Australia dependencies: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
France dependencies: Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, New Caledonia, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna
New Zealand dependencies: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Norway dependencies: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
United Kingdom dependencies: Anguilla; Bermuda; British Indian Ocean Territory; British Virgin Islands; Cayman Islands; Falkland Islands; Gibraltar; Montserrat; Pitcairn Islands; Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Turks and Caicos Islands
United States dependencies: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
Legal system: the legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including English and US law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic sharia law); an additional type of legal system - international law - governs the conduct of independent nations in their relationships with one another
International law organization participation: all members of the UN are parties to the statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court; states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICCt) are those countries that have ratified or acceded to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the Court; as of May 2019, a total of 122 countries have accepted jurisdiction of the ICCt (see Appendix B for a clarification on the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt)
Executive branch: chief of state: there are 27 countries with royal families in the world, most are in Asia (13) and Europe (10), three are in Africa, and one in Oceania; monarchies by continent are as follows: Asia (Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates); Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom); Africa (Eswatini, Lesotho, Morocco); Oceania (Tonga); note that Andorra and the Holy See (Vatican) are also monarchies of a sort, but they are not ruled by royal houses; Andorra has two co-princes (the president of France and the bishop of Urgell) and the Holy See is ruled by an elected pope; note too that the sovereign of Great Britain is also the monarch for many of the countries (including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand) that make up the Commonwealth
Legislative branch: there are 230 political entities with legislative bodies; of these 144 are unicameral (a single “house”) and 86 are bicameral (both upper and lower houses); note - while there are 195 countries in the world, 35 territories, possessions, or other special administrative units also have their own governing bodiesthere are 230 political entities with legislative bodies; of these 144 are unicameral (a single “house”) and 86 are bicameral (both upper and lower houses); note - while there are 195 countries in the world, 35 territories, possessions, or other special administrative units also have their own governing bodies
Flag description: while a "World" flag does not exist, the flag of the United Nations (UN) - adopted on 7 December 1946 - has been used on occasion to represent the entire planet; technically, however, it only represents the international organization itself; the flag displays the official emblem of the UN in white on a blue background; the emblem design shows a map of the world in an azimuthal equidistant projection centered on the North Pole, the image is flanked by two olive branches crossed below; blue was selected as the color to represent peace, in contrast to red usually associated with war; the map projection chosen includes all of the continents except Antarctica
note 1: the flags of 12 nations: Austria, Botswana, Georgia, Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Micronesia, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and Thailand have no top or bottom and may be flown with either long edge on top without any notice being taken
note 2: the most common colors found on national flags are: red (including deep red; ~75%), white (~70%), and blue (including light blue; ~50%); these three colors are so prevalent that there are only two countries, Jamaica and Sri Lanka, that do not include one of them on their flag; the next three most popular colors are: yellow/gold and green (both ~45%) and black (~30%)
note 3: flags composed of three colors are by far the most common type and, of those, the red-white-blue combination is the most widespread
National anthem: name: virtually every country has a national anthem; most (but not all) anthems have lyrics, which are usually in the national or most common language of the country; states with more than one national language may offer several versions of their anthem
note: the world's oldest national anthem is the "Het Wilhelmus" (The William) of the Netherlands, which dates to the 17th century; the first national anthem to be officially adopted (1795) was "La Marseillaise" (The Song of Marseille) of France; Japan claims to have the world's shortest national anthem, entitled "Kimigayo" (The Emperor's Reign), it consists of 11 measures of music (the lyrics are also the world's oldest, dating to the 10th century or earlier); the world's longest national anthem is that of Greece, "Ymnos eis tin Eleftherian" (Hymn to Liberty) with 158 stanzas - only two of which are used; both Denmark and New Zealand have two official national anthems
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1154 (897 cultural, 218 natural, 39 mixed) (2022)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: The international financial crisis of 2008-09 led to the first downturn in global output since 1946 and presented the world with a major new challenge: determining what mix of fiscal and monetary policies to follow to restore growth and jobs, while keeping inflation and debt under control. Financial stabilization and stimulus programs that started in 2009-11, combined with lower tax revenues in 2009-10, required most countries to run large budget deficits. Treasuries issued new public debt - totaling $9.1 trillion since 2008 - to pay for the additional expenditures. To keep interest rates low, most central banks monetized that debt, injecting large sums of money into their economies - between December 2008 and December 2013 the global money supply increased by more than 35%. Governments are now faced with the difficult task of spurring current growth and employment without saddling their economies with so much debt that they sacrifice long-term growth and financial stability. When economic activity picks up, central banks will confront the difficult task of containing inflation without raising interest rates so high they snuff out further growth. Fiscal and monetary data for 2013 are currently available for 180 countries, which together account for 98.5% of world GDP. Of the 180 countries, 82 pursued unequivocally expansionary policies, boosting government spending while also expanding their money supply relatively rapidly - faster than the world average of 3.1%; 28 followed restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, reducing government spending and holding money growth to less than the 3.1% average; and the remaining 70 followed a mix of counterbalancing fiscal and monetary policies, either reducing government spending while accelerating money growth, or boosting spending while curtailing money growth. (For more information, see attached spreadsheet.) In 2013, for many countries the drive for fiscal austerity that began in 2011 abated. While 5 out of 6 countries slowed spending in 2012, only 1 in 2 countries slowed spending in 2013. About 1 in 3 countries actually lowered the level of their expenditures. The global growth rate for government expenditures increased from 1.6% in 2012 to 5.1% in 2013, after falling from a 10.1% growth rate in 2011. On the other hand, nearly 2 out of 3 central banks tightened monetary policy in 2013, decelerating the rate of growth of their money supply, compared with only 1 out of 3 in 2012. Roughly 1 of 4 central banks actually withdrew money from circulation, an increase from 1 out of 7 in 2012. Growth of the global money supply, as measured by the narrowly defined M1, slowed from 8.7% in 2009 and 10.4% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011, 4.6% in 2012, and 3.1% in 2013. Several notable shifts occurred in 2013. By cutting government expenditures and expanding money supplies, the US and Canada moved against the trend in the rest of the world. France reversed course completely. Rather than reducing expenditures and money as it had in 2012, it expanded both. Germany reversed its fiscal policy, sharply expanding federal spending, while continuing to grow the money supply. South Korea shifted monetary policy into high gear, while maintaining a strongly expansionary fiscal policy. Japan, however, continued to pursue austere fiscal and monetary policies. Austere economic policies have significantly affected economic performance. The global budget deficit narrowed to roughly $2.7 trillion in 2012 and $2.1 trillion in 2013, or 3.8% and 2.5% of World GDP, respectively. But growth of the world economy slipped from 5.1% in 2010 and 3.7% in 2011, to just 3.1% in 2012, and 2.9% in 2013. Countries with expansionary fiscal and monetary policies achieved significantly higher rates of growth, higher growth of tax revenues, and greater success reducing the public debt burden than those countries that chose contractionary policies. In 2013, the 82 countries that followed a pro-growth approach achieved a median GDP growth rate of 4.7%, compared to 1.7% for the 28 countries with restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, a difference of 3 percentage points. Among the 82, China grew 7.7%, Philippines 6.8%, Malaysia 4.7%, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia 3.6%, Argentina 3.5%, South Korea 2.8%, and Russia 1.3%, while among the 28, Brazil grew 2.3%, Japan 2.0%, South Africa 2.0%, Netherlands -0.8%, Croatia -1.0%, Iran -1.5%, Portugal -1.8%, Greece -3.8%, and Cyprus -8.7%. Faster GDP growth and lower unemployment rates translated into increased tax revenues and a less cumbersome debt burden. Revenues for the 82 expansionary countries grew at a median rate of 10.7%, whereas tax revenues fell at a median rate of 6.8% for the 28 countries that chose austere economic policies. Budget balances improved for about three-quarters of the 28, but, for most, debt grew faster than GDP, and the median level of their public debt as a share of GDP increased 9.1 percentage points, to 59.2%. On the other hand, budget balances deteriorated for most of the 82 pro-growth countries, but GDP growth outpaced increases in debt, and the median level of public debt as a share of GDP increased just 1.9%, to 39.8%. The world recession has suppressed inflation rates - world inflation declined 1.0 percentage point in 2012 to about 4.1% and 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in 2013. In 2013 the median inflation rate for the 82 pro-growth countries was 1.3 percentage points higher than that for the countries that followed more austere fiscal and monetary policies. Overall, the latter countries also improved their current account balances by shedding imports; as a result, current account balances deteriorated for most of the countries that pursued pro-growth policies. Slow growth of world income continued to hold import demand in check and crude oil prices fell. Consequently, the dollar value of world trade grew just 1.3% in 2013. Beyond the current global slowdown, the world faces several long standing economic challenges. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, waste-disposal, epidemics, water-shortages, famine, over-fishing of oceans, deforestation, desertification, and depletion of non-renewable resources. The nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, services, funds, and technology. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, has created economic risks because the participating nations have varying income levels and growth rates, and hence, require a different mix of monetary and fiscal policies. Governments, especially in Western Europe, face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries are unable to devote sufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a growing risk to global prosperity - the diversion of resources away from capital investments to counter-terrorism programs. Despite these vexing problems, the world economy also shows great promise. Technology has made possible further advances in a wide range of fields, from agriculture, to medicine, alternative energy, metallurgy, and transportation. Improved global communications have greatly reduced the costs of international trade, helping the world gain from the international division of labor, raise living standards, and reduce income disparities among nations. Much of the resilience of the world economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis resulted from government and central bank leaders around the globe working in concert to stem the financial onslaught, knowing well the lessons of past economic failures.The international financial crisis of 2008-09 led to the first downturn in global output since 1946 and presented the world with a major new challenge: determining what mix of fiscal and monetary policies to follow to restore growth and jobs, while keeping inflation and debt under control. Financial stabilization and stimulus programs that started in 2009-11, combined with lower tax revenues in 2009-10, required most countries to run large budget deficits. Treasuries issued new public debt - totaling $9.1 trillion since 2008 - to pay for the additional expenditures. To keep interest rates low, most central banks monetized that debt, injecting large sums of money into their economies - between December 2008 and December 2013 the global money supply increased by more than 35%. Governments are now faced with the difficult task of spurring current growth and employment without saddling their economies with so much debt that they sacrifice long-term growth and financial stability. When economic activity picks up, central banks will confront the difficult task of containing inflation without raising interest rates so high they snuff out further growth.Fiscal and monetary data for 2013 are currently available for 180 countries, which together account for 98.5% of world GDP. Of the 180 countries, 82 pursued unequivocally expansionary policies, boosting government spending while also expanding their money supply relatively rapidly - faster than the world average of 3.1%; 28 followed restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, reducing government spending and holding money growth to less than the 3.1% average; and the remaining 70 followed a mix of counterbalancing fiscal and monetary policies, either reducing government spending while accelerating money growth, or boosting spending while curtailing money growth.(For more information, see attached spreadsheet.)In 2013, for many countries the drive for fiscal austerity that began in 2011 abated. While 5 out of 6 countries slowed spending in 2012, only 1 in 2 countries slowed spending in 2013. About 1 in 3 countries actually lowered the level of their expenditures. The global growth rate for government expenditures increased from 1.6% in 2012 to 5.1% in 2013, after falling from a 10.1% growth rate in 2011. On the other hand, nearly 2 out of 3 central banks tightened monetary policy in 2013, decelerating the rate of growth of their money supply, compared with only 1 out of 3 in 2012. Roughly 1 of 4 central banks actually withdrew money from circulation, an increase from 1 out of 7 in 2012. Growth of the global money supply, as measured by the narrowly defined M1, slowed from 8.7% in 2009 and 10.4% in 2010 to 5.2% in 2011, 4.6% in 2012, and 3.1% in 2013. Several notable shifts occurred in 2013. By cutting government expenditures and expanding money supplies, the US and Canada moved against the trend in the rest of the world. France reversed course completely. Rather than reducing expenditures and money as it had in 2012, it expanded both. Germany reversed its fiscal policy, sharply expanding federal spending, while continuing to grow the money supply. South Korea shifted monetary policy into high gear, while maintaining a strongly expansionary fiscal policy. Japan, however, continued to pursue austere fiscal and monetary policies.Austere economic policies have significantly affected economic performance. The global budget deficit narrowed to roughly $2.7 trillion in 2012 and $2.1 trillion in 2013, or 3.8% and 2.5% of World GDP, respectively. But growth of the world economy slipped from 5.1% in 2010 and 3.7% in 2011, to just 3.1% in 2012, and 2.9% in 2013.Countries with expansionary fiscal and monetary policies achieved significantly higher rates of growth, higher growth of tax revenues, and greater success reducing the public debt burden than those countries that chose contractionary policies. In 2013, the 82 countries that followed a pro-growth approach achieved a median GDP growth rate of 4.7%, compared to 1.7% for the 28 countries with restrictive fiscal and monetary policies, a difference of 3 percentage points. Among the 82, China grew 7.7%, Philippines 6.8%, Malaysia 4.7%, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia 3.6%, Argentina 3.5%, South Korea 2.8%, and Russia 1.3%, while among the 28, Brazil grew 2.3%, Japan 2.0%, South Africa 2.0%, Netherlands -0.8%, Croatia -1.0%, Iran -1.5%, Portugal -1.8%, Greece -3.8%, and Cyprus -8.7%.Faster GDP growth and lower unemployment rates translated into increased tax revenues and a less cumbersome debt burden. Revenues for the 82 expansionary countries grew at a median rate of 10.7%, whereas tax revenues fell at a median rate of 6.8% for the 28 countries that chose austere economic policies. Budget balances improved for about three-quarters of the 28, but, for most, debt grew faster than GDP, and the median level of their public debt as a share of GDP increased 9.1 percentage points, to 59.2%. On the other hand, budget balances deteriorated for most of the 82 pro-growth countries, but GDP growth outpaced increases in debt, and the median level of public debt as a share of GDP increased just 1.9%, to 39.8%.The world recession has suppressed inflation rates - world inflation declined 1.0 percentage point in 2012 to about 4.1% and 0.2 percentage point to 3.9% in 2013. In 2013 the median inflation rate for the 82 pro-growth countries was 1.3 percentage points higher than that for the countries that followed more austere fiscal and monetary policies. Overall, the latter countries also improved their current account balances by shedding imports; as a result, current account balances deteriorated for most of the countries that pursued pro-growth policies. Slow growth of world income continued to hold import demand in check and crude oil prices fell. Consequently, the dollar value of world trade grew just 1.3% in 2013.Beyond the current global slowdown, the world faces several long standing economic challenges. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, waste-disposal, epidemics, water-shortages, famine, over-fishing of oceans, deforestation, desertification, and depletion of non-renewable resources. The nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, services, funds, and technology. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, has created economic risks because the participating nations have varying income levels and growth rates, and hence, require a different mix of monetary and fiscal policies. Governments, especially in Western Europe, face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries are unable to devote sufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a growing risk to global prosperity - the diversion of resources away from capital investments to counter-terrorism programs.Despite these vexing problems, the world economy also shows great promise. Technology has made possible further advances in a wide range of fields, from agriculture, to medicine, alternative energy, metallurgy, and transportation. Improved global communications have greatly reduced the costs of international trade, helping the world gain from the international division of labor, raise living standards, and reduce income disparities among nations. Much of the resilience of the world economy in the aftermath of the financial crisis resulted from government and central bank leaders around the globe working in concert to stem the financial onslaught, knowing well the lessons of past economic failures.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $127.8 trillion (2017 est.)
$123.3 trillion (2016 est.)
$119.5 trillion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3.7% (2017 est.)
3.2% (2016 est.)
3.3% (2014 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $17,500 (2017 est.)
$17,000 (2016 est.)
$16,800 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $80.27 trillion (2017 est.) SGWP (gross world product)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (2017 est.)
3.7% (2016 est.)
developed countries: 1.9% (2017 est.) 0.9% (2016 est.)
developing countries: 8.8% (2017 est.) 3.7% (2016 est.)
note: the above estimates are weighted averages; inflation in developed countries is 0% to 4% typically, in developing countries, 4% to 10% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases; inflation rates have declined for most countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing international competition from several low wage countries and by soft demand due to the world financial crisis
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 6.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 30% (2017 est.)
services: 63% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 56.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.1% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 25.7% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 28.8% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2017 est.)
Industries: dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problemsdominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new technologies is complicating already grim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 3.432 billion (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31%
industry: 23.5%
services: 45.5% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (2017 est.)
7.5% (2016 est.)
note: combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment (2007 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.9 (2012 est.)
37.9 (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2008 est.)
Budget: revenues: 21.68 trillion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 23.81 trillion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Public debt: 67.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
67.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.7% (of GDP) (2016 est.)
Exports: $17.31 trillion (2017 est.)
$15.82 trillion (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
top ten - share of world trade: 14.8 electrical machinery, including computers; 14.4 mineral fuels, including oil, coal, gas, and refined products; 14.2 nuclear reactors, boilers, and parts; 8.9 cars, trucks, and buses; 3.5 scientific and precision instruments; 3.4 plastics; 2.7 iron and steel; 2.6 organic chemicals; 2.6 pharmaceutical products; 1.9 diamonds, pearls, and precious stones (2007 est.)
Imports: $20.01 trillion (2018 est.)
$16.02 trillion (2017 est.)
Imports - commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services top ten - share of world trade: see listing for exportsthe whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and servicestop ten - share of world trade: see listing for exports
Debt - external: $76.56 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
$75.09 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt, both public and private
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 90% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 96% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 85% (2019)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 60.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 6.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 17% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 2.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 88.4 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 29.66 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 28.62 million bbl/day (2014 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 35,551,713,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 15,587,834,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 12,195,793,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7,768,086,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 901,317,598 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7.8 billion (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) is tied to economic growth; business, trade, and foreign direct investment are all based on effective sources of ICT, and development of ICT flourishes with a vigorous economy, open trade, and sound regulation; some 2020 estimates point to a digital economy worth $11.5 trillion globally, equivalent to 15.5% of global GDP (with ICT growing 2.5 times faster than global GDP over the past 15 years); 2020 reports indicate about 7.7 billion global mobile broadband subscriptions, rising from 3.3 billion in five years, and over 1.1 billion fixed broadband subscribers, up from 830 million in 2015
international: economic impact - telecommunications has been and continues to be one of the world’s fastest growing markets; countries and firms are transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting, increasing automation capabilities and applications, adopting more high-definition technologies, and converting to digital channels
broadcasting typically refers to transmission of information to all devices in a network without any acknowledgment by the receivers; data processing parts and accessories includes many supporting elements to broadcasting equipment, such as monitors, keyboards, printers, etc.
in terms of market size, broadcasting equipment constituted $413 billion in global trade, making it the fifth most traded commodity in 2019; similarly, data processing equipment equaled $230 billion, the eighth most traded commodity globally; the chief exporters and importers of telecommunications commodities remain largely the same: 1) China leads in both broadcasting and data processing equipment exports, $208 billion and $81.5 billion respectively and 2) the United States, conversely, receives the most of both commodities, importing $81.1 billion in broadcasting equipment and $38.3 billion in data processing equipment in 2019
infrastructure - as of 2021, 428 submarine cables have been laid worldwide with a further 36 planned; the undersea cables connect to 1,245 landing stations
Internet users: total: 4.9 billion (2021 est.)
percent of population: 63% (2021 est.)
top ten countries by Internet usage (in millions): 730.7 China; 374.3 India; 246.8 United States; 122.8 Brazil; 116.6 Japan; 108.8 Russia; 73.3 Mexico; 72.3 Germany; 65.5 Indonesia; 61 United Kingdom (2017)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1.23 billion (2020 est.) ;the number of fixed broadband subscriptions has been higher than that of fixed telephony since 2017
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2021 est.)
Communications - note: data centers consist of a dedicated space within a building or a group of buildings used to house computing resources and other components, such as telecommunications and storage systems; the ongoing worldwide boom in data generation is responsible for the mushrooming of data centers; the three largest data center facilities by area as of the first half of 2022 are:
no. 1. - the China Telecom data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, reportedly covers 1 million sq m (10.7 million sq ft); the largest Internet data center in the world, it has over 50% market share in the Chinese data center market, with an extensive network of over 400 data centers located in prime regions in mainland China and overseas markets
no. 2. - the China Mobile data center located in the Inner Mongolia Information Park, Hohhot, China, covers 720,000 sq m (7.7 million sq ft); it is one of the world's biggest cloud computing data centers
no. 3. - The Citadel data center owned by US-based Switch, in Tahoe Reno, Nevada, covers 670,000 sq m (7.2 million sq ft); called the world’s largest technology ecosystem, the facility runs on 100% renewable (solar and wind) energy
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 41,820 (2021)
top ten by passengers (2021): Atlanta (ATL) - 75,704,760; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 62,465,756; Denver, CO (DEN) 58,828,552; Chicago, IL (ORD) 54,020,399; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 48,007,284; Charlotte, NC (CLT) 43,302,230; Orlando, FL (MCO) 40,351,068; Guangzhou (CAN) 40,259,401; Chengdu (CTU) 40,117,496; Las Vegas, NV (LAS) 39,754,366 (2021)
top ten by passengers (2020): Guangzhou (CAN) 43,767,558; Atlanta (ATL) - 42,918,685; Chengdu (CTU) 40,741,509; Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) 39,364,990; Shenzhen (SZX) 37,916,054; Beijing (PEK) - 34,513,827; Denver, CO (DEN) 33,741,129; Kunming (KMG) 32,990,805; Shanghai (PVG) 31,165,641; Xi'an (XIY) 31,073,924 (2020) note - 2020 numbers included to allow for a comparison with the effects of COVID-19 restrictions on international air travel in 2020
top ten by cargo (metric tons): Hong Kong (HKG) - 5,025,495; Memphis, TN (MEM) - 4,480,465; Shanghai (PVG) - 3,982,616; Anchorage, AK (ANC) - 3,555,160; Incheon (ICN) - 3,329,292; Louisville, KY (SDF) - 3,052,269; Taipei (TPE) - 2,812,065; Los Angeles, CA (LAX) 2,691,830; Tokyo (NRT) 2,644,074; Doha, Qatar (DOH) 2,620,095 (2021)
Heliports: 6,524 (2021)
Railways: total: 1,148,186 km (2013)
Waterways: 2,293,412 km (2017)
top ten longest rivers: Nile (Africa) 6,693 km; Amazon (South America) 6,436 km; Mississippi-Missouri (North America) 6,238 km; Yenisey-Angara (Asia) 5,981 km; Ob-Irtysh (Asia) 5,569 km; Yangtze (Asia) 5,525 km; Yellow (Asia) 4,671 km; Amur (Asia) 4,352 km; Lena (Asia) 4,345 km; Congo (Africa) 4,344 km
note 1: rivers are not necessarily navigable along the entire length; if measured by volume, the Amazon is the largest river in the world, responsible for about 20% of the Earth's freshwater entering the ocean
note 2: there are 20 countries without rivers: 3 in Africa (Comoros, Djibouti, Libya); 1 in the Americas (Bahamas); 8 in Asia (Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen); 3 in Europe (Malta, Monaco, Holy See), 5 in Oceania (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu); these countries also do not have natural lakes
top ten largest natural lakes (by surface area): Caspian Sea (Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan) 372,960 sq km; Lake Superior (Canada, United States) 82,414 sq km; Lake Victoria (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) 69,490 sq km; Lake Huron (Canada, United States) 59,596 sq km; Lake Michigan (United States) 57,441 sq km; Lake Tanganyika (Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Zambia) 32,890 sq km; Great Bear Lake (Canada) 31,800 sq km; Lake Baikal (Russia) 31,494 sq km; Lake Nyasa (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 30,044 sq km; Great Slave Lake (Canada) 28,400 sq km
note 1: the areas of the lakes are subject to seasonal variation; only the Caspian Sea is saline, the rest are fresh water
note 2: Lakes Huron and Michigan are technically a single lake because the flow of water between the Straits of Mackinac that connects the two lakes keeps their water levels at near-equilibrium; combined, Lake Huron-Michigan is the largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world
note 3: the deepest lake in the world (1,620 m), and also the largest freshwater lake by volume (23,600 cu km), is Lake Baikal in Russia
Merchant marine: total: 98,202
by type: bulk carrier 12,319, container ship 5,428, general cargo 18,993, oil tanker 11,243, other 50,219 (2021)
Ports and terminals: top twenty container ports as measured by Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) throughput: Shanghai (China) - 43,303,000; Singapore (Singapore) - 37,195,636; Ningbo (China) - 27,530,000; Shenzhen (China) - 25,770,000; Guangzhou (China) - 23,236,200; Busan (South Korea) - 21,992,001; Qingdao (China) - 21,010,000; Hong Kong (China) - 18,361,000; Tianjin (China) - 17,264,000; Rotterdam (Netherlands) - 14,810,804; Dubai (UAE) - 14,111,000; Port Kelang (Malaysia) - 13,580,717; Antwerp (Belgium) - 11,860,204; Xiamen (China) - 11,122,200; Kaohsiung (Taiwan) - 10,428,634; Los Angeles (US) - 9,337,632; Hamburg (Germany) - 9,274,215; Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia) - 9,100,000; Dalian (China) - 8,760,000; Laem Chabang (Thailand) - 8,106,928 (2019)
Topic: Military and Security
Military expenditures: 2.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2018 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 20 million active duty military (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: from 2010-2020, the US was assessed to be the world's leading arms exporter, followed by Russia; India and Saudi Arabia were the top arms importers for the same period
Military deployments: as of early 2022, there were about 75,000 UN peacekeepers deployed worldwide
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reports that 2021 saw a decrease in global pirate activities; in 2021, pirates attacked a total of 132 ships worldwide including boarding 115 ships, hijacking one ship, and firing on five; this activity is a decrease from 195 incidents in 2020 and the lowest number recorded since 1994; in 2021, the number of hostages taken was eight, and the number of seafarers kidnapped for ransom decreased to 57 compared with 135 in 2020, with all taken off West Africa
the EU naval mission, Operation ATALANTA, continues its operations in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean through 2022; naval units from Japan, India, and China also operate in conjunction with EU forces; China has established a logistical base in Djibouti to support its deployed naval units in the Horn of Africa
the Horn of Africa saw one incident of pirate activity in 2021, up from no attacks in 2020; the decrease in successful pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa since the peak in 2007 was due, in part, to anti-piracy operations by international naval forces, the hardening of vessels, and the increased use of armed security teams aboard merchant ships; despite these preventative measures, the assessed risk remains high
West Africa remains a dangerous area for piracy in the world, but saw a dramatic decrease in incidents with 34 attacks in 2021 compared to 81 in 2020, including one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon; Nigerian pirates are very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore and kidnapping 57 mariners in seven incidents accounting for all crew kidnappings world-wide; attacks against ships underway in the Singapore Straits increased 50% to 35 incidents in 2021; there were nine attacks in Indonesian waters in 2021 compared to 26 in 2020, primarily to ships anchored or berthed; the majority (71%) of global attacks against shipping have occurred in the offshore waters of eight countries - Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, Malaysia/Singapore, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, and Sao Tome and Principe (2021)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: stretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 31.7 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2021; approximately 429,300 refugees were repatriated during 2021; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradationstretching over some 280,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate 195 independent states and 70 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; most maritime states have claimed limits that include territorial seas and exclusive economic zones; overlapping limits due to adjacent or opposite coasts create the potential for 430 bilateral maritime boundaries of which 209 have agreements that include contiguous and non-contiguous segments; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries tend to encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and cultural clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation and internal displacement of the estimated 45.7 million people and cross-border displacements of approximately 31.7 million refugees and asylum seekers around the world as of yearend 2021; approximately 429,300 refugees were repatriated during 2021; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially hydrocarbon) resources, fisheries, and arable land; armed conflict prevails not so much between the uniformed armed forces of independent states as between stateless armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental degradation
Refugees and internally displaced persons: the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2021 there were 89.3 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 53.2 million IDPs, 27.1 million refugees, 4.6 million asylum seekers, and 4.4 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently more than 4.3 million stateless persons as of year-end 2021the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that as of year-end 2021 there were 89.3 million people forcibly displaced worldwide; this includes 53.2 million IDPs, 27.1 million refugees, 4.6 million asylum seekers, and 4.4 million Venezuelans displaced abroad; the UNHCR estimates there are currently more than 4.3 million stateless persons as of year-end 2021
Trafficking in persons: current situation: approximately 800,000 people, mostly women and children, are trafficked annually across national borders, not including millions trafficked within their own countries; at least 80% of the victims are female and up to 50% are minors; 75% of all victims are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation; almost two-thirds of the global victims are trafficked intra-regionally within East Asia and the Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and Europe and Eurasia (170,000 to 210,000 people)
Tier 2 Watch List: (44 countries) Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia
Tier 3: (19 countries) Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Burma, Burundi, China, Comoros, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Lesotho, Nicaragua, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Venezuela (2020)
Illicit drugs: cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020
opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin (2015)cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020
opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin |
20220901 | field-contraceptive-prevalence-rate | This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries.
Topic: Afghanistan18.9% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 12-49
Topic: AkrotiriNA
Topic: Albania46% (2017/18)
Topic: Algeria57.1% (2012/13)
Topic: American SamoaNA
Topic: AndorraNA
Topic: Angola13.7% (2015/16)
Topic: AnguillaNA
Topic: Antigua and BarbudaNA
Topic: Argentina81.3% (2013)
note: percent of women aged 14-49
Topic: Armenia57.1% (2015/16)
Topic: ArubaNA
Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA
Topic: Australia66.9% (2015/16)
note: percent of women aged 18-44
Topic: Austria79% (2019)
note: percent of women aged 16-49
Topic: Azerbaijan54.9% (2011)
Topic: BahrainNA
Topic: Bangladesh62.7% (2019)
Topic: Barbados59.2% (2012)
Topic: Belarus71.2% (2017)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: Belgium66.7% (2018)
Topic: Belize51.4% (2015/16)
Topic: Benin15.5% (2017/18)
Topic: BermudaNA
Topic: BhutanNA
Topic: Bolivia66.5% (2016)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina45.8% (2011/12)
Topic: Botswana67.4% (2017)
Topic: Bouvet IslandNA
Topic: Brazil80.2% (2013)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA
Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA
Topic: BruneiNA
Topic: BulgariaNA
Topic: Burkina Faso30.1% (2020)
Topic: Burma52.2% (2015/16)
Topic: Burundi28.5% (2016/17)
Topic: Cabo Verde55.8% (2018)
Topic: Cambodia56.3% (2014)
Topic: Cameroon19.3% (2018)
Topic: CanadaNA
Topic: Cayman IslandsNA
Topic: Central African Republic17.8% (2019)
Topic: Chad8.1% (2019)
Topic: Chile76.3% (2015/16)
Topic: China84.5% (2017)
Topic: Christmas IslandNA
Topic: Clipperton IslandNA
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA
Topic: Colombia81% (2015/16)
Topic: Comoros19.4% (2012)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the28.1% (2017/18)
Topic: Congo, Republic of the30.1% (2014/15)
Topic: Cook IslandsNA
Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA
Topic: Costa Rica70.9% (2018)
Topic: Cote d'Ivoire23.3% (2018)
Topic: CroatiaNA
Topic: Cuba69% (2019)
Topic: CuracaoNA
Topic: CyprusNA
Topic: CzechiaNA
Topic: DenmarkNA
Topic: DhekeliaNA
Topic: Djibouti19% (2012)
Topic: DominicaNA
Topic: Dominican Republic69.5% (2014)
Topic: Ecuador80.1% (2007/12)
Topic: Egypt58.5% (2014)
Topic: El Salvador71.9% (2014)
Topic: Equatorial Guinea12.6% (2011)
Topic: Eritrea8.4% (2010)
Topic: EstoniaNA
Topic: Eswatini66.1% (2014)
Topic: Ethiopia37% (2019)
Topic: European UnionNA
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA
Topic: Faroe IslandsNA
Topic: FijiNA
Topic: Finland85.5% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: France78.4% (2010/11)
Topic: French PolynesiaNA
Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA
Topic: Gabon31.1% (2012)
Topic: Gambia, The16.8% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 15-49
Topic: Gaza Strip57.3% (2019/20)
note: includes Gaza Strip and West Bank
Topic: Georgia40.6% (2018)
Topic: Germany67% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: Ghana27.2% (2017/18)
Topic: GibraltarNA
Topic: GreeceNA
Topic: GreenlandNA
Topic: GrenadaNA
Topic: GuamNA
Topic: Guatemala60.6% (2014/15)
Topic: GuernseyNA
Topic: Guinea10.9% (2018)
Topic: Guinea-Bissau20.6% (2018)
Topic: Guyana33.9% (2014)
Topic: Haiti34.3% (2016/17)
Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA
Topic: Honduras73.2% (2011/12)
Topic: Hong Kong66.7% (2017)
Topic: HungaryNA
Topic: IcelandNA
Topic: India53.5% (2015/16)
Topic: Indonesia55.5% (2018)
Topic: Iran77.4% (2010/11)
Topic: Iraq52.8% (2018)
Topic: IrelandNA
Topic: Isle of ManNA
Topic: IsraelNA
Topic: Italy65.1% (2013)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: JamaicaNA
Topic: Jan MayenNA
Topic: Japan39.8% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 20-49
Topic: JerseyNA
Topic: Jordan51.8% (2017/18)
Topic: Kazakhstan53% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: Kenya59.7% (2019)
Topic: Kiribati33.5% (2018/19)
Topic: Korea, North70.2% (2017)
Topic: Korea, South82.3% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 20-49
Topic: KosovoNA
Topic: KuwaitNA
Topic: Kyrgyzstan39.4% (2018)
Topic: Laos54.1% (2017)
Topic: LatviaNA
Topic: LebanonNA
Topic: Lesotho64.9% (2018)
Topic: Liberia24.9% (2019/20)
Topic: Libya27.7% (2014)
Topic: LiechtensteinNA
Topic: LithuaniaNA
Topic: LuxembourgNA
Topic: MacauNA
Topic: Madagascar44.4% (2018)
Topic: Malawi59.2% (2015/16)
Topic: Malaysia52.2% (2014)
Topic: Maldives18.8% (2016/17)
Topic: Mali17.2% (2018)
Topic: MaltaNA
Topic: Marshall IslandsNA
Topic: Mauritania17.8% (2015)
Topic: Mauritius63.8% (2014)
Topic: Mexico73.1% (2018)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA
Topic: Moldova56% (2020)
Topic: MonacoNA
Topic: Mongolia48.1% (2018)
Topic: Montenegro20.7% (2018)
Topic: MontserratNA
Topic: Morocco70.8% (2018)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique27.1% (2015)
Topic: Namibia56.1% (2013)
Topic: NauruNA
Topic: Navassa IslandNA
Topic: Nepal46.7% (2019)
Topic: Netherlands73% (2013)
note: percent of women aged 18-45
Topic: New CaledoniaNA
Topic: New Zealand79.9% (2014/15)
note: percent of women aged 16-49
Topic: Nicaragua80.4% (2011/12)
Topic: Niger11% (2017/18)
Topic: Nigeria16.6% (2018)
Topic: NiueNA
Topic: Norfolk IslandNA
Topic: North Macedonia59.9% (2018/19)
Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA
Topic: NorwayNA
Topic: Oman29.7% (2014)
Topic: Pacific OceanNA
Topic: Pakistan34% (2018/19)
Topic: PalauNA
Topic: Panama50.8% (2014/15)
Topic: Papua New Guinea36.7% (2016/18)
Topic: Paracel IslandsNA
Topic: Paraguay68.4% (2016)
Topic: Peru76.3% (2018)
Topic: Philippines54.1% (2017)
Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA
Topic: Poland62.3% (2014)
Topic: Portugal73.9% (2014)
Topic: Puerto RicoNA
Topic: Qatar37.5% (2012)
Topic: RomaniaNA
Topic: Russia68% (2011)
note: percent of women aged 15-44
Topic: Rwanda53.2% (2014/15)
Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA
Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisNA
Topic: Saint Lucia55.5% (2011/12)
Topic: Saint MartinNA
Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA
Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesNA
Topic: Samoa16.6% (2019/20)
Topic: San MarinoNA
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe49.7% (2019)
Topic: Saudi Arabia24.6% (2016)
Topic: Senegal26.9% (2019)
Topic: Serbia62.3% (2019)
Topic: SeychellesNA
Topic: Sierra Leone21.2% (2019)
Topic: SingaporeNA
Topic: Sint MaartenNA
Topic: SlovakiaNA
Topic: SloveniaNA
Topic: Solomon Islands29.3% (2015)
Topic: Somalia6.9% (2018/19)
Topic: South Africa54.6% (2016)
Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA
Topic: South SudanNA
Topic: Spain62.1% (2018)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Topic: Spratly IslandsNA
Topic: Sri Lanka64.6% (2016)
Topic: Sudan12.2% (2014)
Topic: Suriname39.1% (2018)
Topic: SvalbardNA
Topic: Sweden70.3% (2017)
note: percent of women aged 16-49
Topic: Switzerland71.6% (2017)
Topic: SyriaNA
Topic: TaiwanNA
Topic: Tajikistan29.3% (2017)
Topic: Tanzania38.4% (2015/16)
Topic: Thailand73% (2019)
Topic: Timor-Leste26.1% (2016)
Topic: Togo23.9% (2017)
Topic: TokelauNA
Topic: Tonga29.3% (2019)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago40.3% (2011)
Topic: Tunisia50.7% (2018)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)69.8% (2018)
Topic: Turkmenistan49.7% (2019)
Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA
Topic: TuvaluNA
Topic: Uganda41.8% (2018)
Topic: Ukraine65.4% (2012)
Topic: United Arab EmiratesNA
Topic: United Kingdom76.1% (2010/12)
note: percent of women aged 16-49
Topic: United States73.9% (2017/19)
Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA
Topic: Uruguay79.6% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 15-44
Topic: UzbekistanNA
Topic: Vanuatu49% (2013)
Topic: Venezuela75% (2010)
Topic: Vietnam76.5% (2018/19)
Topic: Virgin IslandsNA
Topic: Wake IslandNA
Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA
Topic: West Bank57.3% (2019/20)
note: includes Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Topic: WorldNA
Topic: Yemen33.5% (2013)
Topic: Zambia49.6% (2018)
Topic: Zimbabwe66.8% (2015) |
20220901 | countries-new-caledonia |
Topic: Photos of New Caledonia
Topic: Introduction
Background: The first humans settled in New Caledonia around 1600 B.C. The Lapita were skilled navigators and evidence of their pottery around the Pacific has served as a guide for understanding human expansion in the region. Successive waves of migrants from other islands in Melanesia intermarried with the Lapita, giving rise to the Kanak ethnic group considered indigenous to New Caledonia. British explorer James COOK was the first European to visit New Caledonia in 1774, giving it the Latin name for Scotland. Missionaries first landed in New Caledonia in 1840. In 1853, France annexed New Caledonia to preclude any British attempt to claim the island. France declared it a penal colony in 1864 and sent more than 20,000 prisoners to New Caledonia in the ensuing three decades.
Nickel was discovered in 1864 and French prisoners were directed to mine it. France brought in indentured servants and enslaved labor from elsewhere in Southeast Asia to work the mines, blocking Kanaks from accessing the most profitable part of the local economy. In 1878, High Chief ATAI led a rebellion against French rule. The Kanaks were relegated to reservations, leading to periodic smaller uprisings and culminating in a large revolt in 1917 that was brutally suppressed by colonial authorities. During World War II, New Caledonia became an important base for Allied troops, and the US moved its South Pacific headquarters to the island in 1942. Following the war, New Caledonia was made an overseas territory and French citizenship was granted to all inhabitants in 1953, thereby permitting the Kanaks to move off the reservations.
The Kanak nationalist movement began in the 1950s but most voters chose to remain a territory in an independence referendum in 1958. The European population of New Caledonia boomed in the 1970s with a renewed focus on nickel mining, reigniting Kanak nationalism. Key Kanak leaders were assassinated in the early 1980s, leading to escalating violence and dozens of fatalities. The Matignon Accords of 1988 provided for a 10-year transition period. The Noumea Accord of 1998 transferred an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia over a 20-year period and provided for three independence referenda. In the first held in 2018, voters rejected independence by 57 to 43 percent; in the second held in 2020, voters rejected independence 53 to 47 percent. In the third referendum held in December 2021, voters rejected independence 96 to 4 percent; however, a boycott by key Kanak groups spurred challenges about the legitimacy of the vote. In February 2021, pro-independence parties gained a majority in the New Caledonian Government for the first time.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 18,575 sq km
land: 18,275 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation: highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: agricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 45.9% (2018 est.)
other: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 100 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically activecyclones, most frequent from November to Marchvolcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
Geography - note: consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
Map description: New Caledonia map showing the various islands that comprise this French territorial archipelago in the Coral Sea.New Caledonia map showing the various islands that comprise this French territorial archipelago in the Coral Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 297,160 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Kanak 39.1%, European 27.1%, Wallisian, Futunian 8.2%, Tahitian 2.1%, Indonesian 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1%, Vietnamese 0.9%, other 17.7%, unspecified 2.5% (2014 est.)
Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
major-language sample(s):
The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 85.2%, Muslim 2.8%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 10.4% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.74% (male 32,227/female 30,819)
15-24 years: 15.63% (male 23,164/female 22,163)
25-54 years: 43.73% (male 63,968/female 62,856)
55-64 years: 9.06% (male 12,700/female 13,568)
65 years and over: 9.84% (2020 est.) (male 12,552/female 15,992)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 46.6
youth dependency ratio: 32.4
elderly dependency ratio: 14.2
potential support ratio: 7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 32.9 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 33.7 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.19% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 14.13 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia
Population distribution: most of the populace lives in the southern part of the main island, in and around the capital of Noumea
Urbanization: urban population: 72.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 198,000 NOUMEA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.83 years
male: 74.93 years
female: 82.92 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.3% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.7% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Physicians density: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.9%
male: 97.3%
female: 96.5% (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.4%
male: 37.1%
female: 40% (2014 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: preservation of coral reefs; prevention of invasive species; limiting erosion caused by nickel mining and forest fires
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 5.33 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Land use: agricultural land: 10.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.8% (2018 est.)
forest: 45.9% (2018 est.)
other: 43.7% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 72.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 1.72% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 108,157 tons (2016 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
etymology: British explorer Captain James COOK discovered and named New Caledonia in 1774; he used the appellation because the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland (Caledonia is the Latin designation for Scotland)
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Territorial Congress); an overseas collectivity of France
Dependency status: special collectivity (or a sui generis collectivity) of France since 1998; note - independence referenda took place on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021 with a majority voting in each case to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place
Capital: name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: established in 1854 as Port-de-France, the settlement was renamed Noumea in 1866, in order to avoid any confusion with Fort-de-France in Martinique; the New Caledonian language of Ndrumbea (also spelled Ndumbea, Dubea, and Drubea) spoken in the area gave its name to the capital city, Noumea, as well as to the neighboring town (suburb) of Dumbea
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces; Province Iles (Islands Province), Province Nord (North Province), and Province Sud (South Province)
Independence: none (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place
National holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
Constitution: history: 4 October 1958 (French Constitution with changes as reflected in the Noumea Accord of 5 May 1998)
amendments: French constitution amendment procedures apply
Legal system: civil law system based on French civil law
Citizenship: see France
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017); represented by High Commissioner Patrice FAURE (since 6 June 2021)
head of government: President of the Government Louis MAPOU (since 22 July 2021); Vice President Isabelle CHAMPMOREAU (since 22 July 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet elected from and by the Territorial Congress
elections/appointments: French president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of New Caledonia elected by Territorial Congress for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 8 July 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
election results: Louis MAPOU elected president by Territorial Congress with 6 votes out of 11
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congrès du Territoire (54 seats; members indirectly selected proportionally by the partisan makeup of the 3 Provincial Assemblies or Assemblés Provinciales; members of the 3 Provincial Assemblies directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms); note - the Customary Senate is the assembly of the various traditional councils of the Kanaks, the indigenous population, which rules on laws affecting the indigenous population
New Caledonia indirectly elects 2 members to the French Senate by an electoral colleges for a 6-year term with one seat renewed every 3 years and directly elects 2 members to the French National Assembly by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term
elections:
Territorial Congress - last held on 12 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024)
French Senate - election last held in September 2019 (next to be held not later than 2021)
French National Assembly - election last held on 11 and 18 June 2017 (next to be held by June 2022)
election results: Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party -Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26); composition - NA
representation in French Senate - NA
representation in French National Assembly - NA
French Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
French National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CE 2Territorial Congress - percent of vote by party - N/A; seats by party -Future With Confidence 18, UNI 9, UC 9, CE 7, FLNKS 6, Oceanic Awakening 3, PT 1, LKS 1 (Anti-Independence 28, Pro-Independence 26); composition - NA
representation in French Senate - NA
representation in French National Assembly - NA
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal in Noumea or Cour d'Appel; organized into civil, commercial, social, and pre-trial investigation chambers; court bench normally includes the court president and 2 counselors); Administrative Court (number of judges NA); note - final appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (in Paris); final appeals beyond the Administrative Court are referred to the Administrative Court of Appeal (in Paris)
judge selection and term of office: judge appointment and tenure based on France's judicial system
subordinate courts: Courts of First Instance include: civil, juvenile, commercial, labor, police, criminal, assizes, and also a pre-trial investigation chamber; Joint Commerce Tribunal; administrative courts
Political parties and leaders: Build Our Rainbow Nation
Caledonia Together or CE [Philippe GERMAIN]
Caledonian Union or UC [Daniel GOA]
Future Together (l'Avenir Ensemble) [Harold MARTIN]
Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (alliance includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM) [Victor TUTUGORO]
Labor Party (Parti Travailliste) or PT [Louis Kotra UREGEI]
National Union for Independence (Union Nationale pour l'Independance) or UNI
Party of Kanak Liberation (Parti de Liberation Kanak) or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE]
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]
The Republicans (formerly The Rally or UMP) [interim leader Thierry SANTA]
Union for Caledonia in France
International organization participation: ITUC (NGOs), PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description: New Caledonia has two official flags; alongside the flag of France, the Kanak (indigenous Melanesian) flag has equal status; the latter consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a large yellow disk - diameter two-thirds the height of the flag - shifted slightly to the hoist side is edged in black and displays a black fleche faitiere symbol, a native rooftop adornment
National symbol(s): fleche faitiere (native rooftop adornment), kagu bird; national colors: gray, red
National anthem: name: "Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us Become Brothers)
lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir)
note: adopted 2008; contains a mixture of lyrics in both French and Nengone (an indigenous language); as a self-governing territory of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La Marseillaise" is official (see France)
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural); note - excerpted from the France entry
selected World Heritage Site locales: Lagoons of New Caledonia
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016. In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum.New Caledonia has 11% of the world's nickel reserves, representing the second largest reserves on the planet. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. With the gradual increase in the production of two new nickel plants in 2015, average production of metallurgical goods stood at a record level of 94 thousand tons. However, the sector is exposed to the high volatility of nickel prices, which have been in decline since 2016. In 2017, one of the three major mining firms on the island, Vale, put its operations up for sale, triggering concerns of layoffs ahead of the 2018 independence referendum.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $11.11 billion (2017 est.)
$10.89 billion (2016 est.)
$10.77 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2015 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)
1.1% (2016 est.)
3.2% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $31,100 (2015 est.)
$32,100 (2014 est.)
$29,800 (2012 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $9.77 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.4% (2017 est.)
0.6% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.4% (2017 est.)
industry: 26.4% (2017 est.)
services: 72.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 64.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 38.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 18.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -45.5% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, maize, fruit, beef, pork, potatoes, bananas, eggs, yams
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 119,500 (2016 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 22.4%
services: 74.9% (2010)
Unemployment rate: 14.7% (2014)
14% (2009)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 38.4%
male: 37.1%
female: 40% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line: 17% (2008)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 1.995 billion (2015 est.)
expenditures: 1.993 billion (2015 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
Public debt: 6.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
6.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 20.4% (of GDP) (2015 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.469 billion (2014 est.)
-$1.861 billion (2013 est.)
Exports: $2.207 billion (2014 est.)
Exports - partners: China 59%, South Korea 14%, Japan 11% (2019)
Exports - commodities: iron alloys, nickel, cobalt, carbonates, essential oils (2019)
Imports: $2.715 billion (2015 est.)
$4.4 billion (2014 est.)
Imports - partners: France 43%, Australia 12%, Singapore 12%, China 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, coal, cars, packaged medicines (2019)
Debt - external: $112 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$79 million (31 December 1998 est.)
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar -
110.2 (2017 est.)
107.84 (2016 est.)
107.84 (2015 est.)
89.85 (2013 est.)
90.56 (2012 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 1.071 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 2,940,707,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 64.293 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 91.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 7.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 1.151 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 19,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 19,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.886 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.879 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.007 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 46,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 260,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 91 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: New Caledonia’s telecom sector is dominated by OPT-NC, which holds a monopoly and provides fixed and mobile voice services, mobile internet, fixed broadband access, and wholesale services for other ISPs; the country is well serviced by extensive 3G and LTE networks, and is considered to have one of the highest smartphone adoption rates in the Pacific region. By 2025, smart phone penetration is expected to reach 71%; while DSL is still the dominant fixed broadband technology, OPT-NC is also deploying a nationwide FttP network; in April 2022, OPT-NC stated that it had connected 28,000 fiber customers to its network; the South Pacific region has become a hub for submarine cable system developments in recent years, with further networks scheduled to come online later in 2021 and into 2022; these new cables are expected to increase competition in the region with regards to international capacity; in 2020, the government owned telco OPT-NC commissioned Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) to build the Gondwana-2 cable system to provide additional network capacity and complement the Gondwana-1 cable. (2022)
domestic: fixed-line nearly 29 per 100 and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership 96 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 687; landing points for the Gondwana-1 and Picot-1 providing connectivity via submarine cables around New Caledonia and to Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: the publicly owned French Overseas Network (RFO), which operates in France's overseas departments and territories, broadcasts over the RFO Nouvelle-Calédonie TV and radio stations; a small number of privately owned radio stations also broadcast
Internet country code: .nc
Internet users: total: 222,466 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 82% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 55,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 19 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020) (registered in France)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 (registered in France)
Airports: total: 25 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2021)
Heliports: 8 (2021)
Roadways: total: 5,622 km (2006)
Merchant marine: total: 24
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 1, other 18 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Noumea
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; France bases land, air, and naval forces on New Caledonia (Forces Armées de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, FANC)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: New Caledonia-France-Vanuatu: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and VanuatuNew Caledonia-France-Vanuatu: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu |
20220901 | countries-zambia |
Topic: Photos of Zambia
Topic: Introduction
Background: Multiple waves of Bantu-speaking groups moved into and through what is now Zambia over the past thousand years. In the 1880s, the British began securing mineral and other economic concessions from various local leaders and the territory that is now Zambia eventually came under the control of the former British South Africa Company and was incorporated as the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia in 1911. Administrative control was taken over by the UK in 1924. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration.
The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices, economic mismanagement, and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule and propelled the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) into power. The subsequent vote in 1996, however, saw increasing harassment of opposition parties and abuse of state media and other resources. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems, with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed free and fair. Upon his death in August 2008, he was succeeded by his vice president, Rupiah BANDA, who won a special presidential byelection later that year. The MMD and BANDA lost to the Patriotic Front (PF) and Michael SATA in the 2011 general elections. SATA, however, presided over a period of haphazard economic management and attempted to silence opposition to PF policies. SATA died in October 2014 and was succeeded by his vice president, Guy SCOTT, who served as interim president until January 2015, when Edgar LUNGU won the presidential byelection and completed SATA's term. LUNGU then won a full term in August 2016 presidential elections. Hakainde HICHILEMA was elected president in August 2021.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 752,618 sq km
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 6,043.15 km
border countries (8): Angola 1,065 km; Botswana 0.15 km; Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,332 km; Malawi 847 km; Mozambique 439 km; Namibia 244 km; Tanzania 353 km; Zimbabwe 763 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain: mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation: highest point: Mafinga Central 2,330 m
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
mean elevation: 1,138 m
Natural resources: copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 31.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 66.3% (2018 est.)
other: 2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,560 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Major rivers (by length in km): Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthCongo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major aquifers: Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Population distribution: one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Geography - note: landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe; Lake Kariba on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border forms the world's largest reservoir by volume (180 cu km; 43 cu mi)
Map description: Zambia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Zambia map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 19,642,123 (2022 est.)
note: estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Nationality: noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups: Bemba 21%, Tonga 13.6%, Chewa 7.4%, Lozi 5.7%, Nsenga 5.3%, Tumbuka 4.4%, Ngoni 4%, Lala 3.1%, Kaonde 2.9%, Namwanga 2.8%, Lunda (north Western) 2.6%, Mambwe 2.5%, Luvale 2.2%, Lamba 2.1%, Ushi 1.9%, Lenje 1.6%, Bisa 1.6%, Mbunda 1.2%, other 13.8%, unspecified 0.4% (2010 est.)
Languages: Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)
note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects
Religions: Protestant 75.3%, Roman Catholic 20.2%, other 2.7% (includes Muslim Buddhist, Hindu, and Baha'i), none 1.8% (2010 est.)
Demographic profile: Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy.Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields. For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other Sub-Saharan countries.Zambia’s poor, youthful population consists primarily of Bantu-speaking people representing nearly 70 different ethnicities. Zambia’s high fertility rate continues to drive rapid population growth, averaging almost 3 percent annually between 2000 and 2010. The country’s total fertility rate has fallen by less than 1.5 children per woman during the last 30 years and still averages among the world’s highest, almost 6 children per woman, largely because of the country’s lack of access to family planning services, education for girls, and employment for women. Zambia also exhibits wide fertility disparities based on rural or urban location, education, and income. Poor, uneducated women from rural areas are more likely to marry young, to give birth early, and to have more children, viewing children as a sign of prestige and recognizing that not all of their children will live to adulthood. HIV/AIDS is prevalent in Zambia and contributes to its low life expectancy.Zambian emigration is low compared to many other African countries and is comprised predominantly of the well-educated. The small amount of brain drain, however, has a major impact in Zambia because of its limited human capital and lack of educational infrastructure for developing skilled professionals in key fields. For example, Zambia has few schools for training doctors, nurses, and other health care workers. Its spending on education is low compared to other Sub-Saharan countries.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45.74% (male 4,005,134/female 3,964,969)
15-24 years: 20.03% (male 1,744,843/female 1,746,561)
25-54 years: 28.96% (male 2,539,697/female 2,506,724)
55-64 years: 3.01% (male 242,993/female 280,804)
65 years and over: 2.27% (2020 est.) (male 173,582/female 221,316)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 85.7
youth dependency ratio: 81.7
elderly dependency ratio: 4
potential support ratio: 25.3 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 16.9 years
male: 16.7 years
female: 17 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.9% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 34.86 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 45.8% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.042 million LUSAKA (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.2 years (2018 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 213 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 37.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 33.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.26 years
male: 64.52 years
female: 68.06 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.56 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49.6% (2018)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 90.2% of population
rural: 56.6% of population
total: 71.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 9.8% of population
rural: 43.4% of population
total: 28.4% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 5.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.17 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density: 2 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 76.3% of population
rural: 31.9% of population
total: 51.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 23.7% of population
rural: 68.1% of population
total: 48.3% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 11.1% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1.5 million (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 24,000 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8.1% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 14.4% (2020 est.)
male: 25.1% (2020 est.)
female: 3.7% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.8% (2018/19)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 5.2%
women married by age 18: 29%
men married by age 18: 2.8% (2018 est.)
Education expenditures: 4.5% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.6%
female: 83.1% (2018)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 30.1%
male: 32.1%
female: 27.6% (2019 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; loss of biodiversity; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 24.7 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 5.14 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 14.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Land use: agricultural land: 31.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 66.3% (2018 est.)
other: 2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 45.8% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 4.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.04% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes and localized shortfalls in cereal production - an estimated 1.58 million people are projected to need humanitarian assistance at least up until March 2022, down from 2 million assessed to be food insecure in the corresponding period in 2020/21; the overall large national agricultural output in 2021 helped to reduce the prevalence of food insecurity in early 2022, however, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have constrained households’ economic access to food as well as localized shortfalls in crop production, have limited a larger improvement (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,608,268 tons (2002 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Fresh water lake(s): Lake Tanganyika (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Burundi) - 32,000 sq km; Lake Mweru (shared with Democratic Republic of Congo) - 4,350 sq km; Lake Bangweulu - 4,000-15,000 sq km seasonal variation
Major rivers (by length in km): Congo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthCongo river source (shared with Angola, Republic of Congo, and Democratic Republic of Congo [m]) - 4,700 km; Zambezi river source (shared with Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique [m]) - 2,740 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 sq km)
Indian Ocean drainage: Zambezi (1,332,412 sq km)
Major aquifers: Upper Kalahari-Cuvelai-Upper Zambezi Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 290 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 130 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1.152 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 104.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
etymology: name derived from the Zambezi River, which flows through the western part of the country and forms its southern border with neighboring Zimbabwe
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Lusaka; note - a proposal to build a new capital city in Ngabwe was announced in May 2017
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands; the village was named after a headman (chief) Lusakasa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence: 24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 24 August 1991, promulgated 30 August 1991
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly in two separate readings at least 30 days apart; passage of amendments affecting fundamental rights and freedoms requires approval by at least one half of votes cast in a referendum prior to consideration and voting by the Assembly; amended 1996, 2015, 2016; note - in late 2020, an amendment which would have altered the structure of the constitution was defeated in the National Assembly
Legal system: mixed legal system of English common law and customary law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia
citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hakainde HICHILEMA (since 24 August 2021); Vice President Mutale NALUMANGO (since 24 August 2021)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president from among members of the National Assembly
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
election results:
2021: Hakainde HICHILEMA elected president; percent of the vote - Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 57.9%, Edgar LUNGU (PF) 37.3%, other 4.8%
2016: Edgar LUNGU re-elected president; percent of vote - Edgar LUNGU (PF) 50.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA (UPND) 47.6%, other 2%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Assembly (167 seats; 156 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote in 2 rounds if needed, and up to 8 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms); 3 ex-officio members elected by National Assembly membership
elections: last held on 12 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPND 53.9%, PF 38.1%, PNUP 0.6%, independent 7.4%; seats by party - UPND 82, PF 62, PNUP 1, independent 11; composition - men 136, women 20, percent of women 13.5%; 156 seats filled;
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice, deputy chief justice, and at least 11 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president, vice president, and 11 judges); note - the Constitutional Court began operation in June 2016
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the advice of the 9-member Judicial Service Commission, which is headed by the chief justice, and ratified by the National Assembly; judges normally serve until age 65
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Industrial Relations Court; subordinate courts (3 levels, based on upper limit of money involved); Small Claims Court; local courts (2 grades, based on upper limit of money involved)
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Development or ADD [Charles MILUPI]
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]
Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Felix MUTATI]
National Democratic Congress or NDC [Chishimba KAMBWILI]
Patriotic Front or PF [Edgar LUNGU]
United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde HICHILEMA]
Party of National Unity and Progress or PNUP [Highvie HAMUDUDU]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lazarous KAPAMBWE (since 8 April 2020)
chancery: 2200 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
email address and website:
info@zambiaembassy.org
https://www.zambiaembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Martin "Marty" DALE (since 2 November 2021)
embassy: Eastern end of Kabulonga Road, Ibex Hill, Lusaka
mailing address: 2310 Lusaka Place, Washington DC 20521-2310
telephone: [260] (0) 211-357-000
FAX: [260] (0) 211-357-224
email address and website:
ACSLusaka@state.gov
https://zm.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag; green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the people of Zambia, and orange the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems
National symbol(s): African fish eagle; national colors: green, red, black, orange
National anthem: name: "Lumbanyeni Zambia" (Stand and Sing of Zambia, Proud and Free)
lyrics/music: multiple/Enoch Mankayi SONTONGA
note: adopted 1964; the melody, from the popular song "God Bless Africa," is the same as that of Tanzania but with different lyrics; the melody is also incorporated into South Africa's anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Mosi-oa-Tunya/Victoria Falls
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Zambia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the ten years up to 2014, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum, though growth slowed during the period 2015 to 2017, due to falling copper prices, reduced power generation, and depreciation of the kwacha. Zambia’s lack of economic diversification and dependency on copper as its sole major export makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in the world commodities market and prices turned downward in 2015 due to declining demand from China; Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. GDP growth picked up in 2017 as mineral prices rose. Despite recent strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, by market-distorting agricultural and energy policies, and growing government debt. Zambia raised $7 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Concurrently, it issued over $4 billion in domestic debt and agreed to Chinese-financed infrastructure projects, significantly increasing the country’s public debt burden to more than 60% of GDP. The government has considered refinancing $3 billion worth of Eurobonds and significant Chinese loans to cut debt servicing costs.Zambia had one of the world’s fastest growing economies for the ten years up to 2014, with real GDP growth averaging roughly 6.7% per annum, though growth slowed during the period 2015 to 2017, due to falling copper prices, reduced power generation, and depreciation of the kwacha. Zambia’s lack of economic diversification and dependency on copper as its sole major export makes it vulnerable to fluctuations in the world commodities market and prices turned downward in 2015 due to declining demand from China; Zambia was overtaken by the Democratic Republic of Congo as Africa’s largest copper producer. GDP growth picked up in 2017 as mineral prices rose. Despite recent strong economic growth and its status as a lower middle-income country, widespread and extreme rural poverty and high unemployment levels remain significant problems, made worse by a high birth rate, a relatively high HIV/AIDS burden, by market-distorting agricultural and energy policies, and growing government debt. Zambia raised $7 billion from international investors by issuing separate sovereign bonds in 2012, 2014, and 2015. Concurrently, it issued over $4 billion in domestic debt and agreed to Chinese-financed infrastructure projects, significantly increasing the country’s public debt burden to more than 60% of GDP. The government has considered refinancing $3 billion worth of Eurobonds and significant Chinese loans to cut debt servicing costs.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $60.12 billion (2020 est.)
$61.99 billion (2019 est.)
$61.1 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 3.4% (2017 est.)
3.8% (2016 est.)
2.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $3,300 (2020 est.)
$3,500 (2019 est.)
$3,500 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $25.71 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.1% (2019 est.)
7.4% (2018 est.)
6.5% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: RD (2020)
Moody's rating: Ca (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: SD (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 7.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 35.3% (2017 est.)
services: 57% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 21% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 1.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 43% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -44.9% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, maize, milk, vegetables, soybeans, beef, tobacco, wheat, groundnuts
Industries: copper mining and processing, emerald mining, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate: 4.7% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 6.898 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 54.8%
industry: 9.9%
services: 35.3% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (2008 est.)
50% (2000 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 30.1%
male: 32.1%
female: 27.6% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54.4% (2015 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 57.1 (2015 est.)
50.8 (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5%
highest 10%: 47.4% (2010)
Budget: revenues: 4.473 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 6.357 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 63.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
60.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 17.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$1.006 billion (2017 est.)
-$934 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $8.55 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$8.26 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$9.98 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Switzerland 29%, China 16%, Namibia 12%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: copper, gold, gemstones, sulfuric acid, raw sugar, tobacco (2019)
Imports: $5.92 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$8.04 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$10.19 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: South Africa 29%, China 14%, United Arab Emirates 12%, India 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, crude petroleum, delivery trucks, gold, fertilizers (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.082 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.353 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $11.66 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$9.562 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Zambian kwacha (ZMK) per US dollar -
21.065 (2020 est.)
15.3736 (2019 est.)
11.855 (2018 est.)
8.6 (2014 est.)
6.2 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 37% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 76% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 6% (2019)
Electricity: Installed generating capacity: 3.065 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 13,409,685,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 976 million kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 198 million kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1,811,480,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: Fossil fuels: 13% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 85.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: Production: 1.116 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 1.176 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 39,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 99,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 45 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 25,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 12,400 barrels/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 13,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 371 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 10,150 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 6.798 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 3.186 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.612 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 11.595 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 71,844 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 17,220,600 (2019)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 96.41 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: service is among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; regulator promotes competition and is a partner to private sector service providers, offering mobile voice and Internet at some of the lowest prices in the region; investment made in data centers, education centers, and computer assembly training plants; operators invest in 3G and LTE-based services; Chinese company Huawei is helping to upgrade state-owned mobile infrastructure for 5G services; operators focused on improvements to towers (2020)
domestic: fiber optic connections are available between most larger towns and cities with microwave radio relays serving more rural areas; 3G and LTE with FttX in limited urban areas and private Ku or Ka band VSAT terminals in remote locations; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular roughly 104 per 100 (2020)
international: country code - 260; multiple providers operate overland fiber optic routes via Zimbabwe/South Africa, Botswana/Namibia and Tanzania provide access to the major undersea cables
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: according to the Independent Broadcast Authority, there are 137 radio stations and 47 television stations in Zambia; out of the 137 radio stations, 133 are private (categorized as either commercial or community radio stations), while 4 are public-owned; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 2 television channels and 3 radio stations; ZNBC owns 75% shares in GoTV, 40% in MultiChoice, and 40% in TopStar Communications Company, all of which operate in-country (2019)according to the Independent Broadcast Authority, there are 137 radio stations and 47 television stations in Zambia; out of the 137 radio stations, 133 are private (categorized as either commercial or community radio stations), while 4 are public-owned; state-owned Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) operates 2 television channels and 3 radio stations; ZNBC owns 75% shares in GoTV, 40% in MultiChoice, and 40% in TopStar Communications Company, all of which operate in-country
Internet country code: .zm
Internet users: total: 3,676,791 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 20% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 82,317 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.5 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 8,904 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 75.08 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9J
Airports: total: 88 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 80
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 53
under 914 m: 21 (2021)
Pipelines: 771 km oil (2013)
Railways: total: 3,126 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)
Roadways: total: 67,671 km (2018)
paved: 14,888 km (2018)
unpaved: 52,783 km (2018)
Waterways: 2,250 km (2010) (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula Rivers)
Merchant marine: total: 2
by type: general cargo 1, oil tanker 1 (2021)
Ports and terminals: river port(s): Mpulungu (Zambezi)
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Zambia Defense Force (ZDF): Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia National Service; Defense Force Medical Service; Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security: Zambia Police (includes a paramilitary battalion) (2022)
note: the Zambia National Service is a support organization that also does public work projects
Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $450 million)
1.4% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $470 million)
1.3% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $420 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Zambia Defense Force (ZDF) has approximately 17,000 active troops (15,000 Army; 2,000 Air) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the ZDF's inventory is largely comprised of Chinese, Russian, and Soviet-era armaments; since 2010, China is the leading supplier of arms to Zambia (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service (16 with parental consent); no conscription; 12-year enlistment period (7 years active, 5 in the Reserves) (2021)
Military deployments: 925 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (Feb 2022)
Military - note: the Zambian Defense Force (ZDF) traces its roots to the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which was raised by the British colonial government to fight in World War II; the ZDF was established in 1964 from units of the dissolved Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland armed forces; it participated in a number of regional conflicts during the 1970s and 1980s; Zambia actively supported independence movements such as the Union for the Total Liberation of Angola (UNITA), the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU), the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), and the South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Zambia-Angola: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary
Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto Zambia-Tanzania: some drug smuggling may take place across the Zambia-Tanzania border; there are no known current territorial issues, as both states have continued to recognize the colonial boundaries last modified in 1937; the boundary in Lake Tanganyika remains undefined.
Zambia-Zimbabwe: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; in May 2021, Botswana and Zambia agreed in principle to let Zimbabwe be a partner in the bridge project as it enters its lasts phaseZambia-Angola: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary
Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of PwetoZambia-Tanzania: some drug smuggling may take place across the Zambia-Tanzania border; there are no known current territorial issues, as both states have continued to recognize the colonial boundaries last modified in 1937; the boundary in Lake Tanganyika remains undefined.
Zambia-Zimbabwe: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; in May 2021, Botswana and Zambia agreed in principle to let Zimbabwe be a partner in the bridge project as it enters its lasts phase
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 65,911 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers), 4,265 (Burundi) (2022)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Zambia and Zambians abroad; most trafficking occurs within Zambia’s borders, with traffickers exploiting women and children from rural areas in cities in domestic servitude or forced labor in agriculture, textile production, mining, construction, small businesses, such as bakeries, and forced begging; Jerabo gangs force Zambian children into illegal mining operations, such as loading stolen copper or crushing rocks; truck drivers exploit Zambian boys and girls in sex trafficking in towns along the Zimbabwean and Tanzanian borders, and miners exploit them in Solwezi; Zambian boys are exploited for sex trafficking in Zimbabwe and women and girls in South Africa; traffickers exploit victims from Tanzania and Malawi in the Zambian timber industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Zambia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making efforts to do so; efforts included increasing law enforcement training, establishing two fast-track human trafficking courts, conducting awareness campaigns about human trafficking, slightly increasing prosecutions and convictions, and strengthening prison sentences given to traffickers; however; investigations of trafficking crimes and funding to shelters and other victim assistance programs decreased; authorities did not proactively screen for trafficking among vulnerable populations, including foreign nationals and those involved in commercial sex; authorities detained and deported potential trafficking victims involved in smuggling; the national inter-ministerial committee is weak in overseeing national anti-trafficking efforts and trends (2020)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis |
20220901 | field-railways-country-comparison | |
20220901 | field-illicit-drugs | This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
Drug abuse is the excessive use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).
Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.
Poppy straw is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.
Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.
Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).
Topic: Afghanistanthe world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2020; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world (2022)the world’s largest producer of illicit opiates but it is not a major supplier to the United States; 215,000 hectares (ha) of opium poppy cultivated in Afghanistan in 2020; also produces methamphetamine and cannabis products; one of the highest domestic substance abuse rates in the world
Topic: Albaniaactive transshipment point for Albanian narco-trafficking organizations moving illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin from Turkey and countries in South America and Asia throughout Europe; significant source country for cannabis productionactive transshipment point for Albanian narco-trafficking organizations moving illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin from Turkey and countries in South America and Asia throughout Europe; significant source country for cannabis production
Topic: Angolaused as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africaused as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
Topic: Anguillatransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europetransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Topic: Antigua and Barbudaa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Argentinacounterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other smuggling offenses along the northern border; some money laundering organizations in the Tri-Border Area may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursorscounterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other smuggling offenses along the northern border; some money laundering organizations in the Tri-Border Area may have links to the terrorist organization Hizballah; a large producer of chemical precursors
Topic: Armeniaa transit country for illicit drugs with its location between source countries Afghanistan and Iran and the markets of Europe and Russiaa transit country for illicit drugs with its location between source countries Afghanistan and Iran and the markets of Europe and Russia
Topic: Arubanorthbound transshipment point for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; Cocaine shipped to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europenorthbound transshipment point for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; Cocaine shipped to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe
Topic: AustraliaTasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines
Topic: Austriatransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs
Topic: Azerbaijanlimited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
Topic: Bahamas, Thea significant transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; illicit production of marijuana continuesa significant transit point for illegal drugs bound for the United States; illicit production of marijuana continues
Topic: Bangladeshtransit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluenetransit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluene
Topic: Barbadosa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Belaruslimited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities
Topic: Belgiuma primary entry point for cocaine smuggled into Europe; also a transit point for precursor chemicals from China for amphetamine and MDMA production labs in Belgium; a transit country for new psychoactive substances (NPS); increasing number of amphetamine and ecstasy production labs in Belgium; heroin also transits through Belgium.a primary entry point for cocaine smuggled into Europe; also a transit point for precursor chemicals from China for amphetamine and MDMA production labs in Belgium; a transit country for new psychoactive substances (NPS); increasing number of amphetamine and ecstasy production labs in Belgium; heroin also transits through Belgium.
Topic: BelizeBelize is a transit country for illegal drugs, mainly cocaine, originating from countries in South America; low domestic drug consumption problem outside of recreational cannabisBelize is a transit country for illegal drugs, mainly cocaine, originating from countries in South America; low domestic drug consumption problem outside of recreational cannabis
Topic: Benina significant transit and departure country for cocaine shipments in Africa destined for Europea significant transit and departure country for cocaine shipments in Africa destined for Europe
Topic: Boliviathird-largest source country of cocaine and a major transit for Peruvian cocaine; in 2020 coca cultivation totaled 39,400 hectares (ha); illicit drug consumption is low in Bolivia; most cocaine is exported to other Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, for domestic consumption, or for onward transit to West Africa and Europe, not the United Statesthird-largest source country of cocaine and a major transit for Peruvian cocaine; in 2020 coca cultivation totaled 39,400 hectares (ha); illicit drug consumption is low in Bolivia; most cocaine is exported to other Latin American countries, such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina, for domestic consumption, or for onward transit to West Africa and Europe, not the United States
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinadrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine destined for European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
Topic: Brazila significant transit and destination country for cocaine; most of the cocaine enters Brazil from neighboring producing countries Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru then goes to West Africa and Europe, but an increasing percentage feeds substantial domestic drug consumption; second-largest consumer of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine-derivative products in the worlda significant transit and destination country for cocaine; most of the cocaine enters Brazil from neighboring producing countries Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru then goes to West Africa and Europe, but an increasing percentage feeds substantial domestic drug consumption; second-largest consumer of cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine-derivative products in the world
Topic: British Virgin Islandstransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering
Topic: Bruneidrug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
Topic: Bulgariasource country for amphetamine tablets
Topic: Burmaa major source of illicit methamphetamine and opiates; illicit import of precursor chemicals from China increased production and trafficking of synthetic drugs; second-largest opium poppy cultivator in Asia, with an estimated 20,200 hectares grown in 2019; “Yaba,” a tablet containing methamphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants, is produced in Burma and trafficked regionally; ethnic armed organizations, military-affiliated militias, and transnational criminal organizations oversee billion dollar a drug production and trafficking industry; drugs produced in Burma are trafficked beyond Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; not a major source or transit country for drugs entering the United States (2021)a major source of illicit methamphetamine and opiates; illicit import of precursor chemicals from China increased production and trafficking of synthetic drugs; second-largest opium poppy cultivator in Asia, with an estimated 20,200 hectares grown in 2019; “Yaba,” a tablet containing methamphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants, is produced in Burma and trafficked regionally; ethnic armed organizations, military-affiliated militias, and transnational criminal organizations oversee billion dollar a drug production and trafficking industry; drugs produced in Burma are trafficked beyond Southeast Asia to Australia, New Zealand, and Japan; not a major source or transit country for drugs entering the United States
Topic: Cabo VerdeCabo Verde is a transit hub for cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs trafficked from Latin America to Europe; marijuana, cocaine, hashish, heroin, and methamphetamine are the most frequently consumed drugs in Cabo Verde
Topic: Cambodiamanufacture of methamphetamine expanding due to transnational crime syndicates moving from China to evade the law; drugs destined for Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea and the rest of East and South-East Asia (2021)manufacture of methamphetamine expanding due to transnational crime syndicates moving from China to evade the law; drugs destined for Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea and the rest of East and South-East Asia
Topic: Canadaillicit production of fentanyl primarily for Canada's domestic drug market with at least small quantities smuggled to the US; complex laboratories setup for fentanyl production have been found and Mexican traffickers present in the country; Canada legalized marijuana in 2018
Topic: Cayman Islandsmajor offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering major offshore financial center vulnerable to drug trafficking money laundering
Topic: Chiletransshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region; some money laundering activity, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant consumer of cocaine
Topic: Chinaa major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine; PRC criminal organizations, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe (2021)a major source of precursor chemicals, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs, including fentanyl precursors and methamphetamine; PRC criminal organizations, transnational crime, and organizations from Mexico and Southeast Asia traffic licit precursor chemical components and illicit finished drugs within the PRC as well as to international markets; significant illicit drug consumption of methamphetamine and ketamine; a major destination and transit country for heroin produced in neighboring countries; the PRC remains a major source of NPS sold in North America and Europe
Topic: ColombiaColombia is the world’s top cocaine producer; exports and is a source of heroin and marijuana; coca cultivation was estimated at 245,000 hectares (ha) in 2020; potential pure cocaine production reached 1,010 metric tons in 2020 Colombia is the world’s top cocaine producer; exports and is a source of heroin and marijuana; coca cultivation was estimated at 245,000 hectares (ha) in 2020; potential pure cocaine production reached 1,010 metric tons in 2020
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thecountry of origin of methamphetamine destined for overseas markets
Topic: Costa Ricasignificant transit country for drugs entering the United States; a growing drug consumption problem; drugs warehoused in Costa Rica end up in the local market where criminal organizations use cocaine as payment for services. significant transit country for drugs entering the United States; a growing drug consumption problem; drugs warehoused in Costa Rica end up in the local market where criminal organizations use cocaine as payment for services.
Topic: Cote d'Ivoireillicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
Topic: Croatiadrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
Topic: CubaCuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasingCuba is not a major consumer, producer, or transit point of illicit drugs; strict policing on smuggling, production and consumption; prescription drug abuse is increasing
Topic: Curacaonorthbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe northbound transshipment points for cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela; cocaine is transported to the United States, other Caribbean islands, Africa, and Europe
Topic: Cyprusvulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs vulnerable to money laundering from illegal drugs
Topic: Czechiamanufacture of methamphetamine continues to be mostly based on pseudoephedrine from Poland or Turkey. manufacture of methamphetamine continues to be mostly based on pseudoephedrine from Poland or Turkey.
Topic: Dominicaa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Dominican Republica major transshipment point for cocaine transiting through the Caribbean
Topic: EcuadorEcuador is a major transit country for illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin and chemical precursors to process cocaine from Colombia and Peru; not a major drug producing country
Topic: Egyptmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Topic: El Salvadora transit country for illicit drugs destined for the United States a transit country for illicit drugs destined for the United States
Topic: Estoniaproducer of synthetic drugs; important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy
Topic: Ethiopiatransit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center
Topic: Francemetropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics; French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe; Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europemetropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics;French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe;Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe
Topic: Georgialocated on a major drug trafficking route where Southwest Asian opium, heroin and precursor chemicals are transported; marijuana trafficking increasedlocated on a major drug trafficking route where Southwest Asian opium, heroin and precursor chemicals are transported; marijuana trafficking increased
Topic: Germanymaritime transshipment point for cocaine heading to Europemaritime transshipment point for cocaine heading to Europe
Topic: Ghanaa transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African nations and Europe, and to a lesser extent the United States; cultivation of cannabis for domestic use and is trafficked to regional markets or to Europe
Topic: Greecea gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis products and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime
Topic: Grenadaa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Guatemalaa major transit country for illegal drugs destined for the United States with increasing cultivation originating from Guatemala; farmers cultivate opium poppy and cannabis
Topic: Guinea-Bissauimportant transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling
Topic: Guyanatransshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa; growing domestic drug consumption problemtransshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa; growing domestic drug consumption problem
Topic: Haitia transit point for cocaine from South America and marijuana from Jamaica en route to the United States; not a producer or large consumer of illicit drugs; some cultivation of cannabis for local consumptiona transit point for cocaine from South America and marijuana from Jamaica en route to the United States; not a producer or large consumer of illicit drugs; some cultivation of cannabis for local consumption
Topic: Hondurastransshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States and precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs; some experimental coca cultivationtransshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States and precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs; some experimental coca cultivation
Topic: Hong Kongmodern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; groups involved in money laundering range from local street organizations to sophisticated international syndicates involved in assorted criminal activities, including drug trafficking; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsmodern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; groups involved in money laundering range from local street organizations to sophisticated international syndicates involved in assorted criminal activities, including drug trafficking; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Topic: Hungarytransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy
Topic: Indiasource and transit point for illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America; in 2020 India exported over $19 billion of illegal pharmaceutical drugs; illegal opium poppy growing in the Northeast; traffickers retool commercial chemical factories to produce large volumes of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and other drugs illicitly source and transit point for illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America; in 2020 India exported over $19 billion of illegal pharmaceutical drugs; illegal opium poppy growing in the Northeast; traffickers retool commercial chemical factories to produce large volumes of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and other drugs illicitly
Topic: Indonesiaa transit and destination point for illicit narcotics; consumer of crystal methamphetamine trafficked in Burma and Pakistan and also transit to Australia and New Zealand; significant consumer of ecstasy from China and the Netherlands and domestically grown cannabis a transit and destination point for illicit narcotics; consumer of crystal methamphetamine trafficked in Burma and Pakistan and also transit to Australia and New Zealand; significant consumer of ecstasy from China and the Netherlands and domestically grown cannabis
Topic: Iransignificant transit and destination country for opiates and cannabis products mainly from Afghanistan; produces and consumes methamphetamine and traffics it to international markets; one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europesignificant transit and destination country for opiates and cannabis products mainly from Afghanistan; produces and consumes methamphetamine and traffics it to international markets; one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe
Topic: Irelandtransshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern
Topic: Israelincreasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center
Topic: Italyimportant gateway for drug trafficking; organized crime groups allied with Colombian and Spanish groups trafficking cocaine to Europe
Topic: Jamaicathe largest Caribbean source of marijuana which is trafficked to other Caribbean countries for illegal weapons and other contraband; transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America to North America and other international markets
Topic: Jordanprimarily a transshipment country for amphetamine tablets originating in Lebanon and Syria and destined for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Gulf countries; the government is increasingly concerned about domestic consumption of illicit drugs
Topic: Kazakhstansynthetic drugs dominate the local illicit drug market, smuggled from Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Europe; however the number of domestic clandestine laboratories producing synthetic drugs continues to increase. Kazakhstan remains a transit country for Afghan heroin destined for Russia and Europe.synthetic drugs dominate the local illicit drug market, smuggled from Southeast Asia, China, Russia and Europe; however the number of domestic clandestine laboratories producing synthetic drugs continues to increase. Kazakhstan remains a transit country for Afghan heroin destined for Russia and Europe.
Topic: Kenyaa transit country for a variety of illicit drugs, including heroin and cocaine; transit location for precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine and other drugs; heroin from Southwest Asia enters Kenya destined for international markets, mainly Europe; cocaine transits through Kenya shipped through Ethiopia from South America; cultivates cannabis and miraa (khat) for both local use and exporta transit country for a variety of illicit drugs, including heroin and cocaine; transit location for precursor chemicals used to produce methamphetamine and other drugs; heroin from Southwest Asia enters Kenya destined for international markets, mainly Europe; cocaine transits through Kenya shipped through Ethiopia from South America; cultivates cannabis and miraa (khat) for both local use and export
Topic: Korea, Northat present there is insufficient information to determine the current level of involvement of government officials in the production or trafficking of illicit drugs, but for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of North Korea , many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics; police investigations in Taiwan, Japan and Australia during that period have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine
Topic: Korea, Southprecursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries precursor chemicals used for illicit drugs, such as acetic anhydride, pseudoephedrine, and ephedrine, imported from the United States, Japan, India, and China and then either resold within South Korea or smuggled into other countries
Topic: Kyrgyzstana prime transshipment location; illegal drugs move from Afghanistan to Russia, and sometimes into Europe a prime transshipment location; illegal drugs move from Afghanistan to Russia, and sometimes into Europe
Topic: LaosBokeo Province part of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious drug production and transit area; remains a poppy cultivator and source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors; estimate of 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018Bokeo Province part of the “Golden Triangle,” a notorious drug production and transit area; remains a poppy cultivator and source of illicit opium and a transit hub for other illicit drugs such as amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and chemical precursors; estimate of 4,925 ha of opium poppy cultivated in Laos in 2018
Topic: Latviatransshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Baltic countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds
Topic: Lebanonsource country for amphetamine tablets destined for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya and Sudan; in 2021 authorities in various Near Eastern countries seized millions of captagon tablets that originated in or transited to Lebanon, prompting Lebanese authorities to conduct raids on captagon production facilities and trafficking rings within the country
Topic: Liberianot a significant transit country for illicit narcotics but proximity to major drug routes contribute to trafficking; not a significant producer of illicit narcotics; local drug use involves marijuana, heroin, cocaine, the synthetic opioid tramadol, and amphetamine-type stimulantsnot a significant transit country for illicit narcotics but proximity to major drug routes contribute to trafficking; not a significant producer of illicit narcotics; local drug use involves marijuana, heroin, cocaine, the synthetic opioid tramadol, and amphetamine-type stimulants
Topic: Liechtensteinhas strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector
Topic: Lithuaniasource country for amphetamine tabletssource country for amphetamine tablets
Topic: Macauasian organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and money launderingasian organized crime groups involved in drug trafficking and money laundering
Topic: Madagascarillicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Topic: Malaysiamethamphetamine is the most used and trafficked drug controlled by criminal organizations that produce it; crystal methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis products, heroin, ketamine, and Erimin 5 (nimetazepam) are smuggled into the country; a transit point for trafficking cocaine and other drugs to the Australian market methamphetamine is the most used and trafficked drug controlled by criminal organizations that produce it; crystal methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), cannabis products, heroin, ketamine, and Erimin 5 (nimetazepam) are smuggled into the country; a transit point for trafficking cocaine and other drugs to the Australian market
Topic: Malia transit point for illicit drugs trafficked to Europe; trafficking controlled by armed groups, criminal organizations, terrorist groups and government officials that facilitate, protect and profit from the activitya transit point for illicit drugs trafficked to Europe; trafficking controlled by armed groups, criminal organizations, terrorist groups and government officials that facilitate, protect and profit from the activity
Topic: Maltaminor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe
Topic: Mauritiusconsumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money launderingconsumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering
Topic: Mexicomajor source and transit country for heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and illicit synthetic drugs including fentanyl and counterfeit pills destined for the United States; main transit country for cocaine from South America, a transit route and destination for fentanyl and associated precursors originating from Chinamajor source and transit country for heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and illicit synthetic drugs including fentanyl and counterfeit pills destined for the United States; main transit country for cocaine from South America, a transit route and destination for fentanyl and associated precursors originating from China
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofmajor consumer of cannabis
Topic: Moldovalimited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity
Topic: Montenegrodrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine destined for European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
Topic: Montserrattransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Topic: Moroccoone of the world’s largest cannabis-producing country with Europe as the main market; hashish is also smuggled to South America and the Caribbean where it is exchanged for cocaine which is distributed in Europe; MDMA (ecstasy), originating in Belgium and the Netherlands is smuggled into northern Morocco for sale on the domestic marketone of the world’s largest cannabis-producing country with Europe as the main market; hashish is also smuggled to South America and the Caribbean where it is exchanged for cocaine which is distributed in Europe; MDMA (ecstasy), originating in Belgium and the Netherlands is smuggled into northern Morocco for sale on the domestic market
Topic: Mozambiqueused by transnational organized crime networks from West and East Africa and South Asia as a transit point for drug trafficking and international money laundering; heroin from Southwest Asia, cocaine from South America, precursor chemicals and controlled pharmaceuticals from India, and methamphetamine from Nigeria transit destined for Southern Africa, Northern Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States; cannabis is cultivated in Mozambique
Topic: Nepalillicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the Westillicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
Topic: Netherlandsa significant transit country for illicit drugs, especially cocaine from South America destined for Europe; one of the largest sources of synthetic drugs for international markets; numerous methamphetamine laboratories; traffickers use postage companies to send cocaine, ecstasy or methamphetamines distribute narcotics to global customersa significant transit country for illicit drugs, especially cocaine from South America destined for Europe; one of the largest sources of synthetic drugs for international markets; numerous methamphetamine laboratories; traffickers use postage companies to send cocaine, ecstasy or methamphetamines distribute narcotics to global customers
Topic: New Zealandsignificant consumer of amphetamines
Topic: Nicaraguaa transit route for drug traffickers smuggling cocaine from South America through Mexico into the United States via maritime and air routesa transit route for drug traffickers smuggling cocaine from South America through Mexico into the United States via maritime and air routes
Topic: Nigera transit point for illicit drugs narcotics trafficked through the Sahara; drugs from South America, particularly cocaine, heroin, cannabis products, and synthetic drugs, transit en route to European and Middle Eastern markets; synthetic opioid tramadol is shipped from Nigeria through Niger to other African countries; hashish from Morocco is trafficked to Libya, Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East; traffickers are formalized networks of Arab, Tuareg, and Toubou transportation groupsa transit point for illicit drugs narcotics trafficked through the Sahara; drugs from South America, particularly cocaine, heroin, cannabis products, and synthetic drugs, transit en route to European and Middle Eastern markets; synthetic opioid tramadol is shipped from Nigeria through Niger to other African countries; hashish from Morocco is trafficked to Libya, Egypt, Europe, and the Middle East; traffickers are formalized networks of Arab, Tuareg, and Toubou transportation groups
Topic: Nigeriaa significant source for cannabis cultivation and methamphetamine production; a major place for transnational drug trafficking networks that supply cocaine to Asia and Europe, heroin to Europe and North America, and methamphetamine to South Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand; traffickers also involved in the transportation, facilitation, and distribution of illicitly diverted tramadol
Topic: North Macedoniamajor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement
Topic: Pakistanminor cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis with 1,400 hectares of poppy cultivated 2016; one of the world’s top transit corridors for opiates and cannabis products along with Afghanistan and Iran; precursor chemicals also pass through Pakistan as a major transit point for global distribution minor cultivator of opium poppy and cannabis with 1,400 hectares of poppy cultivated 2016; one of the world’s top transit corridors for opiates and cannabis products along with Afghanistan and Iran; precursor chemicals also pass through Pakistan as a major transit point for global distribution
Topic: Panamaa prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe a prime sea and land passage for drugs, primarily cocaine from Colombia, from South America to North America and Europe; traffickers ship drugs in containers passing through the Panama Canal each year North America and Europe
Topic: Papua New Guineatransit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabistransit point for smuggling drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine; major consumer of cannabis
Topic: Paraguaycannabis cultivation and the trafficking of Andean cocaine in the tri-border area shared with Argentina, and Brazil facilitates money laundering, violence and other criminal activity. cannabis cultivation and the trafficking of Andean cocaine in the tri-border area shared with Argentina, and Brazil facilitates money laundering, violence and other criminal activity.
Topic: Peruworld’s second-largest producer of cocaine, with an estimated 88,200 hectares under coca cultivation in 2020; cocaine is trafficked throughout South America for shipment to Europe, East Asia, Mexico, and the United States; major importer of precursor chemicals for cocaine production
Topic: Philippinescannabis products, methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as "shabu"), and MDMA (ecstasy) are locally used; Chinese Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) are the main source of methamphetamine; precursor chemicals are in transit from China to Burma
Topic: Polandsource country for amphetaminessource country for amphetamines
Topic: Portugala European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
Topic: Romaniaa source country for cannabisa source country for cannabis
Topic: Russiaa destination country for Afghan opium and heroin; a transit country for cocaine from South America, especially Ecuador to Europe, Belgium and Netherlands; synthetic drugs are produced in clandestine drug laboratories throughout the country; cannabis cultivated in Russian Far East and the North Caucasus; the majority of hashish is smuggled in from Northern Africaa destination country for Afghan opium and heroin; a transit country for cocaine from South America, especially Ecuador to Europe, Belgium and Netherlands; synthetic drugs are produced in clandestine drug laboratories throughout the country; cannabis cultivated in Russian Far East and the North Caucasus; the majority of hashish is smuggled in from Northern Africa
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Saint Luciaa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Saint Martintransshipment point for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europetransshipment point for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana destined for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as well as Europe
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesa transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbeana transit point for cocaine and marijuana destined for North America, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean
Topic: Saudi Arabiaregularly sentences drug traffickers to the death penalty, although a moratorium on executions for drug offences has been in place since at least 2020; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
Topic: Senegalmajor transit point on the cocaine route from South America to Europe; the third-largest cannabis-producing country in West Africamajor transit point on the cocaine route from South America to Europe; the third-largest cannabis-producing country in West Africa
Topic: Serbiadrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European marketsdrug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets
Topic: Singaporedrug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money launderingdrug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts, including carrying out death sentences; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering
Topic: Slovakiatransshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy
Topic: Sloveniaminor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals
Topic: South Africaleading regional importer of chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs especially synthetic drugs
Topic: Spainprimary transit point in Europe for cocaine from South America and for hashish from Morocco; cocaine is shipped in raw or liquid form with mixed cargo to avoid detection; traffickers ship methamphetamine via express mail; increasing number of indoor cannabis grow operations; illegal labs cutting, mixing, and reconstituting cocaine, and heroin and methamphetamine labs; synthetic drugs, including ketamine and MDMA (ecstasy) transit from Spain to the United States
Topic: Surinamea transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe, the United States and Africa; marijuana is the primary drug consumed locally
Topic: Switzerlandmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics; a significant importer and exporter of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine
Topic: Syriasource country for amphetamine tablets destined for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Libya, Sudan , and other countries in the Gulf, Mediterranean region, and Europe
Topic: Taiwanmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsmajor source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Topic: TajikistanTajikistan is a major route for drug trafficking in Central Asia; opiates and cannabis travel from Afghanistan through Tajikistan to markets in Russia, Belarus, and Western and Central Europe
Topic: Tanzaniasignificant transit country for illicit drugs in East Africa; international drug-trafficking organizations and courier networks transit through Tanzania to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine from Southwest Asia; produces cannabis products and khat for domestic consumption and regional and international distribution; traffickers influence politicians, law enforcement, and others in positions of power with money (2021)significant transit country for illicit drugs in East Africa; international drug-trafficking organizations and courier networks transit through Tanzania to smuggle heroin and methamphetamine from Southwest Asia; produces cannabis products and khat for domestic consumption and regional and international distribution; traffickers influence politicians, law enforcement, and others in positions of power with money
Topic: Thailanda minor producer of opium, heroin, and cannabis products; major part of the illegal drug market for the Southeast Asia region and the interconnected markets in East Asia and Oceania; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; . “Yaba,” a tablet containing methamphetamine, caffeine, and other stimulants, is the most widely abused drug in Thailand
Topic: Timor-LesteNA
Topic: Togotransit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem
Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoa transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs; marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug a transit point for illegal drugs destined for Europe, North America, and the rest of the Caribbean; drug trafficking organizations use proximity to Venezuela, porous borders, vulnerabilities at ports of entry, limited law enforcement capacity and resources, and law enforcement corruption to traffic illicit drugs; marijuana the only locally-produced illicit drug
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)transit country for heroin, opium, and cocaine trafficked to European markets; amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are trafficked to Middle East and Southeast Asia markets; one of the major transit routes for opiates smuggled from Afghanistan via Iran destined for Western Europe; smugglers involved in both heroin sales and transport and production and smuggling of synthetic drugs; criminal networks have interests in heroin conversion laboratories operating in Iran near the Turkish border; hashish imported or grown domestically for local consumptiontransit country for heroin, opium, and cocaine trafficked to European markets; amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are trafficked to Middle East and Southeast Asia markets; one of the major transit routes for opiates smuggled from Afghanistan via Iran destined for Western Europe; smugglers involved in both heroin sales and transport and production and smuggling of synthetic drugs; criminal networks have interests in heroin conversion laboratories operating in Iran near the Turkish border; hashish imported or grown domestically for local consumption
Topic: Turkmenistantransit country for Afghan opiates to Turkish, Russian, and European markets, either directly from Afghanistan or through Iran; not a major producer or source country for illegal drugs or precursor chemicals transit country for Afghan opiates to Turkish, Russian, and European markets, either directly from Afghanistan or through Iran; not a major producer or source country for illegal drugs or precursor chemicals
Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandstransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
Topic: Ukrainea transit country for illicit drug trafficking into the European Union due to its location amidst several important trafficking routes into western Europe, ports on the Black and Azov seas, extensive river routes, and porous northern and eastern borders; South American cocaine moves through Ukrainian seaports and airports; amphetamine and methamphetamine laboratories supply the local marketa transit country for illicit drug trafficking into the European Union due to its location amidst several important trafficking routes into western Europe, ports on the Black and Azov seas, extensive river routes, and porous northern and eastern borders; South American cocaine moves through Ukrainian seaports and airports; amphetamine and methamphetamine laboratories supply the local market
Topic: United Arab Emiratesa transshipment point for illegal narcotics and a pass-through for drug proceeds; numerous exchange houses and general trading companies increase potential for money; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Topic: United Kingdomconsumer and transit country for illicit drugs; cocaine and heroin consumption rates among Europe’s highest; criminal organizations engage in domestic drug trafficking and financial crimes; drug use remains linked to serious violence; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcoticsconsumer and transit country for illicit drugs; cocaine and heroin consumption rates among Europe’s highest; criminal organizations engage in domestic drug trafficking and financial crimes; drug use remains linked to serious violence; major source of precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
Topic: United Statesworld's largest consumer of cocaine (mostly from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; major consumer of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids sourced from Mexico and China, often mixed with other drugs; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering centerworld's largest consumer of cocaine (mostly from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; major consumer of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids sourced from Mexico and China, often mixed with other drugs; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center
Topic: Uruguaytransit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; limited law enforcement corruption; money laundering; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs
Topic: Uzbekistantransit country for Afghan opium and heroin destined for Russia and the European Union; also transit country for hashish, cannabis products, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; cannabis and poppy are cultivated in small amounts for personal use and local saletransit country for Afghan opium and heroin destined for Russia and the European Union; also transit country for hashish, cannabis products, New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), and synthetic drugs; cannabis and poppy are cultivated in small amounts for personal use and local sale
Topic: Venezuela a major drug transit country and trafficking route in the Western Hemisphere largely destined for the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, West Africa, and Europe for illegal drugs, predominately cocaine; government officials reportedly complicit with illegal armed narcotrafficking groups little international drug control cooperation; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border a major drug transit country and trafficking route in the Western Hemisphere largely destined for the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, West Africa, and Europe for illegal drugs, predominately cocaine; government officials reportedly complicit with illegal armed narcotrafficking groups little international drug control cooperation; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border
Topic: Vietnamtransshipment point for transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) trafficking heroin, crystal methamphetamine, and ketamine throughout East Asia and the Pacific; approximately 90% of the illicit drugs in the country originate in Laos, Burma, and Thailand
Topic: Worldcocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020
opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin (2015)cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2020 likely amounted to 373,000 hectares, potential pure cocaine production reached 2,100 metric tons in 2020
opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation probably reached about 265,000 hectares in 2020, with potential opium production reaching 7,300 metric tons; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 85% of the global supply; Southeast Asia was responsible for 7% of global opium; Latin America opium in 2020 was sufficient to produce about 61 metric tons of pure heroin
Topic: Zambiatransshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis
Topic: Zimbabwetransit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, methaqualone, and methamphetamines en route to South Africatransit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, methaqualone, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa |
20220901 | field-debt-external-country-comparison | |
20220901 | countries-sudan |
Topic: Photos of Sudan
Topic: Introduction
Background: Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. The latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, the British established an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony.
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. The 30-year reign of President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR, following months of nationwide protests, ended with the military forcing him out in April 2019. In July 2019, the country’s Transitional Military Council signed an agreement with the Forces for Freedom and Change (an umbrella group of civilian actors) to form a transitional government under a Constitutional Declaration. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as prime minister of a civilian-led transitional government, which was to have guided the country to credible democratic elections in late 2022. In October 2021, the Sudanese military organized a takeover that ousted Prime Minister HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated in November 2021 but resigned in January 2022. As of March 2022, General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and civilians appointed by the military. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. These acting ministers are either senior civil servants (some appointed by former Prime Minister HAMDOUK and some selected by the military) or holdover ministers from Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s former cabinet who were appointed by former armed opposition groups that the military allowed to remain in their positions. The UN, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are currently facilitating a Sudanese-led political process intended to enable Sudanese civilian and military stakeholders to agree on the framework for a new civilian-led transitional government.
During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries.
In the 21st century, Sudan faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. Together, these conflicts displaced more than 3 million people; while some repatriation has taken place, about 3.04 million IDPs remained in Sudan as of February 2022. Sudan also faces refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Syria. Long referred to as Nubia, modern-day Sudan was the site of the Kingdom of Kerma (ca. 2500-1500 B.C.) until it was absorbed into the New Kingdom of Egypt. By the 11th century B.C., the Kingdom of Kush gained independence from Egypt; it lasted in various forms until the middle of the 4th century A.D. After the fall of Kush, the Nubians formed three Christian kingdoms of Nobatia, Makuria, and Alodia. The latter two endured until around 1500. Between the 14th and 15th centuries much of Sudan was settled by Arab nomads, and between the 16th–19th centuries it underwent extensive Islamization. Following Egyptian occupation early in the 19th century, the British established an Anglo-Egyptian Sudan - nominally a condominium, but in effect a British colony.
Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since Sudan gained independence from Anglo-Egyptian co-rule in 1956. The 30-year reign of President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR, following months of nationwide protests, ended with the military forcing him out in April 2019. In July 2019, the country’s Transitional Military Council signed an agreement with the Forces for Freedom and Change (an umbrella group of civilian actors) to form a transitional government under a Constitutional Declaration. Economist and former international civil servant Abdalla HAMDOUK al-Kinani was selected to serve as prime minister of a civilian-led transitional government, which was to have guided the country to credible democratic elections in late 2022. In October 2021, the Sudanese military organized a takeover that ousted Prime Minister HAMDOUK and his government and replaced civilian members of the Sovereign Council (Sudan’s collective Head of State) with individuals selected by the military. HAMDOUK was briefly reinstated in November 2021 but resigned in January 2022.As of March 2022, General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman, the Chair of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces, serves as de facto head of state and government. He presides over a Sovereign Council consisting of military leaders, former armed opposition group representatives, and civilians appointed by the military. A cabinet of acting ministers handles day-to-day administration. These acting ministers are either senior civil servants (some appointed by former Prime Minister HAMDOUK and some selected by the military) or holdover ministers from Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s former cabinet who were appointed by former armed opposition groups that the military allowed to remain in their positions. The UN, the African Union, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development are currently facilitating a Sudanese-led political process intended to enable Sudanese civilian and military stakeholders to agree on the framework for a new civilian-led transitional government.
During most of the second half of the 20th century, Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of the largely non-Muslim, non-Arab southern portion of the country. The first civil war ended in 1972, but another broke out in 1983. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04, and the final North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), signed in January 2005, granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years followed by a referendum on independence for Southern Sudan. South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011, but Sudan and South Sudan have yet to fully implement security and economic agreements relating to the normalization of relations between the two countries.
In the 21st century, Sudan faced conflict in Darfur, Southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile starting in 2003. Together, these conflicts displaced more than 3 million people; while some repatriation has taken place, about 3.04 million IDPs remained in Sudan as of February 2022. Sudan also faces refugee influxes from neighboring countries, primarily Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Syria. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: north-eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,861,484 sq km
land: 1,731,671 sq km
water: 129,813 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries: total: 6,819 km
border countries (7): Central African Republic 174 km; Chad 1,403 km; Egypt 1,276 km; Eritrea 682 km; Ethiopia 744 km; Libya 382 km; South Sudan 2,158 km
note: Sudan-South Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment; final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei region pending negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; desert dominates the north
Elevation: highest point: Jabal Marrah 3,042 m
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 568 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold; hydropower
Land use: agricultural land: 100% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur as shown on this population distribution map
Natural hazards: dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Geography - note: the Nile is Sudan's primary water source; its major tributaries, the White Nile and the Blue Nile, meet at Khartoum to form the River Nile which flows northward through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea
Map description: Sudan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea.Sudan showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Red Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 47,958,856 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: Sudanese Arab (approximately 70%), Fur, Beja, Nuba, Ingessana, Uduk, Fallata, Masalit, Dajo, Gimir, Tunjur, Berti; there are over 500 ethnic groups
Languages: Arabic (official), English (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, Fur
major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)
Religions: Sunni Muslim, small Christian minority
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42.01% (male 9,726,937/female 9,414,988)
15-24 years: 20.94% (male 4,852,903/female 4,687,664)
25-54 years: 29.89% (male 6,633,567/female 6,986,241)
55-64 years: 4.13% (male 956,633/female 923,688)
65 years and over: 3.03% (2020 est.) (male 729,214/female 649,721)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 76.9
youth dependency ratio: 70.4
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5
potential support ratio: 15.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 18.3 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.55% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 33.47 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: with the exception of a ribbon of settlement that corresponds to the banks of the Nile, northern Sudan, which extends into the dry Sahara, is sparsely populated; more abundant vegetation and broader access to water increases population distribution in the south extending habitable range along nearly the entire border with South Sudan; sizeable areas of population are found around Khartoum, southeast between the Blue and White Nile Rivers, and througout South Darfur as shown on this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 36% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 6.160 million KHARTOUM (capital), 1.012 million Nyala (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 295 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 42.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 47.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.12 years
male: 64.89 years
female: 69.46 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 12.2% (2014)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99% of population
rural: 80.7% of population
total: 87.1% of population
unimproved: urban: 1% of population
rural: 19.3% of population
total: 12.9% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 4.6% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 72.1% of population
rural: 30.6% of population
total: 45.3% of population
unimproved: urban: 27.9% of population
rural: 69.4% of population
total: 54.7% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 49,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,300 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 6.6% (2014)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 33% (2014)
Education expenditures: NA
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 65.4%
female: 56.1% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 8 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2015)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6%
male: 27.4%
female: 43.5% (2011 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water scarcity and periodic drought; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; deforestation; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 47.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 20 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 75.1 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: hot and dry; arid desert; rainy season varies by region (April to November)
Land use: agricultural land: 100% (2018 est.)
arable land: 15.7% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 84.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 36% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 3.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and Rift Valley fever
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases: rabies
respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to conflict, civil insecurity, and soaring food prices - the number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 6 million between October 2021 and February 2022, mainly due to high food prices and inter-communal conflict (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,831,291 tons (2015 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Nile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouthNile (shared with Rwanda [s], Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, and Egypt [m]) - 6,650 km; Blue Nile river mouth (shared with Ethiopia [s]) - 1,600 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: (Mediterranean Sea) Nile (3,254,853 sq km)
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage: Lake Chad (2,497,738 sq km)
Major aquifers: Nubian Aquifer System, Sudd Basin (Umm Ruwaba Aquifer)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 950 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 75 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 25.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 37.8 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Sudan
etymology: the name "Sudan" derives from the Arabic "bilad-as-sudan" meaning "Land of the Black [peoples]"
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: several explanations of the name exist; two of the more plausible are that it is derived from Arabic "al-jartum" meaning "elephant's trunk" or "hose," and likely referring to the narrow strip of land extending between the Blue and White Niles; alternatively, the name could derive from the Dinka words "khar-tuom," indicating a "place where rivers meet"
Administrative divisions: 18 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); Blue Nile, Central Darfur, East Darfur, Gedaref, Gezira, Kassala, Khartoum, North Darfur, North Kordofan, Northern, Red Sea, River Nile, Sennar, South Darfur, South Kordofan, West Darfur, West Kordofan, White Nile
note: the peace Agreement signed in October 2020 included a provision to establish a system of governance that will likely restructure the country's current 18 provinces/states into regions
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: history: previous 1973, 1998, 2005 (interim constitution, which was suspended in April 2019); latest initial draft completed by Transitional Military Council in May 2019; revised draft known as the "Draft Constitutional Charter for the 2019 Transitional Period," or “2019 Constitutional Declaration” was signed by the Council and opposition coalition on 4 August 2019
amendments: amended 2020 to incorporate the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan; the military suspended several provisions of the Constitutional Declaration in October 2021
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law; note - in mid-July 2020, Sudan amended 15 provisions of its 1991 penal code
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; withdrew acceptance of ICCt jurisdiction in 2008
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Sudan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman; note – the 2019 Constitutional Declaration established a collective chief of state of the "Sovereign Council," which was chaired by al-BURHAN; on 25 October 2021, al-BURHAN dissolved the Sovereign Council but reinstated it on 11 November 2021, replacing its civilian members (previously selected by the umbrella civilian coalition the Forces for Freedom and Change) with civilians of the military’s choosing; the Sovereign Council currently consists of 5 military-appointed civilians, 5 generals, and 3 representatives selected by former armed opposition groups
head of government: Sovereign Council Chair and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN Abd-al-Rahman; Acting Prime Minister Osman HUSSEIN (since 19 January 2022); note - former Prime Minister Abdallah HAMDOUK resigned on 2 January 2022; HAMDOUK served as prime minister from August 2019 to October 2019 before he was kidnapped; he was later freed and reinstated as prime minister on 21 November 2021
cabinet: most members of the Council of Ministers were forced from office in October 2021 by the military and subsequently resigned in November 2021; the military allowed a handful of ministers appointed by former armed opposition groups to retain their posts; at present, most of the members of the Council are senior civil servants serving in an acting minister capacity appointed either by Prime Minister HAMDOUK prior to his resignation or by the military
elections/appointments: the 2019 Constitutional Declaration originally called for elections to be held in late 2022 at the end of the transitional period; that date was pushed back to late 2023 by the Juba Peace Agreement; the methodology for future elections has not yet been defined; according to the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, civilian members of the Sovereign Council and the prime minister were to have been nominated by an umbrella coalition of civilian actors known as the Forces for Freedom and Change; this methodology was followed in selecting HAMDOUK as prime minister in August 2019; the military purports to have suspended this provision of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration in October 2021; Prime Minister HAMDOUK’s restoration to office in November 2021 was the result of an agreement signed between him and Sovereign Council Chair BURHAN; military members of the Sovereign Council are selected by the leadership of the security forces; representatives of former armed groups to the Sovereign Council are selected by the signatories of the Juba Peace Agreement
election results: NA
Legislative branch: description: according to the August 2019 Constitutional Declaration, which established Sudan's transitional government, the Transitional Legislative Council (TLC) was to have served as the national legislature during the transitional period until elections could be held; as of March 2022, the TLC had not been established
elections: Council of State - last held 1 June 2015; subsequently dissolved in April 2019
National Assembly - last held on 13-15 April 2015; subsequently dissolved in April 2019
note – according to the 2019 Constitutional Declaration, elections for a new legislature are to be held in late 2023
election results: Council of State - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; former composition - men 35, women 19, percent of women 35.2%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; former seats by party - NCP 323, DUP 25, Democratic Unionist Party 15, other 44, independent 19; former composition - men 296 women 130, percent of women 30.5%; note - former
total National Legislature percent of women 31%
Judicial branch: highest courts: National Supreme Court (consists of 70 judges organized into panels of 3 judges and includes 4 circuits that operate outside the capital); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 justices including the court president); note - the Constitutional Court resides outside the national judiciary and has not been appointed since the signature of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration
judge selection and term of office: National Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, which replaced the National Judicial Service Commission upon enactment of the 2019 Constitutional Declaration
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; other national courts; public courts; district, town, and rural courts
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI]
Democratic Unionist Party or DUP [Babika BABIKER]
Federal Umma Party [Dr. Ahmed Babikir NAHAR]
Muslim Brotherhood or MB [Sadig Abdalla ABDELMAJID and Dr. Yousif Al-Hibir Nor-ELDAYIM]
National Congress Party or NCP (in November 2019, Sudan's transitional government approved a law to "dismantle" the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir, including the dissolution of his political party, the NCP)
National Umma Party or NUP [Fadlallah Baramah NASSER]
Popular Congress Party or PCP [Nawal Al-KHIDIR]
Reform Movement Now [Dr. Ghazi Salahuddin al-ATABANI]
Sudan National Front [Ali Mahmud HASANAYN]
Sudanese Communist Party or SCP [Mohammed Moktar Al-KHATEEB]
Sudanese Congress Party or SCoP [Omar El DIGAIR]
Umma Party for Reform and Development [Mubarak Al-Fadul Al-MAHDI]
Unionist Movement Party or UMP [led by DUP Chair Mohammed Osama Al-MERGHANI]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Charge D’Affaires Ismat Kamil GABBANI (since 14 January 2022)
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
email address and website:
consular@sudanembassy.org
https://www.sudanembassy.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lucy TAMLYN (since 3 February 2022)
embassy: P.O. Box 699, Kilo 10, Soba, Khartoum
mailing address: 2200 Khartoum Place, Washington DC 20521-2200
telephone: [249] 187-0-22000
email address and website:
ACSKhartoum@state.gov
https://sd.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents the people of Sudan (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity
National symbol(s): secretary bird; national colors: red, white, black, green
National anthem: name: "Nahnu Djundulla Djundulwatan" (We Are the Army of God and of Our Land)
lyrics/music: Sayed Ahmad Muhammad SALIH/Ahmad MURJAN
note: adopted 1956; originally served as the anthem of the Sudanese military
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Gebel Barkal and the Sites of the Napatan Region (c); Archaeological Sites of the Island of Meroe (c); Sanganeb Marine National Park and Dungonab Bay – Mukkawar Island Marine National Park (n)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan’s economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line. Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world’s largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world’s total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force. Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017. (2017)Sudan has experienced protracted social conflict and the loss of three quarters of its oil production due to the secession of South Sudan. The oil sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since 1999. For nearly a decade, the economy boomed on the back of rising oil production, high oil prices, and significant inflows of foreign direct investment. Since the economic shock of South Sudan's secession, Sudan has struggled to stabilize its economy and make up for the loss of foreign exchange earnings. The interruption of oil production in South Sudan in 2012 for over a year and the consequent loss of oil transit fees further exacerbated the fragile state of Sudan’s economy. Ongoing conflicts in Southern Kordofan, Darfur, and the Blue Nile states, lack of basic infrastructure in large areas, and reliance by much of the population on subsistence agriculture, keep close to half of the population at or below the poverty line.Sudan was subject to comprehensive US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. Sudan is attempting to develop non-oil sources of revenues, such as gold mining and agriculture, while carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures. The world’s largest exporter of gum Arabic, Sudan produces 75-80% of the world’s total output. Agriculture continues to employ 80% of the work force.Sudan introduced a new currency, still called the Sudanese pound, following South Sudan's secession, but the value of the currency has fallen since its introduction. Khartoum formally devalued the currency in June 2012, when it passed austerity measures that included gradually repealing fuel subsidies. Sudan also faces high inflation, which reached 47% on an annual basis in November 2012 but fell to about 35% per year in 2017.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $176.4 billion (2020 est.)
$179.2 billion (2019 est.)
$181.61 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 1.4% (2017 est.)
3% (2016 est.)
1.3% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2020 est.)
$4,200 (2019 est.)
$4,300 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $24.918 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50.2% (2019 est.)
62.8% (2018 est.)
32.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 39.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 2.6% (2017 est.)
services: 57.8% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 77.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 5.8% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.6% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 9.7% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -11.8% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, sorghum, milk, groundnuts, onions, sesame seed, goat milk, millet, bananas, wheat
Industries: oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly, milling
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 11.92 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80%
industry: 7%
services: 13% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19.6% (2017 est.)
20.6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 32.6%
male: 27.4%
female: 43.5% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line: 46.5% (2009 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 34.2 (2014 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 26.7% (2009 est.)
Budget: revenues: 8.48 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 13.36 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -10.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 121.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
99.5% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$4.811 billion (2017 est.)
-$4.213 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $5.11 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$5 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 31%, China 19%, Saudi Arabia 14%, India 12%, Egypt 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, crude petroleum, sesame seeds, sheep, goats, cotton, ground nuts (2019)
Imports: $9.79 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$8.24 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 31%, India 14%, United Arab Emirates 11%, Egypt 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: raw sugar, wheat, packaged medicines, jewelry, tires, cars and vehicle parts (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $198 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$168.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $56.05 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$51.26 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (SDG) per US dollar -
6.72 (2017 est.)
6.14 (2016 est.)
6.14 (2015 est.)
6.03 (2014 est.)
5.74 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 47% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 71% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 35% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 4.354 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 9,682,060,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 4.599 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 43.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 55.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 66,900 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 137,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 12,900 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 9,000 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 5 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 94,830 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 8,541 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 24,340 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 84.95 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 17.319 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 17.319 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 8.047 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 129,408 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2020 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 33,014,200 (2019)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77.11 (2019)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Sudan emerged as a poorer country when South Sudan separated from it in 2011; although Sudan has about four times the population of South Sudan, the latter benefits from its control of the majority of known oil reserves; the Sudanese economy has been affected by hyperinflation in recent years, partly the result of the loss of oil revenue but also due to domestic volatility and social unrest; the difficult economic conditions have meant that for several years telcos have reported revenue under hyper inflationary reporting standards; pressure on revenue has made it difficult for operators to invest in infrastructure upgrades, and so provide improved services to customers; despite this, the number of mobile subscribers increased 7.% in 20201, year-on-year; this level of growth is expected to have been maintained in 2022, though could slow from 2023 as the acute influences resulting the pandemic begin to wane; the country’s poor fixed-line infrastructure has helped the development of mobile broadband services. Sudatel, Cameroon’s Camtel, and Chad-based SudaChad Telecom’s planned investment, the WE-Africa-NA terrestrial fibre link, will connect from Port-Sudan then on to Kribi in Cameroon, passing through Chad; the new build aims to respond to rising data demand in all three countries, particularly as usage has been accelerated since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic with digital and data services gaining traction. (2022)
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, fiber optic, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations; teledensity fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular over 80 telephones per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 249; landing points for the EASSy, FALCON and SAS-1,-2, fiber-optic submarine cable systems linking Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean Islands and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: Following the establishment of Sudan’s civilian-led transitional government in August 2019, government-owned broadcasters became increasingly independent from government and military control. Following the October 2021 military takeover, additional restrictions were imposed on these government-owned broadcasters, which now practice a heightened degree of self-censorship but still operate more independently than in the pre-2019 environment. (2022)
Internet country code: .sd
Internet users: total: 12,277,795 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 28% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 28,782 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 269,958 (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ST
Airports: total: 67 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 9 (2021)
Heliports: 7 (2021)
Pipelines: 156 km gas, 4,070 km oil, 1,613 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 7,251 km (2014)
narrow gauge: 5,851 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge
1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for cotton plantations
Roadways: total: 31,000 km (2019)
paved: 8,000 km (2019)
unpaved: 23,000 km (2019)
urban: 1,000 km (2019)
Waterways: 4,068 km (2011) (1,723 km open year-round on White and Blue Nile Rivers)
Merchant marine: total: 15
by type: other 15 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Port Sudan
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): Ground Force, Navy, Sudanese Air Force; Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Border Guards
Ministry of Interior: security police, special forces police, traffic police, Central Reserve Police (2022)
note 1: the RSF is a semi-autonomous paramilitary force formed in 2013 to fight armed rebel groups in Sudan, with Mohammed Hamdan DAGALO (aka Hemeti) as its commander (he is also a member of the Sovereign Council); it was initially placed under the National Intelligence and Security Service, then came under the direct command of former president Omar al-BASHIR, who boosted the RSF as his own personal security force; as a result, the RSF was better funded and equipped than the regular armed forces; the RSF has since recruited from all parts of Sudan beyond its original Darfuri Arab groups but remains under the personal patronage and control of DAGALO; the RSF has been accused of committing human rights abuses against civilians; it is also reportedly involved in business enterprises, such as gold mining; in late 2019, Sovereign Council Chairman and SAF Commander-in-Chief General Abd-al-Fatah al-BURHAN said the RSF would be fully integrated into the SAF, but did not give a timeline
note 2: the Central Reserve Police is a combat-trained paramilitary force that has been used against demonstrators and sanctioned by the US for human rights abuses
Military expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $2.08 billion)
2% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $2.08 billion)
3.6% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $2.75 billion)
2.9% of GDP (2016 est.) (approximately $2.55 billion)
2.4% of GDP (2015 est.) (approximately $2.64 billion)
note: many defense expenditures are probably off-budget
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies widely; estimated 100-125,000 active duty armed forces personnel; approximately 30-40,000 Rapid Support Forces (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SAF's inventory includes a mix of Chinese, Russian, Soviet-era, Ukrainian, and domestically-produced weapons systems; since 2010, the leading arms providers to the SAF are Belarus, China, Russia, and Ukraine; North Korea has also provided arms; Sudan has a domestic arms industry that manufactures ammunition, small arms, and armored vehicles, largely based on older Chinese and Russian systems (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18-33 years of age for male and female compulsory or voluntary military service; 1-2 year service obligation (2022)
note - implementation of conscription is reportedly uneven
Military deployments: Sudan joined the Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015, reportedly providing as many as 40,000 troops during the peak of the war in 2016-17, mostly from the Rapid Support Forces; by 2021, Sudan had reduced the size of the force to about a brigade (approximately 2-3,000 troops) (2022)
Military - note: the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has operated in the disputed Abyei region along the border between Sudan and South Sudan since 2011; UNISFA's mission includes ensuring security, protecting civilians, strengthening the capacity of the Abyei Police Service, de-mining, monitoring/verifying the redeployment of armed forces from the area, and facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid; UNISFA had about 3,300 personnel deployed as of February 2022
in addition, the United Nations African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) operated in the war-torn Darfur region between 2007 and the end of its mandate in July 2021; UNAMID was a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force with the mission of bringing stability to Darfur, including protecting civilians, facilitating humanitarian assistance, and promoting mediation efforts, while peace talks on a final settlement continued; UNAMID withdrew the last of its personnel in December 2021; note - the October 2020 peace agreement provided for the establishment of a joint security force comprised of 12,000 personnel tasked with securing the Darfur region in the place of UNAMID; in June 2021, Sudan's transitional government announced it would increase the size of this force to 20,000 and expand its mission scope to include the capital and other parts of the country suffering from violence; the force would include the SAF, RSF, police, intelligence, and representatives from armed groups involved in peace negotiations (2022)the Sudanese military has been a dominant force in the ruling of the country since its independence in 1956; in addition, the Sudanese military and security forces have a large role in the country's economy, reportedly controlling over 200 commercial companies, including businesses involved in gold mining, rubber production, agriculture, and meat exports
Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida; Harakat Sawa’d Misr
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Sudan-Central African Republic: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights; Sudan closed its border with the Central African Republic in January 2022 due to security concerns Sudan-Chad: Chad wants to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; however, since the August 2020 Juba Peace Agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and the termination of the UN’s peacekeeping mission, UNAMID, at the end of 2020, violence continues to break out over land and water access Sudan-Egypt: Sudan claims, but Egypt de facto administers, security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundary Sudan-Eritrea: none identified Sudan-Ethiopia: civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; clashes continue between Sudan and Ethiopia over al-Fashaga, a fertile piece of land inhabited by Ethiopian farmers for years until the Sudanese army expelled them in December 2020, claiming the land belonged to Sudan based on colonial-era maps from over 100 years ago; in February, 2022, the two countries were discussing resuming talks over the border conflict Sudan-Libya: none identified Sudan-South Sudan: the South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; clashes continue in the oil-rich Abyei region; the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has been deployed since 2011, when South Sudan became independent Sudan-Central African Republic: periodic violent skirmishes persist among related pastoral populations along the border with the Central African Republic over water and grazing rights; Sudan closed its border with the Central African Republic in January 2022 due to security concernsSudan-Chad: Chad wants to be a helpful mediator in resolving the Darfur conflict, and in 2010 established a joint border monitoring force with Sudan, which has helped to reduce cross-border banditry and violence; however, since the August 2020 Juba Peace Agreement between the Sudanese Government and the Sudanese Revolutionary Front and the termination of the UN’s peacekeeping mission, UNAMID, at the end of 2020, violence continues to break out over land and water accessSudan-Egypt: Sudan claims, but Egypt de facto administers, security and economic development of the Halaib region north of the 22nd parallel boundarySudan-Eritrea: none identifiedSudan-Ethiopia: civil unrest in eastern Sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia; clashes continue between Sudan and Ethiopia over al-Fashaga, a fertile piece of land inhabited by Ethiopian farmers for years until the Sudanese army expelled them in December 2020, claiming the land belonged to Sudan based on colonial-era maps from over 100 years ago; in February, 2022, the two countries were discussing resuming talks over the border conflictSudan-Libya: none identifiedSudan-South Sudan: the South Sudan-Sudan boundary represents 1 January 1956 alignment, final alignment pending negotiations and demarcation; final sovereignty status of Abyei area pending negotiations between South Sudan and Sudan; clashes continue in the oil-rich Abyei region; the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has been deployed since 2011, when South Sudan became independent
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 807,532 (South Sudan) (refugees and asylum seekers), 130,379 (Eritrea) (refugees and asylum seekers), 93,480 (Syria) (refugees and asylum seekers), 72,555 (Ethiopia) (refugees and asylum seekers), 28,035 (Central African Republic) (2022)
IDPs: 3,036,593 (civil war 1983-2005; ongoing conflict in Darfur region; government and rebel fighting along South Sudan border; inter-tribal clashes) (2022)
Trafficking in persons: current situation: Sudan is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; traffickers exploit homeless children and unaccompanied migrant children from West and Central Africa in forced labor for begging, public transportation, large markets, and in sex trafficking; business owners, informal mining operators, community members, and farmers exploit children in brick-making factories, gold mining, collecting medical waste, street vending, and agriculture; children are exposed to threats, physical and sexual abuse, and hazardous working conditions; criminal groups exploit Sudanese women and girls from rural areas in domestic work and in sex trafficking; Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, have been accused of recruiting child soldiers, which they deny; Eritrean, Ethiopian, and other Africans refugees at government encampments risk exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Sudan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities prosecuted more suspected traffickers and launched an awareness campaign; the government streamlined its national anti-trafficking mechanism and focused resources on the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking; a national action plan was drafted, finalized, and approved; Sudanese Armed Forces officials launched a unit for child protection efforts in conflict areas and trained more than 5,000 members of its military on child protection issues; however, the Rapid Support Forces, a semi-autonomous paramilitary branch of the government, is reported to have recruited child soldiers and government authorities have acknowledged there are child soldiers among demobilizing forces covered under the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement; the government has not developed a system to identify, demobilize, and rehabilitate victims; officials’ denial of trafficking, smuggling, and kidnapping for ransom impeded anti-trafficking efforts; investigations and convictions of trafficking crimes decreased; Sudan was granted a waiver per the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3; Sudan remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year (2020) |
20220901 | countries-marshall-islands |
Topic: Photos of Marshall Islands
Topic: Introduction
Background: Humans arrived in the Marshall Islands in the first millennium B.C. and gradually created permanent settlements on the various atolls. The early inhabitants were skilled navigators who frequently traveled between atolls using stick charts to map the islands. Society became organized under two paramount chiefs, one each for the Ratak (Sunrise) Chain and the Ralik (Sunset) Chain. The traditional hierarchy continued even after contact with Europeans in the early 1500s. Spain formally claimed the islands in 1592, but few other Europeans passed by the islands in the next two centuries. In 1788, British sea captain John MARSHALL undertook an exploratory voyage, and the islands were mapped in the early 1800s by Russian explorers. In the 1850s, US Protestant missionaries began arriving on the islands. Germany established a supply station on Jaluit Atoll and bought the islands from Spain in 1884, although paramount chiefs continued to rule.
Japan seized the Marshall Islands in 1914 and was granted a League of Nations Mandate to administer the islands in 1920. Japan built large military bases throughout the Marshall Islands, and during World War II, the US captured the bases on Kwajalein, Enewetak, and Majuro Atolls in Operations Flintlock and Catchpole. The Marshall Islands came under US administration as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) in 1947. Between 1946 and 1958, the US resettled populations from Bikini and Enewetak Atolls and conducted 67 nuclear tests; people from Ailinginae and Rongelap Atolls were also evacuated because of nuclear fallout, and all four atolls remain largely uninhabited. In 1979, the Marshall Islands drafted a constitution separate from the rest of the TTPI and declared independence under President Amata KABUA, a paramount chief. In 2000, Kessai NOTE became the first commoner elected president. In 2016, Hilda HEINE was the first woman elected president.
In 1982, the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association (COFA) with the US, which granted the Marshall Islands financial assistance and access to many US domestic programs in exchange for exclusive US military access and defense responsibilities; the COFA entered into force in 1986 and its funding was renewed in 2003. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network. Kwajalein also hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory)).Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Oceania, consists of 29 atolls and five isolated islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia; the atolls and islands are situated in two, almost-parallel island chains - the Ratak (Sunrise) group and the Ralik (Sunset) group; the total number of islands and islets is about 1,225; 22 of the atolls and four of the islands are uninhabited
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 168 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 181 sq km
land: 181 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: the archipelago includes 11,673 sq km of lagoon waters and encompasses the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik
Area - comparative: about the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 370.4 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Terrain: low coral limestone and sand islands
Elevation: highest point: East-central Airik Island, Maloelap Atoll 14 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 2 m
Natural resources: coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals
Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 49.3% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Natural hazards: infrequent typhoons
Geography - note: the islands of Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein atoll, famous as a World War II battleground, surrounds the world's largest lagoon and is used as a US missile test range; the island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most densely populated locations in the Pacific
Map description: Marshall Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.Marshall Islands map showing the major islands of this archipelagic country in the North Pacific Ocean.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 79,906 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese
Ethnic groups: Marshallese 92.1%, mixed Marshallese 5.9%, other 2% (2006 est.)
Languages: Marshallese (official) 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
note: English (official), widely spoken as a second language
Bok eo an Lalin kin Melele ko Rejimwe ej jikin ebōk melele ko raurōk. (Marshallese)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Protestant 80.5% (United Church of Christ 47%, Assembly of God 16.2%, Bukot Nan Jesus 5.4%, Full Gospel 3.3%, Reformed Congressional Church 3%, Salvation Army 1.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, Meram in Jesus 1.2%, other Protestant 1.1%), Roman Catholic 8.5%, Church of Jesus Christ 7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.7%, other 1.2%, none 1.1% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32.94% (male 13,090/female 12,575)
15-24 years: 19.09% (male 7,568/female 7,308)
25-54 years: 37.35% (male 14,834/female 14,270)
55-64 years: 5.92% (male 2,269/female 2,341)
65 years and over: 4.7% (2020 est.) (male 1,805/female 1,857)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 23.8 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 23.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.28 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most people live in urban clusters found on many of the country's islands; more than two-thirds of the population lives on the atolls of Majuro and Ebeye
Urbanization: urban population: 78.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 31,000 MAJURO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 21.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.65 years
male: 72.4 years
female: 77.01 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.76 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 99.8% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0.2% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 16.3% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.42 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
Hospital bed density: 2.7 beds/1,000 population
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 96.6% of population
rural: 65.4% of population
total: 89.7% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.4% of population
rural: 34.6% of population
total: 10.3% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 52.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 28.5% (2020 est.)
male: 48.7% (2020 est.)
female: 8.3% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 11.9% (2017)
Education expenditures: 9.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.3%
male: 98.3%
female: 98.2% (2011)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26%
male: 31%
female: 14.2% (2019 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels; sea level rise
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 9.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 0.14 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.03 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November; islands border typhoon belt
Land use: agricultural land: 50.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 31.2% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 11.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 49.3% (2018 est.)
other: 0% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 78.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.61% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne diseases: malaria
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 8,614 tons (2013 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 2,653 tons (2007 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 30.8% (2007 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands District
abbreviation: RMI
etymology: named after British Captain John MARSHALL, who charted many of the islands in 1788
Government type: mixed presidential-parliamentary system in free association with the US
Capital: name: Majuro; note - the capital is an atoll of 64 islands; governmental buildings are housed on three fused islands on the eastern side of the atoll: Djarrit, Uliga, and Delap
geographic coordinates: 7 06 N, 171 23 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: Majuro means "two openings" or "two eyes" and refers to the two major northern passages through the atoll into the Majuro lagoon
Administrative divisions: 24 municipalities; Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikini & Kili, Ebon, Enewetak & Ujelang, Jabat, Jaluit, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Ujae, Utrik, Wotho, Wotje
Independence: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Constitution: history: effective 1 May 1979
amendments: proposed by the National Parliament or by a constitutional convention; passage by Parliament requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership in each of two readings and approval by a majority of votes in a referendum; amendments submitted by a constitutional convention require approval of at least two thirds of votes in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system: mixed legal system of US and English common law, customary law, and local statutes
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Marshall Islands
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President David KABUA (since 13 January 2020)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president from among members of the Nitijela, appointed by Nitijela speaker
elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Nitijela from among its members for a 4-year term (no term limits); election last held on 6 January 2020 (next to be held in 2024)
election results: David KABUA elected president; Parliament vote - David KABUA 20, Hilda C. HEINE 12
Legislative branch: description: unicameral National Parliament consists of:
Nitijela (33 seats; members in 19 single- and 5 multi-seat constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms); note - the Council of Iroij, a 12-member group of tribal leaders advises the Presidential Cabinet and reviews legislation affecting customary law or any traditional practice); members appointed to serve 1-year terms
elections: last held on 18 November 2019 (next to be held by November 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independent 33; composition - men 31, women 2, percent of women 6.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 2 associate justices)
judge selection and term of office: judges appointed by the Cabinet upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission (consists of the chief justice of the High Court, the attorney general and a private citizen selected by the Cabinet) and upon approval of the Nitijela; the current chief justice, appointed in 2013, serves for 10 years; Marshallese citizens appointed as justices serve until retirement at age 72
subordinate courts: High Court; District Courts; Traditional Rights Court; Community Courts
Political parties and leaders: traditionally there have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
International organization participation: ACP, ADB, AOSIS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. ZACKIOS (since 16 September 2016)
chancery: 2433 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
email address and website:
info@rmiembassyus.org
https://www.rmiembassyus.org/
consulate(s) general: Honolulu, Springdale (AR)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roxanne CABRAL (since 6 February 2020)
embassy: Mejen Weto, Ocean Side, Majuro
mailing address: 4380 Majuro Place, Washington DC 20521-4380
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012
email address and website:
MAJConsular@state.gov
https://mh.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north
National symbol(s): a 24-rayed star; national colors: blue, white, orange
National anthem: name: "Forever Marshall Islands"
lyrics/music: Amata KABUA
note: adopted 1981
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Bikini Atoll Nuclear Test Site
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.US assistance and lease payments for the use of Kwajalein Atoll as a US military base are the mainstay of this small island country. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. Tourism holds some potential. The islands and atolls have few natural resources, and imports exceed exports. The Marshall Islands received roughly $1 billion in aid from the US during the period 1986-2001 under the original Compact of Free Association (Compact). In 2002 and 2003, the US and the Marshall Islands renegotiated the Compact's financial package for a 20-year period, 2004 to 2024. Under the amended Compact, the Marshall Islands will receive roughly $1.5 billion in direct US assistance. Under the amended Compact, the US and Marshall Islands are also jointly funding a Trust Fund for the people of the Marshall Islands that will provide an income stream beyond 2024, when direct Compact aid ends.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $240 million (2019 est.)
$220 million (2018 est.)
$219 million (2017 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 2.5% (2017 est.)
3.6% (2016 est.)
2% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,000 (2019 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,800 (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
$3,776 (2017 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $222 million (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (2017 est.)
-1.5% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 4.4% (2013 est.)
industry: 9.9% (2013 est.)
services: 85.7% (2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption: 50% (2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.8% (2016 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2016 est.)
exports of goods and services: 52.9% (2016 est.)
imports of goods and services: -102.3% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts
Industries: copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 10,670 (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11%
industry: 16.3%
services: 72.7% (2011 est.)
Unemployment rate: 36% (2006 est.)
30.9% (2000 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 26%
male: 31%
female: 14.2% (2019 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 116.7 million (2013 est.)
expenditures: 113.9 million (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.3% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
Public debt: 25.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
30% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 52.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Current account balance: -$1 million (2017 est.)
$15 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $130 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Poland 28%, Denmark 19%, South Korea 13%, Indonesia 10%, Cyprus 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: ships, fish, recreational boats, broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil (2019)
Imports: $170 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$103.8 million (2016 est.)
Imports - partners: South Korea 39%, China 27%, Japan 15% (2019)
Imports - commodities: ships, refined petroleum, centrifuges, recreational boats, boat propellers (2019)
Debt - external: $97.96 million (2013 est.)
$87 million (2008 est.)
Exchange rates: the US dollar is usedthe US dollar is used
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 96.3% (2018)
electrification - urban areas: 95.7% (2018)
electrification - rural areas: 98.4% (2018)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 2,060 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 293,700 metric tonnes of CO2 (2017 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 2,361 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 16,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: some telecom infrastructure improvements made in recent years; modern services include fiber optic cable service, cellular, Internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits; the US Government, World Bank, UN and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), have aided in improvements and monetary aid to the islands telecom; mobile penetrations is around 30%; radio communication is especially vital to remote islands (2018)
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes) and mini-satellite telephones; fixed-line roughly 4 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular is nearly 28 per 100 persons (2019)
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: no TV broadcast station; a cable network is available on Majuro with programming via videotape replay and satellite relays; 4 radio broadcast stations; American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) provides satellite radio and television service to Kwajalein Atoll (2019)
Internet country code: .mh
Internet users: total: 22,929 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 39% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2020 est.)
Communications - note: Kwajalein hosts one of four dedicated ground antennas that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation system (the others are at Cape Canaveral, Florida (US), on Ascension (Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha), and at Diego Garcia (British Indian Ocean Territory))
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 24,313 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 130,000 (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V7
Airports: total: 15 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 2,028 km (2007)
paved: 75 km (2007)
unpaved: 1,953 km
Merchant marine: total: 3,817
by type: bulk carrier 1,733, container ship 248, general cargo 66, oil tanker 970, other 800 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Enitwetak Island, Kwajalein, Majuro
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: no regular military forces; the national police (Marshall Islands Police Department, MIPD), local police forces, and the Sea Patrol (maritime police) maintain internal security; the MIPD and Sea Patrol report to the Ministry of Justice; local police report to their respective local government councils
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Marshall Islands-US: claims US territory of Wake Island; the Marshall Islands put its claim on record with the UN in 2016 Marshall Islands-US: claims US territory of Wake Island; the Marshall Islands put its claim on record with the UN in 2016
Trafficking in persons: current situation: The Marshall Islands are a destination country for women from East Asia subjected to sex trafficking; foreign women are reportedly forced into prostitution in bars frequented by crew members of fishing vessels; some Chinese women are recruited to the Marshall Islands with promises of legitimate work and are subsequently forced into prostitution; wealthy or powerful families use traditional cultural practices to exploit impoverished Marshallese from outer islands as indentured laborers on their property; Marshallese children are transported to the United States and subjected to sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — the Marshall Islands does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include its first trafficking prosecution since 2011 and opening an investigation into an immigration official for alleged trafficking complicity; however, no efforts were made to identify trafficking victims and no assistance was provided to victims; the government has not convicted any traffickers since 2011 (2020) |
20220901 | countries-lithuania |
Topic: Photos of Lithuania
Topic: Introduction
Background: Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia, west of Belarus
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 65,300 sq km
land: 62,680 sq km
water: 2,620 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,545 km
border countries (4): Belarus 640 km; Latvia 544 km; Poland 100 km; Russia (Kaliningrad) 261 km
Coastline: 90 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation: highest point: Aukstojas 294 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 110 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land, amber
Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 34.6% (2018 est.)
other: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 44 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km
Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda
Natural hazards: occasional floods, droughts
Geography - note: fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits
Map description: Lithuania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.Lithuania map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Baltic Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 2,683,546 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 84.6%, Polish 6.5%, Russian 5%, Belarusian 1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.8% (2021 est.)
Languages: Lithuanian (official) 85.3%, Russian 6.8%, Polish 5.1%, other 1.1%, two mother tongues 1.7%% (2021 est.)
major-language sample(s):
Pasaulio enciklopedija – naudingas bendrosios informacijos šaltinis. (Lithuanian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 74.2%, Russian Orthodox 3.7%, Old Believer 0.6%, Evangelical Lutheran 0.6%, Evangelical Reformist 0.2%, other (including Sunni Muslim Jewish, Greek Catholic, and Karaite) 0.9%, none 6.1%, unspecified 13.7% (2021 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.26% (male 213,802/female 202,948)
15-24 years: 10.23% (male 144,679/female 134,822)
25-54 years: 38.96% (male 528,706/female 535,485)
55-64 years: 15.1% (male 183,854/female 228,585)
65 years and over: 20.45% (2020 est.) (male 190,025/female 368,558)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 56.5
youth dependency ratio: 24.2
elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 44.5 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 48.2 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.04% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 9.26 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 15.12 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: fairly even population distribution throughout the country, but somewhat greater concentrations in the southern cities of Vilnius and Kaunas, and the western port of Klaipeda
Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 541,000 VILNIUS (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.78 years
male: 70.42 years
female: 81.44 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.61 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 93.8% of population
total: 98% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 6.2% of population
total: 2% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7% (2019)
Physicians density: 5.08 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 88.7% of population
total: 96% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 11.3% of population
total: 4% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.1% (2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 3,400 (2019 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2019 est.) <100
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 26.3% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 32% (2020 est.)
male: 42.1% (2020 est.)
female: 21.8% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.6%
male: 21.5%
female: 17.3% (2020 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: water pollution; air pollution; deforestation; threatened animal and plant species; chemicals and waste materials released into the environment contaminate soil and groundwater; soil degradation and erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.49 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 12.96 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 3.15 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Land use: agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.)
arable land: 34.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.5% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 9.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 34.6% (2018 est.)
other: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 68.5% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: -0.12% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.31% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.3 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 297,960 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 22.9% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km): Salt water lake(s): Curonian Lagoon (shared with Russia) - 1,620 sq km
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 130.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
industrial: 69.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 58.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 24.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
etymology: meaning of the name "Lietuva" remains unclear and is debated by scholars; it may derive from the Lietava, a stream in east central Lithuania
Government type: semi-presidential republic
Capital: name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: named after the Vilnia River, which flows into the Neris River at Vilnius; the river name derives from the Lithuanian word "vilnis" meaning "a surge"
Administrative divisions: 60 municipalities (savivaldybe, singular - savivaldybe); Akmene, Alytaus Miestas, Alytus, Anksciai, Birstonas, Birzai, Druskininkai, Elektrenai, Ignalina, Jonava, Joniskis, Jurbarkas, Kaisiadorys, Kalvarija, Kauno Miestas, Kaunas, Kazlu Rudos, Kedainiai, Kelme, Klaipedos Miestas, Klaipeda, Kretinga, Kupiskis, Lazdijai, Marijampole, Mazeikiai, Moletai, Neringa, Pagegiai, Pakruojis, Palangos Miestas, Panevezio Miestas, Panevezys, Pasvalys, Plunge, Prienai, Radviliskis, Raseiniai, Rietavas, Rokiskis, Sakiai, Salcininkai, Siauliu Miestas, Siauliai, Silale, Silute, Sirvintos, Skuodas, Svencionys, Taurage, Telsiai, Trakai, Ukmerge, Utena, Varena, Vilkaviskis, Vilniaus Miestas, Vilnius, Visaginas, Zarasai
Independence: 16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)
National holiday: Independence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted by referendum 25 October 1992, entered into force 2 November 1992
amendments: proposed by at least one fourth of all Parliament members or by petition of at least 300,000 voters; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of Parliament in each of two readings three months apart and a presidential signature; amendments to constitutional articles on national sovereignty and constitutional amendment procedure also require three-fourths voter approval in a referendum; amended many times, last in 2019
Legal system: civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the Constitutional Court
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Lithuania
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Gitanas NAUSEDA (since 12 July 2019)
head of government: Prime Minister Ingrida SIMONYTE (since 24 November 2020)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president, and approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 and 26 May 2019 (next to be held in May 2024); prime minister appointed by the president, approved by Parliament
election results: 2019: Gitanas NAUSEDA elected president in second round; percent of vote - Gitanas NAUSEDA (independent) 66.7%, Ingrida SIMONYTE (independent) 33.3%; Saulius SKVERNELIS (LVZS) approved as prime minister by Parliament vote - 62 to 10
2009: Dalia GRYBAUSKAITE elected president, 69.1%, Algirdas BUTKEVICIUS 11.8%, Valentinas MAZURONIS 6.2%, Valdemar TOMASEVSKI 4.7%, and other 8.2%
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats; 71 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote and 70 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 and 25 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2024)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TS-LKD 50, LVZS 32, LSDP 13, LRLS 13, Freedom 11, DP 10, AWPL 3, LSDDP 3, LT 1, Greens 1, independent 4; composition as of July 2022 - men 101, women 40, percent of women 28.4%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 37 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges nominated by the president and appointed by the Seimas; judges serve 5-year renewable terms; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the Seimas from nominations - 3 each by the president of the republic, the Seimas chairperson, and the Supreme Court president; judges serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms; one-third of membership reconstituted every 3 years
subordinate courts: Court of Appeals; district and local courts
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles or LLRA [Valdemar TOMASEVSKI]
Freedom and Justice Party or LT [Remigijus ZEMAITAITIS]
Freedom Party or LP [Ausrine ARMONAITE]
Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats or TS-LKD [Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS]
Labor Party or DP [Viktor USPASKICH]
Lithuanian Center Party or LCP [Naglis PUTEIKIS]
Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union or LVZS [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS]
Lithuanian Green Party or LZP [Remigijus LAPINSKAS]]
Lithuanian Liberal Movement or LS or LRLS [Viktorija CMILYTE]
Lithuanian List or LL [Darius KUOLYS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Labor Party or LSDDP [Gediminas KIRKILAS]
Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP [Gintautas PALUCKAS]
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Audra PLEPYTE (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
email address and website:
info@usa.mfa.lt
https://usa.mfa.lt/usa/en/
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. GILCHRIST (since 4 February 2020)
embassy: Akmenu gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: 4510 Vilnius Place, Washington DC 20521-4510
telephone: [370] (5) 266-5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266-5510
email address and website:
consec@state.gov
https://lt.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland
National symbol(s): mounted knight known as Vytis (the Chaser), white stork; national colors: yellow, green, red
National anthem: name: "Tautiska giesme" (The National Song)
lyrics/music: Vincas KUDIRKA
note: adopted 1918, restored 1990; written in 1898 while Lithuania was a part of Russia; banned during the Soviet occupation from 1940 to 1990
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 4 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Vilnius Historic Center; Curonian Spit; Kernavė Archaeological Site; Struve Geodetic Arc
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process. The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016. Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth.After the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, Lithuania faced an initial dislocation that is typical during transitions from a planned economy to a free-market economy. Macroeconomic stabilization policies, including privatization of most state-owned enterprises, and a strong commitment to a currency board arrangement led to an open and rapidly growing economy and rising consumer demand. Foreign investment and EU funding aided in the transition. Lithuania joined the WTO in May 2001, the EU in May 2004, and the euro zone in January 2015, and is now working to complete the OECD accession roadmap it received in July 2015. In 2017, joined the OECD Working Group on Bribery, an important step in the OECD accession process. The Lithuanian economy was severely hit by the 2008-09 global financial crisis, but it has rebounded and become one of the fastest growing in the EU. Increases in exports, investment, and wage growth that supported consumption helped the economy grow by 3.6% in 2017. In 2015, Russia was Lithuania’s largest trading partner, followed by Poland, Germany, and Latvia; goods and services trade between the US and Lithuania totaled $2.2 billion. Lithuania opened a self-financed liquefied natural gas terminal in January 2015, providing the first non-Russian supply of natural gas to the Baltic States and reducing Lithuania’s dependence on Russian gas from 100% to approximately 30% in 2016. Lithuania’s ongoing recovery hinges on improving the business environment, especially by liberalizing labor laws, and improving competitiveness and export growth, the latter hampered by economic slowdowns in the EU and Russia. In addition, a steady outflow of young and highly educated people is causing a shortage of skilled labor, which, combined with a rapidly aging population, could stress public finances and constrain long-term growth.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $102.66 billion (2020 est.)
$103.56 billion (2019 est.)
$99.25 billion (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4.33% (2019 est.)
3.99% (2018 est.)
4.37% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $36,700 (2020 est.)
$37,100 (2019 est.)
$35,400 (2018 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $54.597 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (2019 est.)
2.7% (2018 est.)
3.7% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: A (2020)
Moody's rating: A3 (2015)
Standard & Poors rating: A+ (2020)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.5% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.4% (2017 est.)
services: 67.2% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 63.9% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 16.6% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 18.8% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.3% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 81.6% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -79.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, sugar beet, rapeseed, barley, triticale, potatoes, oats, peas, beans
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, televisions, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture, textiles, food processing, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, lasers, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry, information technology, video game development, app/software development, biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: 5.9% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 1.333 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9.1%
industry: 25.2%
services: 65.8% (2015 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.4% (2019 est.)
8.5% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 19.6%
male: 21.5%
female: 17.3% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 37.3 (2017 est.)
35 (2014)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 28.8% (2015)
Budget: revenues: 15.92 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 15.7 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 39.7% of GDP (2017 est.)
40.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: official data; data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities, debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are sold at public auctions
Taxes and other revenues: 33.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $1.817 billion (2019 est.)
$131 million (2018 est.)
Exports: $41.48 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$42.3 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$40.36 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Russia 13%, Latvia 9%, Poland 8%, Germany 7%, Estonia 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum, furniture, cigarettes, wheat, polyethylene (2019)
Imports: $36.06 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$39.46 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$39.38 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Poland 12%, Russia 12%, Germany 12%, Latvia 7%, Netherlands 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, refined petroleum, electricity (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.45 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.697 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $37.859 billion (2019 est.)
$41.999 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: litai (LTL) per US dollar -
0.82771 (2020 est.)
0.90338 (2019 est.)
0.87789 (2018 est.)
0.9012 (2014 est.)
0.7525 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.512 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 11.063 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 4.105 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 12.013 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 951 million kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 38% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 35.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 16.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 221,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 75,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 268,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 4,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 68,000 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 900 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 194,900 barrels/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 12 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 196,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 174,800 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 42,490 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 2,230,854,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 497.923 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 2,818,513,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 14.503 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 693,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 9.488 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.322 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 101.651 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 322,108 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 3,671,995 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Lithuania’s small telecoms market is among the more advanced in Europe, particularly given the universal access to LTE infrastructure and the extensive fiber footprint; a number of alternative operators offer services although the incumbent Telia Lithuania remains the dominant player in the fixed-line and broadband sectors; in line with the country’s Digital Agenda, the focus among telcos has been to invest in fiber, with an emphasis on delivering gigabyte data speeds; SIM card penetration is relatively high for the region and most subscribers are higher ARPU postpaid subscribers; network operators continue to market mobile broadband services, made possible from investments in LTE technologies; LTE services are available nationally, and although there have been some initial trials of 5G commercial services are not expected to be launched until mid to late 2021; the regulator has consulted on the release of spectrum for 5G in a range of bands, and the auction is tentatively scheduled for the first quarter of 2021; according to regulator data, the total revenue of the electronic communications sector in the third quarter of 2020 was the highest it has been since the fourth quarter of 2010; revenue growth in the mobile sector was driven mainly mobile internet services. (2021)
domestic: nearly 12 per 100 for fixed-line subscriptions; rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services has resulted in a steady decline in the number of fixed-line connections; mobile-cellular teledensity stands at about 174 per 100 persons (2020)
international: country code - 370; landing points for the BCS East, BCS East-West Interlink and NordBalt connecting Lithuania to Sweden, and Latvia ; further transmission by satellite; landline connections to Latvia and Poland (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: public broadcaster operates 3 channels with the third channel - a satellite channel - introduced in 2007; various privately owned commercial TV broadcasters operate national and multiple regional channels; many privately owned local TV stations; multi-channel cable and satellite TV services available; publicly owned broadcaster operates 3 radio networks; many privately owned commercial broadcasters, with repeater stations in various regions throughout the country
Internet country code: .lt
Internet users: total: 2,319,755 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 83% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 796,814 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 50
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,031 (2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: LY
Airports: total: 61 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 9 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 36 (2021)
Pipelines: 1,921 km gas, 121 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 1,768 km (2014)
standard gauge: 22 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
broad gauge: 1,746 km (2014) 1.520-m gauge (122 km electrified)
Roadways: total: 84,166 km (2012)
paved: 72,297 km (2012) (includes 312 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,869 km (2012)
Waterways: 441 km (2007) (navigable year-round)
Merchant marine: total: 64
by type: container ship 4, general cargo 24, oil tanker 2, other 34 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Klaipeda
oil terminal(s): Butinge oil terminal
LNG terminal(s) (import): Klaipeda
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lietuvos Ginkluotosios Pajegos): Land Forces (Sausumos Pajegos), Naval Forces (Karines Juru Pajegos), Air Forces (Karines Oro Pajegos), Special Operations Forces (Specialiuju Operaciju Pajegos); National Defense Volunteer Forces (Savanoriu Pajegos); National Riflemen's Union (2022)
note: the National Rifleman's Union is a paramilitary force that acts as an additional reserve force
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2020)
2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $1.7 billion)
2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $1.59 billion)
1.7% of GDP (2017) (approximately $1.34 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 17,000 active duty personnel (13,500 Army, including about 5,000 National Defense Voluntary Forces; 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 other, including special operations forces, logistics support, training, etc); estimated 11,000 Riflemen Union (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Lithuanian Armed Forces' inventory is mostly a mix of Western weapons systems and Soviet-era equipment (primarily aircraft and helicopters); as of 2021, Germany was the leading supplier of armaments to Lithuania (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 19-26 years of age for conscripted military service (males); 9-month service obligation; in 2015, Lithuania reinstated conscription after having converted to a professional military in 2008; 18-38 for voluntary service (male and female) (2021)
note 1: Lithuania conscripts up to 4,000 males each year; conscripts are selected using an automated lottery system
note 2: as of 2019, women comprised about 12% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: note: contributes about 350-550 troops to the Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine joint military brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG), which was established in 2014; the brigade is headquartered in Poland and is comprised of an international staff, three battalions, and specialized units
Military - note: Lithuania became a member of NATO in 2004
since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2022)since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2022)
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Lithuania-Belarus: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation Lithuania-Lativa: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998 Lithuania-Russia: Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completedLithuania-Belarus: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparationLithuania-Lativa: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998Lithuania-Russia: Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completed
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 61,847 (Ukraine) (as of 9 August 2022)
stateless persons: 2,721 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs: source country for amphetamine tabletssource country for amphetamine tablets |
20220901 | countries-jan-mayen |
Topic: Photos of Jan Mayen
Topic: Introduction
Background: This desolate, arctic, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Beerenberg volcano, the northernmost active volcano on earth, resumed activity in 1970 and the most recent eruption occurred in 1985.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation: highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenbergvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985dominated by the volcano Beerenbergvolcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Geography - note: barren volcanic spoon-shaped island with some moss and grass flora; island consists of two parts: a larger northeast Nord-Jan (the spoon "bowl") and the smaller Sor-Jan (the "handle"), linked by a 2.5 km-wide isthmus (the "stem") with two large lakes, Sorlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon)
Map description: Jan Mayen map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the Greenland Sea.Jan Mayen map showing the island – a territory of Norway – situated in the Greenland Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: military personnel operate the the weather and coastal services radio station
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
Current Health Expenditure: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds, ocean currents, and rivers accumulate in the food chains of native animals; climate change
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614
Dependency status: territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve
Legal system: the laws of Norway apply where applicable
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources, although surrounding waters contain substantial fish stocks and potential untapped petroleum resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.
Topic: Communications
Broadcast media: a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994
Topic: Transportation
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | countries-isle-of-man |
Topic: Photos of Isle of Man
Topic: Introduction
Background: Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language. The Isle of Man is a British Crown dependency, which makes it a self-governing possession of the British Crown that is not part of the UK. The UK Government, however, remains constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland
Geographic coordinates: 54 15 N, 4 30 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 572 sq km
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
Terrain: hills in north and south bisected by central valley
Elevation: highest point: Snaefell 621 m
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 43.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 6.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.2% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Natural hazards: occasional high winds and rough seas
Geography - note: one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest and is a bird sanctuary
Map description: Isle of Man map showing the major population centers of this UK crown dependency in the Irish Sea.Isle of Man map showing the major population centers of this UK crown dependency in the Irish Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 91,382 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Manxman(men), Manxwoman(women)
adjective: Manx
Ethnic groups: White 94.7%, Asian 3.1%, Mixed 1%, Black 0.6%, other 0.4% (2021 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
Languages: English, Manx Gaelic (about 2% of the population has some knowledge)
Religions: Christian 54.7%, Muslim 0.5%, Buddhist 0.5%, Hindu 0.4%, Jewish 0.2%, none 43.8% (2021 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.28% (male 7,688/female 7,046)
15-24 years: 11.02% (male 5,328/female 4,642)
25-54 years: 37.8% (male 17,080/female 17,131)
55-64 years: 13.82% (male 6,284/female 6,219)
65 years and over: 21.08% (2020 est.) (male 9,023/female 10,058)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 44.6 years
male: 43.6 years
female: 45.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.52% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 10.58 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 10.18 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most people concentrated in cities and large towns of which Douglas, in the southeast, is the largest
Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 27,000 DOUGLAS (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.04 years
male: 80.23 years
female: 84 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 99.1% of population
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: 0.9% of population (2020)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
unimproved: urban: NA
rural: NA
total: NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.1%
male: 11.8%
female: 8.2% (2011 est.)
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution, marine pollution; waste disposal (both household and industrial)
Climate: temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about a third of the time
Land use: agricultural land: 74.7% (2018 est.)
arable land: 43.8% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 30.9% (2018 est.)
forest: 6.1% (2018 est.)
other: 19.2% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 53.3% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.97% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 50,551 tons (2011 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 25,276 tons (2011 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 50% (2011 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man
abbreviation: I.O.M.
etymology: the name "man" may be derived from the Celtic word for "mountain"
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Tynwald)
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Capital: name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 29 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: name derives from the Dhoo and Glass Rivers, which flow through the valley in which the town is located and which in Manx mean the "dark" and the "light" rivers respectively
Administrative divisions: none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections
Independence: none (British Crown dependency)
National holiday: Tynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded
Constitution: history: development of the Isle of Man constitution dates to at least the 14th century
amendments: proposed as a bill in the House of Keys, by the "Government," by a "Member of the House," or through petition to the House or Legislative Council; passage normally requires three separate readings and approval of at least 13 House members; following both House and Council agreement, assent is required by the lieutenant governor on behalf of the Crown; the constitution has been expanded and amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: the laws of the UK apply where applicable and include Manx statutes
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir John LORIMER (since 29 September 2021)
head of government: Chief Minister Alfred CANNAN (since 12 October 2021)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the lieutenant governor
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister indirectly elected by the Tynwald for a 5-year term (eligible for second term); election last held on 23 September 2021
election results: Alfred CANNAN (independent) elected chief minister; Tynwald House of Keys vote - 21 of 24
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Tynwald or the High Court of Tynwald consists of:
Legislative Council (11 seats; includes the President of Tynwald, 2 ex-officio members - the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man and the attorney general (non-voting) - and 8 members indirectly elected by the House of Keys with renewal of 4 members every 2 years; elected members serve 4-year terms)
House of Keys (24 seats; 2 members directly elected by simple majority vote from 12 constituencies to serve 5-year terms)
elections:
Legislative Council - last held 29 February 2020 (next to be held on 28 February 2022)
House of Keys - last held on 23 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2026)
election results: Legislative Council - composition (as of 2021) - men 6, women 3, 2 vacancies; percent of women 27.3% House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 5.3%, Manx Labour Prty 5.1%, Green Party 3.3% independent 86.3%; seats by party - independent 21; Manx Labour Party 2, Liberal Vannin 1, Green Party 0; composition – men 14, women 10, percent of women 41.7%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 37.1%Legislative Council - composition (as of 2021) - men 6, women 3, 2 vacancies; percent of women 27.3%House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Liberal Vannin 5.3%, Manx Labour Prty 5.1%, Green Party 3.3% independent 86.3%; seats by party - independent 21; Manx Labour Party 2, Liberal Vannin 1, Green Party 0; composition – men 14, women 10, percent of women 41.7%; note - total Tynwald percent of women 37.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Isle of Man High Court of Justice (consists of 3 permanent judges or "deemsters" and 1 judge of appeal; organized into the Staff of Government Division or Court of Appeal and the Civil Division); the Court of General Gaol Delivery is not formally part of the High Court but is administered as though part of the High Court and deals with serious criminal cases; note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: deemsters appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor; deemsters can serve until age 70
subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Summary Gaol Delivery; Summary Courts; Magistrate's Court; specialized courts
Political parties and leaders: Green Party [Andrew LANGAN-NEWTON]
Liberal Vannin Party [Lawrie HOOPER]
Manx Labor Party [Joney FARAGHER]
Mec Vannin [Mark KERMODE] (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party)
note: most members sit as independentsGreen Party [Andrew LANGAN-NEWTON]
Liberal Vannin Party [Lawrie HOOPER]
Manx Labor Party [Joney FARAGHER]
Mec Vannin [Mark KERMODE] (sometimes referred to as the Manx Nationalist Party)
International organization participation: UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (British crown dependency)
Flag description: red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat of arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-65); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol
National symbol(s): triskelion (a motif of three legs); national colors: red, white
National anthem: name: "Arrane Ashoonagh dy Vannin" (O Land of Our Birth)
lyrics/music: William Henry GILL [English], John J. KNEEN [Manx]/traditional
note: adopted 2003, in use since 1907; serves as a local anthem; as a British Crown dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom) and is played when the sovereign, members of the royal family, or the lieutenant governor are present
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Financial services, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government offers low taxes and other incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their contributions to GDP. The Isle of Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. Online gambling sites provided about 10% of the islands income in 2014. The Isle of Man currently enjoys free access to EU markets and trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man’s trade relationship with the EU derives from the United Kingdom’s EU membership and will need to be renegotiated in light of the United Kingdom’s decision to withdraw from the bloc. A transition period is expected to allow the free movement of goods and agricultural products to the EU until the end of 2020 or until a new settlement is negotiated.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $6.792 billion (2015 est.)
$7.428 billion (2014 est.)
$6.298 billion (2013 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Real GDP growth rate: -8.6% (2015 est.)
17.9% (2014 est.)
2.1% (2010 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $84,600 (2014 est.)
$86,200 (2013 est.)
$73,700 (2012 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $6.792 billion (2015 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.1% (2017 est.)
1% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Moody's rating: Aa3 (2020)
Standard & Poors rating: N/A (2014)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1% (FY12/13 est.)
industry: 13% (FY12/13 est.)
services: 86% (FY12/13 est.)
Agricultural products: cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry
Industries: financial services, light manufacturing, tourism
Labor force: 41,790 (2006)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing: 5% (2006 est.)
construction: 8% (2006 est.)
tourism: 1% (2006 est.)
transport and communications: 9% (2006 est.)
agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 2% (2006 est.)
gas, electricity, and water: 1% (2006 est.)
wholesale and retail distribution: 11% (2006 est.)
professional and scientific services: 20% (2006 est.)
public administration: 7% (2006 est.)
banking and finance: 23% (2006 est.)
entertainment and catering: 5% (2006 est.)
miscellaneous services: 8% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.1% (2017 est.)
2% (April 2011 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 10.1%
male: 11.8%
female: 8.2% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 965 million (FY05/06 est.)
expenditures: 943 million (FY05/06 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.3% (of GDP) (FY05/06 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.2% (of GDP) (FY05/06 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Exports: NANA
Exports - commodities: tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Imports: NANA
Imports - commodities: timber, fertilizers, fish
Debt - external: NANA
Exchange rates: Manx pounds (IMP) per US dollar -
0.7836 (2017 est.)
0.738 (2016 est.)
0.738 (2015)
0.6542 (2014)
0.6472 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Topic: Communications
Telecommunication systems: domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: country code - 44; fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: national public radio broadcasts over 3 FM stations and 1 AM station; 2 commercial broadcasters operating with 1 having multiple FM stations; receives radio and TV services via relays from British TV and radio broadcasters
Internet country code: .im
Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: M
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Railways: total: 63 km (2008)
narrow gauge: 6 km (2008) 1.076-m gauge (6 km electrified)
57 0.914-m gauge (29 km electrified) note: primarily summer tourist attractions
Roadways: total: 500 km (2008)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Douglas, Ramsey
Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified |
20220901 | countries-new-zealand-travel-facts |
US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in New Zealand. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in New Zealand.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 3 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay in the country more than 90 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [64] (4) 462-6000; United States Embassy Wellington, 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington 6011, New Zealand; AucklandACS@state.gov;
https://nz.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 64
Local Emergency Phone: 111
Vaccinations: See WHO recommendations
http://www.who.int/
Climate: Temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Currency (Code): New Zealand dollars (NZD)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): I
Major Languages: English, Maori, Samoan, Northern Chinese, Hindi, French, Yue
Major Religions: Christian 37.3%, Hindu 2.7%, Maori 1.3%, Muslim, 1.3%, Buddhist 1.1%, other religion 1.6%, no religion 48.6%
Time Difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in September; ends first Sunday in April; note: New Zealand has two time zones: New Zealand standard time (UTC+12) and Chatham Islands time (45 minutes in advance of New Zealand standard time; UTC+12:45)
Potable Water: Yes
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Fiordland National Park & Milford Sound; Bay of Islands; Queenstown; Lake Taupo & Tongariro National Park; Lake Matheson; Lake Pukaki; Mount Cook National Park; Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers
Major Sports: Rugby, cricket, netball, basketball, soccer, sailing
Cultural Practices: An extended index and middle finger together expresses disdain and frustration.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is uncommon in restaurants unless the service was excellent. Some restaurants provide a tip jar on the counter. Tipping is uncommon in taxis, but you may round up the fare. It is not customary to tip at hotels.
Souvenirs: Abalone, paua shell, and greenstone jewelry; stone and wood Maori tribal masks, statues, baskets, and weapons; sheepskin rugs, merino wool blankets, chamois cloths, other wool/lanolin items; Rimu timber clocks, Kiwi art, wine, honey
Traditional Cuisine: Pavlova — a meringue-like dessert with a crisp Cornstarch-based outer crust and a soft and moist core; whipped cream and fruits, such as kiwi or passion fruit, are used as garnishesPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.
World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.
US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.
To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)
How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444
Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022 |
20220901 | countries-rwanda-summaries |
Topic: Introduction
Background: A Rwandan kingdom dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with Tutsi rulers conquering others militarily and centralizing power. German colonial rule began in 1898, but Belgian forces captured Rwanda in 1916 during WW I. Rwandan independence came in 1962. Conflict between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups continued for decades. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first presidential and legislative elections in 2003.A Rwandan kingdom dominated the region from the mid-18th century onward, with Tutsi rulers conquering others militarily and centralizing power. German colonial rule began in 1898, but Belgian forces captured Rwanda in 1916 during WW I. Rwandan independence came in 1962. Conflict between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups continued for decades. Rwanda held its first local elections in 1999 and its first presidential and legislative elections in 2003.
Topic: Geography
Area: total: 26,338 sq km
land: 24,668 sq km
water: 1,670 sq km
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land
Topic: People and Society
Population: 13,173,730 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi, Twa (Pygmy)
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official, universal Bantu vernacular) 93.2%, French (official) <0.1, English (official) <0.1, Swahili/Kiswahili (official, used in commercial centers) <0.1, more than one language, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.3% (2002 est.)
Religions: Protestant 57.7% (includes Adventist 12.6%), Roman Catholic 38.2%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1% (includes traditional, Jehovah's Witness), none 1.1% (2019-20 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (2022 est.)
Topic: Government
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Kigali
Executive branch: chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Edouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament consists of:
Senate or Senat (26 seats; 12 members indirectly elected by local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 appointed by the Political Organizations Forum - a body of registered political parties, and 2 selected by institutions of higher learning; members serve 8-year terms)
Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (80 seats; 53 members directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women selected by special interest groups, and 3 selected by youth and disability organizations; members serve 5-year terms)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: fast-growing Sub-Saharan economy; major public investments; trade and tourism hit hard by COVID-19; increasing poverty after 2 decades of declines; Ugandan competition for regional influence; major coffee exporter; contested GDP figuresfast-growing Sub-Saharan economy; major public investments; trade and tourism hit hard by COVID-19; increasing poverty after 2 decades of declines; Ugandan competition for regional influence; major coffee exporter; contested GDP figures
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $27.18 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $2,100 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, potatoes, plantains, beans, maize, gourds, milk, taro
Industries: cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Exports: $2.25 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners: United Arab Emirates 35%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 28%, Uganda 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: gold, refined petroleum, coffee, tea, tin (2019)
Imports: $3.74 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners: China 17%, Kenya 10%, Tanzania 9%, United Arab Emirates 9%, India 7%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, gold, raw sugar, packaged medicines, broadcasting equipment (2019)Page last updated: Friday, May 13, 2022 |
20220901 | field-budget-surplus-or-deficit-country-comparison | |
20220901 | countries-uganda |
Topic: CIA.gov has changed . . .If you arrived at this page using a bookmark or favorites link, please update it accordingly.Please use the search form or the links below to find the information you seek.Thank you for visiting CIA.gov.The CIA Web Team |
20220901 | field-hospital-bed-density | This entry provides the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people; it serves as a general measure of inpatient service availability. Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases, beds for both acute and chronic care are included. Because the level of inpatient services required for individual countries depends on several factors - such as demographic issues and the burden of disease - there is no global target for the number of hospital beds per country. So, while 2 beds per 1,000 in one country may be sufficient, 2 beds per 1,000 in another may be woefully inadequate because of the number of people hospitalized by disease.
Topic: Afghanistan0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Albania2.9 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Topic: Algeria1.9 beds/1,000 population (2015)
Topic: Andorra2.5 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Antigua and Barbuda2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Argentina5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Armenia4.2 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Australia3.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Austria7.3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Azerbaijan4.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Bahamas, The3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Bahrain1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Bangladesh0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Barbados6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Belarus10.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Belgium5.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Belize1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Benin0.5 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Bhutan1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Bolivia1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina3.5 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Botswana1.8 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Brazil2.1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Brunei2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Bulgaria7.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Burkina Faso0.4 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Burma1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Burundi0.8 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Cabo Verde2.1 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Cambodia1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Cameroon1.3 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Canada2.5 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Central African Republic1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Chile2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: China4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Colombia1.7 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Costa Rica1.1 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Croatia5.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Cuba5.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Cyprus3.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Czechia6.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Denmark2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Djibouti1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Dominica3.8 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Dominican Republic1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Ecuador1.4 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Egypt1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: El Salvador1.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Eritrea0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Estonia4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Eswatini2.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Ethiopia0.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Faroe Islands4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Fiji2 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Finland3.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: France5.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Gabon6.3 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Gambia, The1.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Gaza Strip1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Georgia2.9 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Germany8 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Ghana0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Greece4.2 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Greenland14 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Grenada3.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Guatemala0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Guinea0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Guyana1.7 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Haiti0.7 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Topic: Honduras0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Hong Kong4.9 beds/1,000 population (2020)
Topic: Hungary7 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Iceland2.8 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: India0.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Indonesia1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Iran1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Iraq1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Ireland3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Israel3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Italy3.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Jamaica1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Japan13 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Jordan1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Kazakhstan6.1 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Kiribati1.9 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Korea, South12.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Kuwait2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Kyrgyzstan4.4 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Laos1.5 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Latvia5.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Lebanon2.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Libya3.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Lithuania6.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Luxembourg4.3 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Madagascar0.2 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Malawi1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Malaysia1.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Maldives4.3 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Mali0.1 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Malta4.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Marshall Islands2.7 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Mauritius3.7 beds/1,000 population (2020)
Topic: Mexico1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of3.2 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Moldova5.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Monaco13.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Mongolia8 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Montenegro3.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Morocco1 beds/1,000 population (2017)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Topic: Mozambique0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Namibia2.7 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Nepal0.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Netherlands3.2 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: New Zealand2.6 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Nicaragua0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Niger0.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: North Macedonia4.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Norway3.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Oman1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Pakistan0.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Panama2.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Paraguay0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: Peru1.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Philippines1 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Poland6.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Portugal3.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Qatar1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Romania6.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Russia7.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis4.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Saint Lucia1.3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines4.3 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Topic: San Marino3.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Sao Tome and Principe2.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Saudi Arabia2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Serbia5.6 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Seychelles3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Singapore2.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Slovakia5.7 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Slovenia4.4 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Solomon Islands1.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Topic: Somalia0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Spain3 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Sri Lanka4.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Sudan0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Suriname3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Sweden2.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Switzerland4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Syria1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Tajikistan4.7 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Tanzania0.7 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Togo0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Topic: Trinidad and Tobago3 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Tunisia2.2 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)2.9 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Topic: Turkmenistan4 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Uganda0.5 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Ukraine7.5 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: United Arab Emirates1.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: United Kingdom2.5 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: United States2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Uruguay2.4 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Uzbekistan4 beds/1,000 population (2014)
Topic: Venezuela0.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Vietnam3.2 beds/1,000 population (2013)
Topic: West Bank1.3 beds/1,000 population (2019)
Topic: Yemen0.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Topic: Zambia2 beds/1,000 population
Topic: Zimbabwe1.7 beds/1,000 population (2011) |
20220901 | field-national-holiday | This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
Topic: AfghanistanIndependence Day, 19 August (1919)
Topic: AlbaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1912), also known as Flag Day
Topic: AlgeriaIndependence Day, 5 July (1962); Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Topic: American SamoaFlag Day, 17 April (1900)
Topic: AndorraOur Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)
Topic: AngolaIndependence Day, 11 November (1975)
Topic: AnguillaAnguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Topic: Antigua and BarbudaIndependence Day, 1 November (1981)
Topic: ArgentinaRevolution Day (May Revolution Day), 25 May (1810)
Topic: ArmeniaIndependence Day, 21 September (1991)
Topic: ArubaNational Anthem and Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Topic: AustraliaAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788); ANZAC Day (commemorates the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Topic: AustriaNational Day (commemorates passage of the law on permanent neutrality), 26 October (1955)
Topic: AzerbaijanRepublic Day (founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan), 28 May (1918)
Topic: Bahamas, TheIndependence Day, 10 July (1973)
Topic: BahrainNational Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
Topic: BangladeshIndependence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Topic: BarbadosIndependence Day, 30 November (1966)
Topic: BelarusIndependence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Topic: BelgiumBelgian National Day (ascension to the throne of King LEOPOLD I), 21 July (1831)
Topic: BelizeBattle of St. George's Caye Day (National Day), 10 September (1798); Independence Day, 21 September (1981)
Topic: BeninIndependence Day, 1 August (1960)
Topic: BermudaBermuda Day, 24 May; note - formerly known as Victoria Day, Empire Day, and Commonwealth Day
Topic: BhutanNational Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Topic: BoliviaIndependence Day, 6 August (1825)
Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaIndependence Day, 1 March (1992) and Statehood Day, 25 November (1943) - both observed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity; Victory Day, 9 May (1945) and Dayton Agreement Day, 21 November (1995) - both observed in the Republika Srpska entity
note: there is no national-level holiday
Topic: BotswanaIndependence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)
Topic: BrazilIndependence Day, 7 September (1822)
Topic: British Virgin IslandsTerritory Day, 1 July (1956)
Topic: BruneiNational Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June
Topic: BulgariaLiberation Day, 3 March (1878)
Topic: Burkina FasoRepublic Day, 11 December (1958); note - commemorates the day that Upper Volta became an autonomous republic in the French Community
Topic: BurmaIndependence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)
Topic: BurundiIndependence Day, 1 July (1962)
Topic: Cabo VerdeIndependence Day, 5 July (1975)
Topic: CambodiaIndependence Day, 9 November (1953)
Topic: CameroonState Unification Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Topic: CanadaCanada Day, 1 July (1867)
Topic: Cayman IslandsConstitution Day, the first Monday in July (1959)
Topic: Central African RepublicRepublic Day, 1 December (1958)
Topic: ChadIndependence Day, 11 August (1960)
Topic: ChileIndependence Day, 18 September (1810)
Topic: ChinaNational Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)
Topic: Christmas IslandAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsAustralia Day (commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet of Australian settlers), 26 January (1788)
Topic: ColombiaIndependence Day, 20 July (1810)
Topic: ComorosIndependence Day, 6 July (1975)
Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theIndependence Day, 30 June (1960)
Topic: Congo, Republic of theIndependence Day, 15 August (1960)
Topic: Cook IslandsConstitution Day, the first Monday in August (1965)
Topic: Costa RicaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Topic: Cote d'IvoireIndependence Day, 7 August (1960)
Topic: CroatiaStatehood Day (National Day), 30 May (1990); note - marks the day in 1990 that the first modern multi-party Croatian parliament convened
Topic: CubaTriumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959)
Topic: CuracaoKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a SundayKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday
Topic: CyprusIndependence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as "Republic Day"
Topic: CzechiaCzechoslovak Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Topic: DenmarkConstitution Day, 5 June (1849); note - closest equivalent to a national holiday
Topic: DjiboutiIndependence Day, 27 June (1977)
Topic: DominicaIndependence Day, 3 November (1978)
Topic: Dominican RepublicIndependence Day, 27 February (1844)
Topic: EcuadorIndependence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Topic: EgyptRevolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Topic: El SalvadorIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Topic: Equatorial GuineaIndependence Day, 12 October (1968)
Topic: EritreaIndependence Day, 24 May (1991)
Topic: EstoniaIndependence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood
Topic: EswatiniIndependence Day (Somhlolo Day), 6 September (1968)
Topic: EthiopiaDerg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Topic: European UnionEurope Day (also known as Schuman Day), 9 May (1950); note - the day in 1950 that Robert SCHUMAN proposed the creation of what became the European Coal and Steel Community, the progenitor of today's European Union, with the aim of achieving a united Europe
Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Topic: Faroe IslandsOlaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030)
Topic: FijiFiji (Independence) Day, 10 October (1970)
Topic: FinlandIndependence Day, 6 December (1917)
Topic: FranceFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)
Topic: French PolynesiaFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is Internal Autonomy Day, 29 June (1880)
Topic: GabonIndependence Day, 17 August (1960)
Topic: Gambia, TheIndependence Day, 18 February (1965)
Topic: GeorgiaIndependence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Topic: GermanyGerman Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Topic: GhanaIndependence Day, 6 March (1957)
Topic: GibraltarNational Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
Topic: GreeceIndependence Day, 25 March (1821)
Topic: GreenlandNational Day, June 21; note - marks the summer solstice and the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
Topic: GrenadaIndependence Day, 7 February (1974)
Topic: GuamDiscovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)
Topic: GuatemalaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Topic: GuernseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Topic: GuineaIndependence Day, 2 October (1958)
Topic: Guinea-BissauIndependence Day, 24 September (1973)
Topic: GuyanaRepublic Day, 23 February (1970)
Topic: HaitiIndependence Day, 1 January (1804)
Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)Election Day of Pope FRANCIS, 13 March (2013)
Topic: HondurasIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Topic: Hong KongNational Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July (1997) is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Topic: HungarySaint Stephen's Day, 20 August (1083); note - commemorates his canonization and the transfer of his remains to Buda (now Budapest) in 1083
Topic: IcelandIndependence Day, 17 June (1944)
Topic: IndiaRepublic Day, 26 January (1950)
Topic: IndonesiaIndependence Day, 17 August (1945)
Topic: IranRepublic Day, 1 April (1979)
Topic: IraqIndependence Day, 3 October (1932); Republic Day, 14 July (1958)
Topic: IrelandSaint Patrick's Day, 17 March; note - marks the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, during the latter half of the fifth century A.D. (most commonly cited years are c. 461 and c. 493); although Saint Patrick's feast day was celebrated in Ireland as early as the ninth century, it only became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903
Topic: Isle of ManTynwald Day, 5 July (1417); date Tynwald Day was first recorded
Topic: IsraelIndependence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May
Topic: ItalyRepublic Day, 2 June (1946)
Topic: JamaicaIndependence Day, 6 August (1962)
Topic: JapanBirthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960); note - celebrates the birthday of the current emperor
Topic: JerseyLiberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Topic: JordanIndependence Day, 25 May (1946)
Topic: KazakhstanIndependence Day, 16 December (1991)
Topic: KenyaJamhuri Day (Independence Day), 12 December (1963); note - Madaraka Day, 1 June (1963) marks the day Kenya attained internal self-rule
Topic: KiribatiIndependence Day, 12 July (1979)
Topic: Korea, NorthFounding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)
Topic: Korea, SouthLiberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Topic: KosovoIndependence Day, 17 February (2008)
Topic: KuwaitNational Day, 25 February (1950)
Topic: KyrgyzstanIndependence Day, 31 August (1991)
Topic: LaosRepublic Day (National Day), 2 December (1975)
Topic: LatviaIndependence Day (Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day), 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 was the date Latvia established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Latvian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
Topic: LebanonIndependence Day, 22 November (1943)
Topic: LesothoIndependence Day, 4 October (1966)
Topic: LiberiaIndependence Day, 26 July (1847)
Topic: LibyaLiberation Day, 23 October (2011)
Topic: LiechtensteinNational Day, 15 August (1940); note - a National Day was originally established in 1940 to combine celebrations for the Feast of the Assumption (15 August) with those honoring the birthday of former Prince FRANZ JOSEF II (1906-1989) whose birth fell on 16 August; after the prince's death, National Day became the official national holiday by law in 1990
Topic: LithuaniaIndependence Day (or National Day), 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 was the date Lithuania established its statehood and its concomitant independence from Soviet Russia and Germany; 11 March 1990 was the date it declared the restoration of Lithuanian statehood and its concomitant independence from the Soviet Union
Topic: LuxembourgNational Day (birthday of Grand Duke HENRI), 23 June; note - this date of birth is not the true date of birth for any of the Royals, but the national festivities were shifted in 1962 to allow observance during a more favorable time of year
Topic: MacauNational Day (anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December (1999) is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Topic: MadagascarIndependence Day, 26 June (1960)
Topic: MalawiIndependence Day, 6 July (1964); note - also called Republic Day since 6 July 1966
Topic: MalaysiaIndependence Day (or Merdeka Day), 31 August (1957) (independence of Malaya); Malaysia Day, 16 September (1963) (formation of Malaysia)
Topic: MaldivesIndependence Day, 26 July (1965)
Topic: MaliIndependence Day, 22 September (1960)
Topic: MaltaIndependence Day, 21 September (1964); Republic Day, 13 December (1974)
Topic: Marshall IslandsConstitution Day, 1 May (1979)
Topic: MauritaniaIndependence Day, 28 November (1960)
Topic: MauritiusIndependence and Republic Day, 12 March (1968 & 1992); note - became independent and a republic on the same date in 1968 and 1992 respectively
Topic: MexicoIndependence Day, 16 September (1810)
Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofConstitution Day, 10 May (1979)
Topic: MoldovaIndependence Day, 27 August (1991)
Topic: MonacoNational Day (Saint Rainier's Day), 19 November (1857)
Topic: MongoliaNaadam (games) holiday (commemorates independence from China in the 1921 Revolution), 11-15 July; Constitution Day (marks the date that the Mongolian People's Republic was created under a new constitution), 26 November (1924)
Topic: MontenegroStatehood Day, 13 July (1878, the day the Berlin Congress recognized Montenegro as the 27th independent state in the world, and 1941, the day the Montenegrins staged an uprising against fascist occupiers and sided with the partisan communist movement)
Topic: MontserratBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June (1926)
Topic: MoroccoThrone Day (accession of King MOHAMMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)
Topic: MozambiqueIndependence Day, 25 June (1975)
Topic: NamibiaIndependence Day, 21 March (1990)
Topic: NauruIndependence Day, 31 January (1968)
Topic: NepalConstitution Day, 20 September (2015); note - marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar
Topic: NetherlandsKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; currently celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday
Topic: New CaledoniaFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - the local holiday is New Caledonia Day, 24 September (1853)
Topic: New ZealandWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840); Anzac Day (commemorated as the anniversary of the landing of troops of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April (1915)
Topic: NicaraguaIndependence Day, 15 September (1821)
Topic: NigerRepublic Day, 18 December (1958); note - commemorates the founding of the Republic of Niger which predated independence from France in 1960
Topic: NigeriaIndependence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Topic: NiueWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Topic: Norfolk IslandBounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)
Topic: North MacedoniaIndependence Day, 8 September (1991), also known as National Day
Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsCommonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Topic: NorwayConstitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Topic: OmanNational Day, 18 November; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020
Topic: PakistanPakistan Day (also referred to as Pakistan Resolution Day or Republic Day), 23 March (1940); note - commemorates both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution by the All-India Muslim League during its 22-24 March 1940 session, which called for the creation of independent Muslim states, and the adoption of the first constitution of Pakistan on 23 March 1956 during the transition to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Topic: PalauConstitution Day, 9 July (1981), day of a national referendum to pass the new constitution; Independence Day, 1 October (1994)
Topic: PanamaIndependence Day (Separation Day), 3 November (1903)
Topic: Papua New GuineaIndependence Day, 16 September (1975)
Topic: ParaguayIndependence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
Topic: PeruIndependence Day, 28-29 July (1821)
Topic: PhilippinesIndependence Day, 12 June (1898); note - 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from the US
Topic: Pitcairn IslandsBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926); Discovery Day (Pitcairn Day), 2 July (1767)
Topic: PolandConstitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Topic: PortugalPortugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis DE CAMOES (1524-80) died
Topic: Puerto RicoUS Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)
Topic: QatarNational Day, 18 December (1878), anniversary of Al Thani family accession to the throne; Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Topic: RomaniaUnification Day (unification of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Topic: RussiaRussia Day, 12 June (1990); note - commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)
Topic: RwandaIndependence Day, 1 July (1962)
Topic: Saint BarthelemyFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is St. Barthelemy Day, 24 August (1572)
Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, third Monday in April (1926)
Topic: Saint Kitts and NevisIndependence Day, 19 September (1983)
Topic: Saint LuciaIndependence Day, 22 February (1979)
Topic: Saint MartinFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - local holiday is Schoelcher Day (Slavery Abolition Day) 12 July (1848), as well as St. Martin's Day, 11 November (1985), which commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; the latter holiday celebrated on both halves of the island
Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonFete de la Federation, 14 July (1790)
Topic: Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesIndependence Day, 27 October (1979)
Topic: SamoaIndependence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, but it is observed in June
Topic: San MarinoFounding of the Republic (or Feast of Saint Marinus), 3 September (A.D. 301)
Topic: Sao Tome and PrincipeIndependence Day, 12 July (1975)
Topic: Saudi ArabiaSaudi National Day (Unification of the Kingdom), 23 September (1932)
Topic: SenegalIndependence Day, 4 April (1960)
Topic: SerbiaStatehood Day, 15 February (1835), the day the first constitution of the country was adopted
Topic: SeychellesConstitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Topic: Sierra LeoneIndependence Day, 27 April (1961)
Topic: SingaporeNational Day, 9 August (1965)
Topic: Sint MaartenKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the islandKing's Day (birthday of King WILLEM-ALEXANDER), 27 April (1967); note - King's or Queen's Day are observed on the ruling monarch's birthday; celebrated on 26 April if 27 April is a Sunday; local holiday Sint Maarten's Day, 11 November (1985), commemorates the discovery of the island by COLUMBUS on Saint Martin's Day, 11 November 1493; celebrated on both halves of the island
Topic: SlovakiaConstitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Topic: SloveniaIndependence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)
Topic: Solomon IslandsIndependence Day, 7 July (1978)
Topic: SomaliaFoundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland
Topic: South AfricaFreedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Topic: South SudanIndependence Day, 9 July (2011)
Topic: SpainNational Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates the arrival of COLUMBUS in the Americas
Topic: Sri LankaIndependence Day (National Day), 4 February (1948)
Topic: SudanIndependence Day, 1 January (1956)
Topic: SurinameIndependence Day, 25 November (1975)
Topic: SwedenNational Day, 6 June (1983); note - from 1916 to 1982 this date was celebrated as Swedish Flag Day
Topic: SwitzerlandFounding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291; note - since 1 August 1891 celebrated as Swiss National Day
Topic: SyriaIndependence Day (Evacuation Day), 17 April (1946); note - celebrates the leaving of the last French troops and the proclamation of full independence
Topic: TaiwanRepublic Day (National Day), 10 October (1911); note - celebrates the anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as Double Ten (10-10) Day
Topic: TajikistanIndependence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Topic: TanzaniaUnion Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)
Topic: ThailandBirthday of King WACHIRALONGKON, 28 July (1952)
Topic: Timor-LesteRestoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Topic: TogoIndependence Day, 27 April (1960)
Topic: TokelauWaitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Topic: TongaOfficial Birthday of King TUPOU VI, 4 July (1959); note - actual birthday of the monarch is 12 July 1959, 4 July (2015) is the day the king was crowned; Constitution Day (National Day), 4 November (1875)
Topic: Trinidad and TobagoIndependence Day, 31 August (1962)
Topic: TunisiaIndependence Day, 20 March (1956); Revolution and Youth Day, 14 January (2011)
Topic: TurkeyRepublic Day, 29 October (1923)
Topic: TurkmenistanIndependence Day, 27 October (1991)
Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsBirthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, usually celebrated the Monday after the second Saturday in June
Topic: TuvaluIndependence Day, 1 October (1978)
Topic: UgandaIndependence Day, 9 October (1962)
Topic: UkraineIndependence Day, 24 August (1991); note - 22 January 1918, the day Ukraine first declared its independence from Soviet Russia, and the date the short-lived Western and Greater (Eastern) Ukrainian republics united (1919), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Topic: United Arab EmiratesIndependence Day (National Day), 2 December (1971)
Topic: United Kingdomthe UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday
Topic: United StatesIndependence Day, 4 July (1776)
Topic: UruguayIndependence Day, 25 August (1825)
Topic: UzbekistanIndependence Day, 1 September (1991)
Topic: VanuatuIndependence Day, 30 July (1980)
Topic: VenezuelaIndependence Day, 5 July (1811)
Topic: VietnamIndependence Day (National Day), 2 September (1945)
Topic: Virgin IslandsTransfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 31 March (1917)
Topic: Wallis and FutunaBastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Topic: YemenUnification Day, 22 May (1990)
Topic: ZambiaIndependence Day, 24 October (1964)
Topic: ZimbabweIndependence Day, 18 April (1980) |
20220901 | countries-gibraltar |
Topic: Photos of Gibraltar
Topic: Introduction
Background: Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Topic: Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 7 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km
border countries (1): Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation: highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Natural hazards: occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)
Geography - note: note 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea note 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territorynote 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Seanote 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory
Map description: Gibraltar map showing major populated areas and significant features on this UK peninsular territory that projects into the Mediterranean Sea.Gibraltar map showing major populated areas and significant features on this UK peninsular territory that projects into the Mediterranean Sea.
Topic: People and Society
Population: 29,573 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)
note: data represent population by nationality
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Religions: Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.24% (male 3,080/female 2,907)
15-24 years: 13.07% (male 2,000/female 1,866)
25-54 years: 41.28% (male 6,289/female 5,922)
55-64 years: 8.71% (male 1,082/female 1,495)
65 years and over: 16.7% (2020 est.) (male 2,378/female 2,562)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 35.5 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 36.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.19% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 13.93 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.79 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 6.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.58 years
female: 83.41 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0% of population (2020)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: NA
Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: limited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services
Air pollutants: carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.)
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)
rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 16,954 tons (2012 est.)
Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar
Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital: name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
Constitution: history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007
amendments: proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament
Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)
head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 52.5% (GSLP 37.0%, LPG 15.5%), GSD 25.6%, TG 20.5%, independent 1.4%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6, TG 1; composition including Parliament speaker - men 16, women 2, percent of women 1.1%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67 but tenure can be extended 3 years
subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG [Joseph GARCIA]
Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI]
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]
GSLP-Liberal Alliance (includes GSLP and LPG)
Together Gibraltar or TG [Marlene HASSAN-NAHON]
International organization participation: ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean
National symbol(s): Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow
National anthem: name: "Gibraltar Anthem"
lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY
note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment. The financial sector, tourism (over 11 million visitors in 2012), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%.Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment. The financial sector, tourism (over 11 million visitors in 2012), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.044 billion (2014 est.)
$1.85 billion (2013 est.)
$2 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 dollars
Real GDP per capita: $61,700 (2014 est.)
$43,000 (2008 est.)
$41,200 (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.044 billion (2014 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (2013 est.)
2.2% (2012 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 0% (2016 est.)
industry: 0% (2008 est.)
services: 100% (2016 est.)
Agricultural products: none
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Labor force: 24,420 (2014 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NEGL
industry: 1.8%
services: 98.2% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1% (2016 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 475.8 million (2008 est.)
expenditures: 452.3 million (2008 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 1.1% (of GDP) (2008 est.)
Public debt: 7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
8.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2008 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Exports: $202.3 million (2014 est.)
$271 million (2004 est.)
Exports - partners: Poland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: cars, ships, refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats (2019)
Imports: $2.967 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - partners: Spain 19%, US 12%, India 12%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11%, United Kingdom 7%, Greece 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, coal tar oil, crude petroleum (2019)
Debt - external: NANA
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -
0.885 (2017 est.)
0.903 (2016 est.)
0.9214 (2015 est.)
0.885 (2014 est.)
0.7634 (2013 est.)
Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 238.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 230.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 43,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 78,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 74,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 17,041 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 51 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 35,438 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Gibraltar’s population is urban based, served by a digital telephone exchange supported by a fiber optic and copper infrastructure; near universal mobile and Internet use (2019)
domestic: automatic exchange facilities; over 50 per 100 fixed-line and 120 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)
international: country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media: Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio broadcasting services via 1 TV station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible
Internet country code: .gi
Internet users: total: 31,684 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 94% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 21,009 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 62 (2020 est.)
Topic: Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-G
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 29 km (2007)
paved: 29 km (2007)
Merchant marine: total: 202
by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 19, general cargo 55, oil tanker 20, other 100 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Gibraltar
Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2022)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomyin 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy |