The 2008 CIA World Factbook (part 18 of 20)

The 2008 CIA World Factbook (part 18 of 20)

Mauritius general assessment: small system with good service domestic: monopoly over fixed-line services terminated in 2005; fixed-line teledensity roughly 30 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular services launched in 1989 with teledensity in 2007 reaching 75 per 100 persons international: country code - 230; landing point for the SAFE submarine cable that provides links to Asia and South Africa where it connects to the SAT-3/WASC submarine cable that provides further links to parts of East Africa, and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries

Mayotte general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications domestic: NA international: country code - 262; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros

Mexico general assessment: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable domestic: low telephone density with about 18 fixed lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; despite the opening to competition in January 1997, Telmex remains dominant; legal challenges to Telmex's alleged anti-competitive behavior in the mobile and fixed-line markets culminated in a World Trade Organization ruling in 2004 against Mexico prompting some strengthening of the powers granted Mexico's telecom regulator; mobile cellular teledensity approaching 65 per 100 persons international: country code - 52; Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, and Italy; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the MAYA-1 submarine cable system together provide access to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 120 (32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), 1 Panamsat, numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations); linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of general assessment: adequate system domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Moldova general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some modernization is under way domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait for service; multiple private operators of GSM mobile-cellular telephone service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; a CDMA mobile telephone network began operations in 2007; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 70 per 100 persons international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - at least 3 (Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik) (2007)

Monaco general assessment: modern automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Mongolia general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas domestic: very low fixed-line density; there are multiple mobile cellular service providers and subscribership is increasing rapidly; a fiber-optic network is also being installed that will improve broadband and communication services between major urban centers international: country code - 976; satellite earth stations - 7

Montenegro general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to European satellites domestic: GSM wireless service, available through 2 providers with national coverage, is growing rapidly international: country code - 382; 2 international switches connect the national system

Montserrat general assessment: modern and fully digitalized domestic: NA international: country code - 1-664; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad

Morocco general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 7 fixed lines available for each 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is approaching 60 per 100 persons domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay international: country code - 212; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (2007)

Mozambique general assessment: fair system with an extremely low density of less than 1 fixed line per 100 persons domestic: the telecommunications sector is shackled with a heavy state presence, lack of competition, and high operating costs and charges; stagnation in the fixed-line network contrasts with rapid growth in the mobile-cellular network; mobile-cellular coverage now includes all the main cities and key roads, including those from Maputo to the South African and Swaziland borders, the national highway through Gaza and Inhambane provinces, the Beira corridor, and from Nampula to Nacala international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Namibia general assessment: good system with a combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity of about 45 per 100 persons domestic: core fiber-optic network links most centers and connections are now digital; Namibia's first mobile-cellular network, launched in 1994, provides coverage to 86 percent of Namibia by area international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to the South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cable through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2007)

Nauru general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities domestic: NA international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Nepal general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network domestic: NA international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Netherlands general assessment: highly developed and well maintained domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)

Netherlands Antilles general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

New Caledonia general assessment: NA domestic: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)

New Zealand general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems domestic: NA international: country code - 64; the Southern Cross submarine cable system provides links to Australia, Fiji, and the US; satellite earth stations - 8 (1 Inmarsat - Pacific Ocean, 7 other)

Nicaragua general assessment: system being upgraded by foreign investment; nearly all installed telecommunications capacity now uses digital technology, owing to investments since privatization of the formerly state-owned telecommunications company domestic: since privatization, access to fixed-line and mobile-cellular services has improved but teledensity still lags behind other Central American countries; connected to Central American Microwave System international: country code - 505; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Niger general assessment: inadequate; small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity only about 7 per 100 persons; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Nigeria general assessment: further expansion and modernization of the fixed-line telephone network is needed domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002 resulted in faster growth but subscribership remains only about 1 per 100 persons; wireless telephony has grown rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the fixed-line network; multiple service providers operate nationally; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 30 per 100 persons in 2007 international: country code - 234; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2007)

Niue domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island international: country code - 683 (2001)

Norfolk Island general assessment: adequate domestic: free local calls international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia and New Zealand; satellite earth station - 1

Northern Mariana Islands general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Norway general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular-mobile systems instead of fixed-wire systems international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Oman general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable domestic: fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing; open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2007)

Pakistan general assessment: the telecommunications infrastructure is improving dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into fixed-line and mobile networks; mobile-cellular subscribership has skyrocketed, reaching some 88 million in 2008, up from only about 300,000 in 2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to aid in network growth; main line availability has risen only marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties getting main line service to rural areas domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks international: country code - 92; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable systems that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; 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 (2008)

Palau general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Panama general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is approaching 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 507; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), the MAYA-1, and PAN-AM submarine cable systems that together provide links to the US and parts of the Caribbean, Central America, and South America; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System (2007)

Papua New Guinea general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 6 per 100 persons international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service (2007)

Paraguay general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Peru general assessment: adequate for most requirements domestic: fixed-line teledensity is only about 9 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity, spurred by competition among multiple providers, has increased to roughly 55 telephones per 100 persons; nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: country code - 51; the South America-1 (SAM-1) and Pan American (PAN-AM) submarine cable systems provide links to parts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Philippines general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations; cellular communications now dominate the industry; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density about 60 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 63; a series of submarine cables together provide connectivity to Asia, US, the Middle East, and Europe; multiple international gateways (2007)

Pitcairn Islands general assessment: satellite phone services domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB) international: country code - 872; satellite earth station - 1 (Inmarsat)

Poland general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003; fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony domestic: mobile-cellular service available since 1993 and provided by three nation-wide networks with a fourth provider beginning operations in late 2006; cellular coverage is generally good with some gaps in the east; fixed-line service is growing slowly and still lags in rural areas international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 with access to Intelsat, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik (2007)

Portugal general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (1998)

Puerto Rico general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

Qatar general assessment: modern system centered in Doha domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is roughly 165 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 974; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and the US; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and the UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Romania general assessment: domestic and international service improving rapidly, especially in wireless telephony domestic: more than 90 percent of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in 2003 is transforming telecommunications; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 20 telephones per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity now slightly exceeds 100 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 40; the Black Sea Fiber Optic System provides connectivity to Bulgaria and Turkey; satellite earth stations - 10; digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest (2007)

Russia general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing significant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to 170 million in 2007; a large demand for main line service remains unsatisfied, but fixed-line operators continue to grow their services domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally by undersea fiber optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems

Rwanda general assessment: small, inadequate telephone system primarily serves business and government domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone density is only about 7 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Saint Barthelemy general assessment: fully integrated access domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Saint Helena general assessment: can communicate worldwide domestic: automatic digital network international: country code (Saint Helena) - 290, (Ascension Island) - 247; international direct dialing; satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations - 5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1)

Saint Kitts and Nevis general assessment: good interisland and international connections domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004 international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables

Saint Lucia general assessment: adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched international: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados

Saint Martin general assessment: fully integrated access domestic: direct dial capability with both fixed and wireless systems international: country code - 590; undersea fiber-optic cable provides voice and data connectivity to Puerto Rico and Guadeloupe

Saint Pierre and Miquelon general assessment: adequate domestic: NA international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; satellite earth station - 1 in French domestic satellite system

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines general assessment: adequate system domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Samoa general assessment: adequate domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 50 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

San Marino general assessment: adequate connections domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 130 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network

Sao Tome and Principe general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 20 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Saudi Arabia general assessment: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; 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)

Senegal general assessment: good system domestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network; nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Serbia general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war and transition to a competitive market-based system; network was only 65% digitalized in 2005 domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboring states; GSM wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications service limited to urban centers international: country code - 381

Seychelles general assessment: effective system domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 125 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Sierra Leone general assessment: marginal telephone service domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Singapore general assessment: excellent service domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless service in February 2005; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 165 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 65; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations -4; supplemented by VSAT coverage (2007)

Slovakia general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in cellular services domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; 3 companies provide nationwide cellular services international: country code - 421; 3 international exchanges (1 in Bratislava and 2 in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services

Slovenia general assessment: well-developed telecommunications infrastructure domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 140 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 386

Solomon Islands general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Somalia general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled during the civil war; private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and charge the lowest international rates on the continent domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: country code - 252; international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite (2001)

South Africa general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 110 telephones per 100 persons; consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: country code - 27; the SAT-3/WASC and SAFE fiber optic cable systems connect South Africa to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Spain general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity is about 45 per 100 persons domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 170 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Sri Lanka general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly and are available in most parts of the country domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems and mobile cellular subscribership is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 50 per 100 persons international: country code - 94; the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cables provide connectivity to Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Sudan general assessment: well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: country code - 249; linked to international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2000)

Suriname general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Svalbard general assessment: probably adequate domestic: local telephone service international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Swaziland general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system domestic: mobile-cellular subscribership is increasing; combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity approaching 40 telephones per 100 persons; telephone system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)

Sweden general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure; ranked among leading countries for fixed-line, mobile-cellular, Internet and broadband penetration domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels international: country code - 46; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)

Switzerland general assessment: highly developed telecommunications infrastructure with excellent domestic and international services domestic: ranked among leading countries for fixed-line teledensity and infrastructure; mobile-cellular subscribership roughly 100 per 100 persons; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Syria general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: the number of fixed-line connections has increased markedly since 2000; mobile-cellular service growing rapidly and teledensity about 35 wireless telephones per 100 persons; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: country code - 963; submarine cable connection to Cyprus; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Taiwan general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized international: country code - 886; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2

Tajikistan general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not linked to the national network domestic: the domestic telecommunications network has historically been under funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephone use is growing but geographic coverage remains limited international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations - 3 (2 Intelsat and 1 Orbita) (2006)

Tanzania general assessment: telecommunications services are inadequate; system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; small aperture terminal (VSAT) system under construction domestic: fixed-line telephone network inadequate with less than 1 connection per 100 persons; mobile-cellular service, aided by multiple providers, is increasing; trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Thailand general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines international: country code - 66; connected to major submarine cable systems providing links throughout Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean, 1 Pacific Ocean)

Timor-Leste general assessment: rudimentary service limited to urban areas domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; extremely limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services and coverage limited primarily to urban areas international: country code - 670; international service is available in major urban centers

Togo general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile-cellular system domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 15 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Symphonie

Tokelau general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok); satellite earth stations - 3

Tonga general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 40 telephones per 100 persons; fully automatic switched network international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago general assessment: excellent international service; good local service domestic: mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 1-868; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to US and parts of the Caribbean and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Tunisia general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available domestic: in an effort jumpstart expansion of the fixed-line network, the government has awarded a concession to build and operate a VSAT network with international connectivity; competition between the two mobile-cellular service providers has resulted in lower activation and usage charges and a strong surge in subscribership; expansion of mobile-cellular services to include multimedia messaging and e-mail and Internet to mobile phone services also leading to a surge in subscribership; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 90 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 216; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; 2 international gateway digital switches

Turkey general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion especially with cellular telephones domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay, is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobile-cellular telephone service is growing rapidly international: country code - 90; international service is provided by the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable and by submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas that link Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat; mobile satellite terminals - 328 in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)

Turkmenistan general assessment: poorly developed domestic: Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign investors, is planning to upgrade the country's telephone exchanges and install a new digital switching system; mobile-cellular usage remains limited international: country code - 993; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing domestic: full range of services available; GSM wireless service available international: country code - 1-649; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) fiber optic telecommunications submarine cable provides connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Tuvalu general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite

Uganda general assessment: seriously inadequate; mobile cellular service is increasing rapidly, but the number of main lines is still deficient; e-mail and Internet services are available domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile-cellular systems for short-range traffic international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Ukraine general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile-cellular system domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is rising and the domestic trunk system is being improved; about one-third of Ukraine's networks are digital and a majority of regional centers now have digital switching stations; improvements in local networks and local exchanges continue to lag; the mobile-cellular telephone system is expanding rapidly international: country code - 380; 2 new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and 3 Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by an unknown number of earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems

United Arab Emirates general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable international: country code - 971; linked to the international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); landing point for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

United Kingdom general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and international system domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems international: country code - 44; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and US; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers

United States general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country international: country code - 1; multiple ocean cable systems provide international connectivity; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)

Uruguay general assessment: fully digitalized domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 115 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Uzbekistan general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, is working on improving main line services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber base more than doubling in 2007 to 5.8 million international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications (2007)

Vanuatu general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Venezuela general assessment: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services; fixed-line teledensity 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity more than 90 per 100 persons international: country code - 58; submarine cable systems provide connectivity to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and US; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network (2007)

Vietnam general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly international: country code - 84; a landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3, the C2C, and Thailand-Vietnam-Hong Kong submarine cable systems; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable system, scheduled for completion by the end of 2008, will provide new access links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Virgin Islands general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay domestic: full range of services available international: country code - 1-340; submarine cable connections to US, the Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth stations - NA

Wake Island general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS) domestic: NA international: NA

Wallis and Futuna general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: country code - 681

West Bank general assessment: NA domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services international: country code - 970 (2004)

Western Sahara general assessment: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco

World general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: NA

Yemen general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM mobile-cellular telephone systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by regional standards international: country code - 967; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); 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

Zambia general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation and network coverage is improving; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Zimbabwe general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed but unused main lines domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile-cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones international: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; 2 international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2125 Terrain

Afghanistan mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Albania mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Algeria mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

American Samoa five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Andorra rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Angola narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Anguilla flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Antarctica about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Antigua and Barbuda mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

Arctic Ocean central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)

Argentina rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Armenia Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Aruba flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Ashmore and Cartier Islands low with sand and coral

Atlantic Ocean surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin

Australia mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Austria in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Azerbaijan large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Bahamas, The long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Bahrain mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Bangladesh mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Barbados relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Belarus generally flat and contains much marshland

Belgium flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Belize flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Benin mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Bermuda low hills separated by fertile depressions

Bhutan mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Bolivia rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Bosnia and Herzegovina mountains and valleys

Botswana predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Bouvet Island volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Brazil mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

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

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

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

Bulgaria mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

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

Burma central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

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

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

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

Canada mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Cape Verde steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Cayman Islands low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

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

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

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

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

Christmas Island steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Clipperton Island coral atoll

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denmark low and flat to gently rolling plains

Djibouti coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Dominica rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Dominican Republic rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

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

Egypt vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

El Salvador mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fiji mostly mountains of volcanic origin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gibraltar a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

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

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

Grenada volcanic in origin with central mountains

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

Guatemala mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Guernsey mostly level with low hills in southwest

Guinea generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

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

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

Haiti mostly rough and mountainous

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

Holy See (Vatican City) urban; low hill

Honduras mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

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

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

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

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

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

Indonesia mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

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

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

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

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

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

Italy mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Jamaica mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Jan Mayen volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Japan mostly rugged and mountainous

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

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

Kazakhstan extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia

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

Kiribati mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

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

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

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

Kuwait flat to slightly undulating desert plain

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

Laos mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Latvia low plain

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

Lesotho mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

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

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

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

Lithuania lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

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

Macau generally flat

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

Madagascar narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

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

Malaysia coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Maldives flat, with white sandy beaches

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

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

Marshall Islands low coral limestone and sand islands

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

Mauritius small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Mayotte generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

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

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

Moldova rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Monaco hilly, rugged, rocky

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

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

Montserrat volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Netherlands Antilles generally hilly, volcanic interiors

New Caledonia coastal plains with interior mountains

New Zealand predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

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

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

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

Niue steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Norfolk Island volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

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

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

Oman central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

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

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

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

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

Papua New Guinea mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Paracel Islands mostly low and flat

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

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

Philippines mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Pitcairn Islands rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Poland mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

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

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

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

Romania central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

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

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

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

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

Saint Kitts and Nevis volcanic with mountainous interiors

Saint Lucia volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Saint Pierre and Miquelon mostly barren rock

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines volcanic, mountainous

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

San Marino rugged mountains

Sao Tome and Principe volcanic, mountainous

Saudi Arabia mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Solomon Islands mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Somalia mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

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

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

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

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

Spratly Islands flat

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

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

Suriname mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

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

Swaziland mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Sweden mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

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

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

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

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

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

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

Timor-Leste mountainous

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

Tokelau low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

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

Trinidad and Tobago mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

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

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

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

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

Tuvalu very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Uganda mostly plateau with rim of mountains

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

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

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

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

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

Uruguay mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

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

Vanuatu mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

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

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

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

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

Wallis and Futuna volcanic origin; low hills

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

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

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

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

Zambia mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

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

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2127 Total fertility rate (children born/woman)

Afghanistan 6.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Albania 2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Algeria 1.82 children born/woman (2008 est.)

American Samoa 3.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Andorra 1.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Angola 6.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Anguilla 1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda 2.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Argentina 2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Armenia 1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Aruba 1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Australia 1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Austria 1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Azerbaijan 2.05 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bahamas, The 2.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bahrain 2.53 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bangladesh 3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Barbados 1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belarus 1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belgium 1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Belize 3.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Benin 5.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bermuda 1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bhutan 2.48 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bolivia 2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Botswana 2.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Brazil 2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

British Virgin Islands 1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Brunei 1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Bulgaria 1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burkina Faso 6.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burma 1.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Burundi 6.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cambodia 3.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cameroon 4.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Canada 1.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cape Verde 3.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cayman Islands 1.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Central African Republic 4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Chad 5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Chile 1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

China 1.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Christmas Island NA (2008 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA (2008 est.)

Colombia 2.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Comoros 4.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the 5.92 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cook Islands 3.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Costa Rica 2.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire 4.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Croatia 1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cuba 1.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Cyprus 1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Czech Republic 1.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Denmark 1.74 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Djibouti 5.14 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Dominica 2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Dominican Republic 2.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ecuador 2.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Egypt 2.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

El Salvador 3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Eritrea 4.84 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Estonia 1.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ethiopia 6.17 children born/woman (2008 est.)

European Union 1.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA (2008 est.)

Faroe Islands 2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Fiji 2.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Finland 1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

France 1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

French Polynesia 1.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gabon 4.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gambia, The 5.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gaza Strip 5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Georgia 1.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Germany 1.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ghana 3.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Gibraltar 1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Greece 1.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Greenland 2.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Grenada 2.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guam 2.55 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guatemala 3.59 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guernsey 1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guinea 5.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guinea-Bissau 4.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Guyana 2.03 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Haiti 4.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Honduras 3.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hong Kong 1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Hungary 1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iceland 1.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

India 2.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Indonesia 2.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iran 1.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Iraq 3.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ireland 1.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Isle of Man 1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Israel 2.77 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Italy 1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jamaica 2.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Japan 1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jersey 1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Jordan 2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kazakhstan 1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kenya 4.7 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kiribati 4.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Korea, North 2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Korea, South 1.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kuwait 2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 2.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Laos 4.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Latvia 1.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lebanon 1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lesotho 3.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Liberia 5.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Libya 3.15 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Lithuania 1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Luxembourg 1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Macau 0.9 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Macedonia 1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Madagascar 5.19 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malawi 5.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malaysia 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Maldives 1.97 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mali 7.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Malta 1.51 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Marshall Islands 3.68 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mauritania 5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mauritius 1.83 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mayotte 5.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mexico 2.37 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Moldova 1.26 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Monaco 1.75 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mongolia 2.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Montserrat 1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Morocco 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Mozambique 5.24 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Namibia 2.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nauru 2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nepal 3.91 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Netherlands 1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

New Caledonia 2.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

New Zealand 2.11 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nicaragua 2.63 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Niger 7.29 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Nigeria 5.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Niue NA (2008 est.)

Norfolk Island NA (2008 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands 1.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Norway 1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Oman 5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Pakistan 3.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Palau 2.45 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Panama 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Papua New Guinea 3.71 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Paraguay 3.8 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Peru 2.42 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Philippines 3.32 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Pitcairn Islands NA (2008 est.)

Poland 1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Portugal 1.49 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Puerto Rico 1.76 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Qatar 2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Romania 1.38 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Russia 1.4 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Rwanda 5.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Helena 1.56 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 2.28 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Lucia 1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1.79 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Samoa 4.18 children born/woman (2008 est.)

San Marino 1.35 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe 5.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Saudi Arabia 3.89 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Senegal 4.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Serbia 1.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Seychelles 1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sierra Leone 5.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Singapore 1.08 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Slovakia 1.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Slovenia 1.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Solomon Islands 3.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Somalia 6.6 children born/woman (2008 est.)

South Africa 2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Spain 1.3 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sri Lanka 2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sudan 4.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Suriname 2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Svalbard NA (2008 est.)

Swaziland 3.34 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Sweden 1.67 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Switzerland 1.44 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Syria 3.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Taiwan 1.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tajikistan 3.04 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tanzania 4.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Thailand 1.64 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Timor-Leste 3.36 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Togo 4.85 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tokelau NA (2008 est.)

Tonga 2.5 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tunisia 1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turkey 1.87 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turkmenistan 3.07 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 2.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Tuvalu 2.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uganda 6.81 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Ukraine 1.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United Arab Emirates 2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United Kingdom 1.66 children born/woman (2008 est.)

United States 2.1 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uruguay 1.94 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Uzbekistan 2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Vanuatu 2.57 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Venezuela 2.52 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Vietnam 1.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Virgin Islands 1.88 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Wallis and Futuna NA (2008 est.)

West Bank 3.31 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Western Sahara NA 5.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)

World 2.61 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Yemen 6.41 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Zambia 5.23 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Zimbabwe 3.72 children born/woman (2008 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2128 Government type

Afghanistan Islamic republic

Albania emerging democracy

Algeria republic

American Samoa NA

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

Angola republic; multiparty presidential regime

Anguilla NA

Antarctica Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 30th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Delhi, India in April/May 2007; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2007, there were 46 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-nation acceded to the Treaty and when it was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983), Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland (1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987), Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989), Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden (1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Belarus (2006), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Antigua and Barbuda constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government

Argentina republic

Armenia republic

Aruba parliamentary democracy

Australia federal parliamentary democracy

Austria federal republic

Azerbaijan republic

Bahamas, The constitutional parliamentary democracy

Bahrain constitutional monarchy

Bangladesh parliamentary democracy

Barbados parliamentary democracy

Belarus republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Belgium federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Belize parliamentary democracy

Benin republic

Bermuda parliamentary; self-governing territory

Bhutan in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Bolivia republic

Bosnia and Herzegovina emerging federal democratic republic

Botswana parliamentary republic

Brazil federal republic

British Virgin Islands NA

Brunei constitutional sultanate

Bulgaria parliamentary democracy

Burkina Faso parliamentary republic

Burma military junta

Burundi republic

Cambodia multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

Cameroon republic; multiparty presidential regime

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

Cape Verde republic

Cayman Islands British crown colony

Central African Republic republic

Chad republic

Chile republic

China Communist state

Christmas Island NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA

Colombia republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Comoros republic

Congo, Democratic Republic of the republic

Congo, Republic of the republic

Cook Islands self-governing parliamentary democracy

Costa Rica democratic republic

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

Croatia presidential/parliamentary democracy

Cuba Communist state

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

Czech Republic parliamentary democracy

Denmark constitutional monarchy

Djibouti republic

Dominica parliamentary democracy

Dominican Republic democratic republic

Ecuador republic

Egypt republic

El Salvador republic

Equatorial Guinea republic

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

Estonia parliamentary republic

Ethiopia federal republic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA

Faroe Islands NA

Fiji republic

Finland republic

France republic

French Polynesia NA

Gabon republic; multiparty presidential regime

Gambia, The republic

Georgia republic

Germany federal republic

Ghana constitutional democracy

Gibraltar NA

Greece parliamentary republic

Greenland parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Grenada parliamentary democracy

Guam NA

Guatemala constitutional democratic republic

Guernsey parliamentary democracy

Guinea republic

Guinea-Bissau republic

Guyana republic

Haiti republic

Holy See (Vatican City) ecclesiastical

Honduras democratic constitutional republic

Hong Kong limited democracy

Hungary parliamentary democracy

Iceland constitutional republic

India federal republic

Indonesia republic

Iran theocratic republic

Iraq parliamentary democracy

Ireland republic, parliamentary democracy

Isle of Man parliamentary democracy

Israel parliamentary democracy

Italy republic

Jamaica constitutional parliamentary democracy

Japan constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Jersey parliamentary democracy

Jordan constitutional monarchy

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

Kenya republic

Kiribati republic

Korea, North Communist state one-man dictatorship

Korea, South republic

Kosovo republic

Kuwait constitutional emirate

Kyrgyzstan republic

Laos Communist state

Latvia parliamentary democracy

Lebanon republic

Lesotho parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Liberia republic

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

Liechtenstein constitutional monarchy

Lithuania parliamentary democracy

Luxembourg constitutional monarchy

Macau limited democracy

Macedonia parliamentary democracy

Madagascar republic

Malawi multiparty democracy

Malaysia constitutional monarchy note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah holds 25 seats in House of Representatives; Sarawak has 31 seats

Maldives republic

Mali republic

Malta republic

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

Mauritania Democratic Republic

Mauritius parliamentary democracy

Mayotte NA

Mexico federal republic

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

Moldova republic

Monaco constitutional monarchy

Mongolia mixed parliamentary/presidential

Montenegro republic

Montserrat NA

Morocco constitutional monarchy

Mozambique republic

Namibia republic

Nauru republic

Nepal democratic republic

Netherlands constitutional monarchy

Netherlands Antilles parliamentary

New Caledonia NA

New Zealand parliamentary democracy

Nicaragua republic

Niger republic

Nigeria federal republic

Niue self-governing parliamentary democracy

Norfolk Island NA

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

Norway constitutional monarchy

Oman monarchy

Pakistan federal republic

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

Panama constitutional democracy

Papua New Guinea constitutional parliamentary democracy

Paraguay constitutional republic

Peru constitutional republic

Philippines republic

Pitcairn Islands NA

Poland republic

Portugal republic; parliamentary democracy

Puerto Rico commonwealth

Qatar emirate

Romania republic

Russia federation

Rwanda republic; presidential, multiparty system

Saint Helena NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis parliamentary democracy

Saint Lucia parliamentary democracy

Saint Pierre and Miquelon NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines parliamentary democracy

Samoa parliamentary democracy

San Marino republic

Sao Tome and Principe republic

Saudi Arabia monarchy

Senegal republic

Serbia republic

Seychelles republic

Sierra Leone constitutional democracy

Singapore parliamentary republic

Slovakia parliamentary democracy

Slovenia parliamentary republic

Solomon Islands parliamentary democracy

Somalia no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

South Africa republic

Spain parliamentary monarchy

Sri Lanka republic

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

Suriname constitutional democracy

Svalbard NA

Swaziland monarchy

Sweden constitutional monarchy

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

Syria republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime

Taiwan multiparty democracy

Tajikistan republic

Tanzania republic

Thailand constitutional monarchy

Timor-Leste republic

Togo republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Tokelau NA

Tonga constitutional monarchy

Trinidad and Tobago parliamentary democracy

Tunisia republic

Turkey republican parliamentary democracy

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

Turks and Caicos Islands NA

Tuvalu constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy

Uganda republic

Ukraine republic

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

United Kingdom constitutional monarchy

United States Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Uruguay constitutional republic

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

Vanuatu parliamentary republic

Venezuela federal republic

Vietnam Communist state

Virgin Islands NA

Wallis and Futuna NA

Western Sahara legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an Organization of African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented on 6 September 1991 (Security Council Resolution 690) by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara or MINURSO

Yemen republic

Zambia republic

Zimbabwe parliamentary democracy

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

======================================================================

@2129 Unemployment rate (%)

Afghanistan 40% (2005 est.)

Albania 13.2% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (2007 est.)

Algeria 11.8% (2007 est.)

American Samoa 29.8% (2005)

Andorra 0% (1996 est.)

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

Anguilla 8% (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda 11% (2001 est.)

Argentina 8.5% (2007 est.)

Armenia 7.1% (2007 est.)

Aruba 6.9% (2005 est.)

Australia 4.4% (2007 est.)

Austria 4.4% (2007 est.)

Azerbaijan 1% official rate (2007 est.)

Bahamas, The 7.6% (2006 est.)

Bahrain 15% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh 2.5% (includes underemployment) (2007 est.)

Barbados 10.7% (2003 est.)

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

Belgium 7.5% (2007 est.)

Belize 9.4% (2006)

Benin NA%

Bermuda 2.1% (2004 est.)

Bhutan 2.5% (2004)

Bolivia 7.5% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

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

Botswana 7.5% (2007 est.)

Brazil 9.3% (2007 est.)

British Virgin Islands 3.6% (1997)

Brunei 4% (2006)

Bulgaria 7.7% (2007 est.)

Burkina Faso 77% (2004)

Burma 5.2% (2007 est.)

Burundi NA%

Cambodia 2.5% (2000 est.)

Cameroon 30% (2001 est.)

Canada 6% (2007 est.)

Cape Verde 21% (2000 est.)

Cayman Islands 4.4% (2004)

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

Chad NA%

Chile 7% (2007 est.)

China 4% unemployment in urban areas; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas (2007 est.)

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

Colombia 11.2% (2007 est.)

Comoros 20% (1996 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the NA%

Congo, Republic of the NA%

Cook Islands 13.1% (2005)

Costa Rica 4.6% (2007 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire unemployment may have climbed to 40-50% as a result of the civil war

Croatia 11.8% (2007 est.)

Cuba 1.8% (2007 est.)

Cyprus 3.9% (2007 est.)

Czech Republic 6.6% (2007 est.)

Denmark 2.8% (2007 est.)

Djibouti 59% in urban areas, 83% in rural areas (2007 est.)

Dominica 23% (2000 est.)

Dominican Republic 15.6% (2007 est.)

Ecuador 8.8% (2007 est.)

Egypt 9.1% (2007 est.)

El Salvador 6.2% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2007 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 30% (1998 est.)

Eritrea NA%

Estonia 4.7% (2007 est.)

Ethiopia NA%

European Union 8.5% (2006 est.)

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

Faroe Islands 2.1% (2006)

Fiji 7.6% (1999)

Finland 6.9% (2007 est.)

France 7.9% (2007 est.)

French Polynesia 11.7% (2005)

Gabon 21% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The NA%

Gaza Strip 34.8% (2006)

Georgia 13.6% (2006 est.)

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

Ghana 11% (2000 est.)

Gibraltar 3% (2005 est.)

Greece 8.3% (2007 est.)

Greenland 9.3% (2005 est.)

Grenada 12.5% (2000)

Guam 11.4% (2002 est.)

Guatemala 3.2% (2005 est.)

Guernsey 0.9% (March 2006 est.)

Guinea NA%

Guinea-Bissau NA%

Guyana 9.1% (understated) (2000)

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

Honduras 27.8% (2007 est.)

Hong Kong 4% (2007 est.)

Hungary 7.3% (2007 est.)

Iceland 1% (2007 est.)

India 7.2% (2007 est.)

Indonesia 9.1% (2007 est.)

Iran 12% according to the Iranian government (2007 est.)

Iraq 18% to 30% (2006 est.)

Ireland 4.6% (2007 est.)

Isle of Man 1.5% (December 2006 est.)

Israel 7.3% (2007 est.)

Italy 6.2% (2007 est.)

Jamaica 9.9% (2007 est.)

Japan 3.8% (2007 est.)

Jersey 2.2% (2006 est.)

Jordan 13.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2007 est.)

Kazakhstan 7.3% (2007 est.)

Kenya 40% (2001 est.)

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

Korea, North NA%

Korea, South 3.3% (2007 est.)

Kosovo 43% (2007 est.)

Kuwait 2.2% (2004 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 18% (2004 est.)

Laos 2.4% (2005 est.)

Latvia 5.7% (2007 est.)

Lebanon 20% (2006 est.)

Lesotho 45% (2002)

Liberia 85% (2003 est.)

Libya 30% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein 1.3% (September 2002)

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

Luxembourg 4.4% (2007 est.)

Macau 3.1% (2006)

Macedonia 34.9% (2007 est.)

Malawi NA%

Malaysia 3.2% (2007 est.)

Maldives NEGL% (2003 est.)

Mali 30% (2004 est.)

Malta 6.4% (2007 est.)

Marshall Islands 30.9% (2000 est.)

Mauritania 20% (2004 est.)

Mauritius 8.8% (2007 est.)

Mayotte 25.4% (2005)

Mexico 3.7% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2007 est.)

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

Moldova 2.1%; note - roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad (2007 est.)

Monaco 0% (2005)

Mongolia 3% (2007)

Montenegro 14.7% (2007 est.)

Montserrat 6% (1998 est.)

Morocco 9.8% (2007 est.)

Mozambique 21% (1997 est.)

Namibia 5.2% (2007 est.)

Nauru 90% (2004 est.)

Nepal 42% (2004 est.)

Netherlands 4.6% (2007 est.)

Netherlands Antilles 17% (2002 est.)

New Caledonia 17.1% (2004)

New Zealand 3.6% (2007 est.)

Nicaragua 4.9% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2007 est.)

Niger NA%

Nigeria 4.9% (2007 est.)

Niue 12% (2001)

Northern Mariana Islands 3.9% (2001)

Norway 2.5% (2007 est.)

Oman 15% (2004 est.)

Pakistan 5.6% plus substantial underemployment (2007 est.)

Palau 4.2% (2005 est.)

Panama 6.4% (2007 est.)

Papua New Guinea 1.9% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

Paraguay 5.6% (2007 est.)

Peru 6.9% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2007 est.)

Philippines 7.3% (2007 est.)

Poland 12.8% (2007 est.)

Portugal 8% (2007 est.)

Puerto Rico 12% (2002)

Qatar 0.7% (2007 est.)

Romania 4.1% (2007 est.)

Russia 6.2% (2007 est.)

Rwanda NA%

Saint Helena 14% (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.5% (1997)

Saint Lucia 20% (2003 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon 10.3% (1999)

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

Samoa NA%

San Marino 3.8% (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe NA%

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

Senegal 48% (2007 est.)

Serbia 18.8% (2007 est.)

Seychelles 2% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone NA%

Singapore 2.1% (2007 est.)

Slovakia 8.4% (2007 est.)

Slovenia 7.7% (2007 est.)

Solomon Islands NA%

Somalia NA%

South Africa 24.3% (2007 est.)

Spain 8.3% (2007 est.)

Sri Lanka 6% (2007 est.)

Sudan 18.7% (2002 est.)

Suriname 9.5% (2004)

Swaziland 40% (2006 est.)

Sweden 6.1% (2007 est.)

Switzerland 2.8% (2007 est.)

Syria 9% (2007 est.)

Taiwan 3.9% (2007 est.)

Tajikistan 2.4% official rate; actual unemployment is higher (2007 est.)

Tanzania NA%

Thailand 1.4% (2007 est.)

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

Togo NA%

Tokelau NA%

Tonga 13% (FY03/04 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 4.5% (2007 est.)

Tunisia 14.1% (2007 est.)

Turkey 9.9% plus underemployment of 4% (2007 est.)

Turkmenistan 60% (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands 10% (1997 est.)

Tuvalu NA%

Uganda NA%

Ukraine 2.3% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is nearly 7% (2007 est.)

United Arab Emirates 2.4% (2001)

United Kingdom 5.3% (2007 est.)

United States 4.6% (2007 est.)

Uruguay 9.2% (2007 est.)

Uzbekistan 0.8% officially by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed (2007 est.)

Vanuatu 1.7% (1999)

Venezuela 8.5% (2007 est.)

Vietnam 4.3% (2007 est.)

Virgin Islands 6.2% (2004)

Wallis and Futuna 15.2% (2003)

West Bank 18.6% (2006)

Western Sahara NA%

World 30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment (2007 est.)

Yemen 35% (2003 est.)

Zambia 50% (2000 est.)

Zimbabwe 80% (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2137 Military - note

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

American Samoa defense is the responsibility of the US

Andorra defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Anguilla defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Argentina the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is implementing a modernization plan aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2008)

Aruba defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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

Barbados the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)

Bermuda defense is the responsibility of the UK

Bouvet Island defense is the responsibility of Norway

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

British Virgin Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Cayman Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Christmas Island defense is the responsibility of Australia

Clipperton Island defense is the responsibility of France

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

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

Coral Sea Islands defense is the responsibility of Australia

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

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

European Union the five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and assumed command of the ISAF in Afghanistan in August 2004; Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina; in November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating 13 1,500-man battle groups by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis; 22 of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops; France, Italy, and the UK formed the first of three battle groups in 2005; Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland established the Nordic Battle Group effective 1 January 2008; nine other groups are to be formed; a rapid-reaction naval EU Maritime Task Group was stood up in March 2007 (2007)

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

Faroe Islands defense is the responsibility of Denmark

French Polynesia defense is the responsibility of France

French Southern and Antarctic Lands defense is the responsibility of France

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

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

Greenland defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Guam defense is the responsibility of the US

Guernsey defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

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

Hong Kong defense is the responsibility of China

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

Isle of Man defense is the responsibility of the UK

Jan Mayen defense is the responsibility of Norway

Jersey defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

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

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

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

Macau defense is the responsibility of China

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

Marshall Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

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

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

Monaco defense is the responsibility of France

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

Montserrat defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Navassa Island defense is the responsibility of the US

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

New Caledonia defense is the responsibility of France

Niue defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Norfolk Island defense is the responsibility of Australia

Northern Mariana Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Palau defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years, but it has not stationed any military forces there (2008)

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

Paracel Islands occupied by China

Pitcairn Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

Puerto Rico defense is the responsibility of the US

Saint Barthelemy defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Helena defense is the responsibility of the UK

Saint Martin defense is the responsibility of France

Saint Pierre and Miquelon defense is the responsibility of France

Samoa Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

San Marino defense is the responsibility of Italy

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

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

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

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

Svalbard Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920

Tokelau defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

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

Turks and Caicos Islands defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Virgin Islands defense is the responsibility of the US

Wake Island defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)

Wallis and Futuna defense is the responsibility of France

Yemen a Coast Guard was established in 2002

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2138 Communications - note

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

Bouvet Island automatic meteorological station

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

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

Saint Helena South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2140 Government - note

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

Malawi no party has a majority in the fractured legislature

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

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

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

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2142 Country name

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anguilla conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla

Antarctica conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica

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

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

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

Aruba conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barbados conventional long form: none conventional short form: Barbados

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Canada conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cote d'Ivoire conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire note: pronounced coat-div-whar former: Ivory Coast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gibraltar conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

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

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

Grenada conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Isle of Man conventional long form: none conventional short form: Isle of Man abbreviation: I.O.M.

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

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

Jamaica conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kosovo conventional long form: Republic of Kosovo conventional short form: Kosovo local long form: Republika e Kosoves (Republika Kosova) local short form: Kosova (Kosovo) former: Kosovo and Metohija Autonomous Province

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Montenegro conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Crna Gora former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of Montenegro, Republic of Montenegro

Montserrat conventional long form: none conventional short form: Montserrat

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

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

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

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

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

Nepal conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal local short form: Nepal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Niue conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue note: pronounciation falls between nyu-way and new-way, but not like new-wee former: Savage Island

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saint Barthelemy conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Barthelemy conventional short form: Saint Barthelemy local long form: Collectivite d'outre mer de Saint-Barthelemy local short form: Saint-Barthelemy

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

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

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

Saint Martin conventional long form: Overseas Collectivity of Saint Martin conventional short form: Saint Martin local long form: Collectivity d'outre mer de Saint-Martin local short form: Saint-Martin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tokelau conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yemen conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

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

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

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2144 Location

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

Akrotiri Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Albania Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo to the north

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

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

Andorra Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

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

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

Antarctica continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

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

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

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

Armenia Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

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

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

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

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

Austria Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

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

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

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

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

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

Belarus Eastern Europe, east of Poland

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

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

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

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

Bhutan Southern Asia, between China and India

Bolivia Central South America, southwest of Brazil

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

Botswana Southern Africa, north of South Africa

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

Brazil Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

British Indian Ocean Territory archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about halfway between Africa and Indonesia

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

Brunei Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

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

Burkina Faso Western Africa, north of Ghana

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

Burundi Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chad Central Africa, south of Libya

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Czech Republic Central Europe, southeast of Germany

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

Dhekelia Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

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

Dominica Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ethiopia Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

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

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

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

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

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

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

French Polynesia Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean about half way between South America and Australia

French Southern and Antarctic Lands southeast and east of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, some near Madagascar and others about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hungary Central Europe, northwest of Romania

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jordan Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

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

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

Kiribati Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the Equator; the capital Tarawa is about half way between Hawaii and Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (UTC +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line

Korea, North Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Korea, South Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Kosovo Southeast Europe, between Serbia and Macedonia

Kuwait Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Kyrgyzstan Central Asia, west of China

Laos Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Latvia Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

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

Lesotho Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

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

Libya Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Liechtenstein Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Lithuania Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Luxembourg Western Europe, between France and Germany

Macau Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Macedonia Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Madagascar Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Malawi Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Malaysia Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Maldives Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Mali Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Malta Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Marshall Islands Oceania, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up of many small islets, and five single islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Mauritania Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Mauritius Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Mayotte Southern Indian Ocean, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Mexico Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Micronesia, Federated States of Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Moldova Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Monaco Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Mongolia Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Montenegro Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Montserrat Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Morocco Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Mozambique Southeastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Namibia Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Nauru Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Navassa Island Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti

Nepal Southern Asia, between China and India

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

Netherlands Antilles Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands

New Caledonia Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

New Zealand Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

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

Niger Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Nigeria Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Niue Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Norfolk Island Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Northern Mariana Islands Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Norway Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Oman Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Pacific Ocean body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Pakistan Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Palau Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

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

Papua New Guinea Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Paracel Islands Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Paraguay Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Peru Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Philippines Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Pitcairn Islands Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand

Poland Central Europe, east of Germany

Portugal Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Puerto Rico Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Qatar Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

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

Russia Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean

Rwanda Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saint Barthelemy located approximately 125 miles northwest of Guadeloupe

Saint Helena islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2300 nm southwest of Saint Helena

Saint Kitts and Nevis Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Lucia Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Martin island 300 km southeast of Puerto Rico

Saint Pierre and Miquelon Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

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

San Marino Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Sao Tome and Principe Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Saudi Arabia Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

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

Serbia Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

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

Singapore Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Slovakia Central Europe, south of Poland

Slovenia Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Solomon Islands Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Somalia Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

South Africa Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Southern Ocean body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica

Spain Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Spratly Islands Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Sri Lanka Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Sudan Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

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

Svalbard Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Swaziland Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Sweden Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Switzerland Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Syria Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

Taiwan Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Tajikistan Central Asia, west of China

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

Thailand Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

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

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

Tokelau Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Tonga Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

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

Turkey Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Turkmenistan Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Turks and Caicos Islands Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Tuvalu Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Uganda Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Ukraine Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

United Arab Emirates Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

United Kingdom Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

United States North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges Oceania Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,830 nm (3,389 km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 1,815 nm (3,361 km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 1,305 nm (2,417 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Cook Islands Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1,328 km) southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 930 nm (1,722 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,260 nm (2,334 km) northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 960 nm (1,778 km) south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

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

Uzbekistan Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Vanuatu Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Venezuela Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Vietnam Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

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

Wake Island Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Wallis and Futuna Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

West Bank Middle East, west of Jordan

Western Sahara Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Yemen Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Zambia Southern Africa, east of Angola

Zimbabwe Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2145 Map references

Afghanistan Asia

Akrotiri Middle East

Albania Europe

Algeria Africa

American Samoa Oceania

Andorra Europe

Angola Africa

Anguilla Central America and the Caribbean

Antarctica Antarctic Region

Antigua and Barbuda Central America and the Caribbean

Arctic Ocean Arctic Region

Argentina South America

Armenia Asia

Aruba Central America and the Caribbean

Ashmore and Cartier Islands Southeast Asia

Atlantic Ocean Political Map of the World

Australia Oceania

Austria Europe

Azerbaijan Asia

Bahamas, The Central America and the Caribbean

Bahrain Middle East

Bangladesh Asia

Barbados Central America and the Caribbean

Belarus Europe

Belgium Europe

Belize Central America and the Caribbean

Benin Africa

Bermuda North America

Bhutan Asia

Bolivia South America

Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe

Botswana Africa

Bouvet Island Antarctic Region

Brazil South America

British Indian Ocean Territory Political Map of the World

British Virgin Islands Central America and the Caribbean

Brunei Southeast Asia

Bulgaria Europe

Burkina Faso Africa

Burma Southeast Asia

Burundi Africa

Cambodia Southeast Asia

Cameroon Africa

Canada North America

Cape Verde Political Map of the World

Cayman Islands Central America and the Caribbean

Central African Republic Africa

Chad Africa

Chile South America

China Asia

Christmas Island Southeast Asia

Clipperton Island Political Map of the World

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Southeast Asia

Colombia South America

Comoros Africa

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Africa

Congo, Republic of the Africa

Cook Islands Oceania

Coral Sea Islands Oceania

Costa Rica Central America and the Caribbean

Cote d'Ivoire Africa

Croatia Europe

Cuba Central America and the Caribbean

Cyprus Middle East

Czech Republic Europe

Denmark Europe

Dhekelia Middle East

Djibouti Africa

Dominica Central America and the Caribbean

Dominican Republic Central America and the Caribbean

Ecuador South America

Egypt Africa

El Salvador Central America and the Caribbean

Equatorial Guinea Africa

Eritrea Africa

Estonia Europe

Ethiopia Africa

European Union Europe

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) South America

Faroe Islands Europe

Fiji Oceania

Finland Europe

France metropolitan France: Europe French Guiana: South America Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean Reunion: World

French Polynesia Oceania

French Southern and Antarctic Lands Antarctic Region, Africa

Gabon Africa

Gambia, The Africa

Gaza Strip Middle East

Georgia Asia

Germany Europe

Ghana Africa

Gibraltar Europe

Greece Europe

Greenland Arctic Region

Grenada Central America and the Caribbean

Guam Oceania

Guatemala Central America and the Caribbean

Guernsey Europe

Guinea Africa

Guinea-Bissau Africa

Guyana South America

Haiti Central America and the Caribbean

Heard Island and McDonald Islands Antarctic Region

Holy See (Vatican City) Europe

Honduras Central America and the Caribbean

Hong Kong Southeast Asia

Hungary Europe

Iceland Arctic Region

India Asia

Indian Ocean Political Map of the World

Indonesia Southeast Asia

Iran Middle East

Iraq Middle East

Ireland Europe

Isle of Man Europe

Israel Middle East

Italy Europe

Jamaica Central America and the Caribbean

Jan Mayen Arctic Region

Japan Asia

Jersey Europe

Jordan Middle East

Kazakhstan Asia

Kenya Africa

Kiribati Oceania

Korea, North Asia

Korea, South Asia

Kosovo Europe

Kuwait Middle East

Kyrgyzstan Asia

Laos Southeast Asia

Latvia Europe

Lebanon Middle East

Lesotho Africa

Liberia Africa

Libya Africa

Liechtenstein Europe

Lithuania Europe

Luxembourg Europe

Macau Southeast Asia

Macedonia Europe

Madagascar Africa

Malawi Africa

Malaysia Southeast Asia

Maldives Asia

Mali Africa

Malta Europe

Marshall Islands Oceania

Mauritania Africa

Mauritius Political Map of the World

Mayotte Africa

Mexico North America

Micronesia, Federated States of Oceania

Moldova Europe

Monaco Europe

Mongolia Asia

Montenegro Europe

Montserrat Central America and the Caribbean

Morocco Africa

Mozambique Africa

Namibia Africa

Nauru Oceania

Navassa Island Central America and the Caribbean

Nepal Asia

Netherlands Europe

Netherlands Antilles Central America and the Caribbean

New Caledonia Oceania

New Zealand Oceania

Nicaragua Central America and the Caribbean

Niger Africa

Nigeria Africa

Niue Oceania

Norfolk Island Oceania

Northern Mariana Islands Oceania

Norway Europe

Oman Middle East

Pacific Ocean Political Map of the World

Pakistan Asia

Palau Oceania

Panama Central America and the Caribbean

Papua New Guinea Oceania

Paracel Islands Southeast Asia

Paraguay South America

Peru South America

Philippines Southeast Asia

Pitcairn Islands Oceania

Poland Europe

Portugal Europe

Puerto Rico Central America and the Caribbean

Qatar Middle East

Romania Europe

Russia Asia

Rwanda Africa

Saint Barthelemy Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Helena Africa

Saint Kitts and Nevis Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Lucia Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Martin Central America and the Caribbean

Saint Pierre and Miquelon North America

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Central America and the Caribbean

Samoa Oceania

San Marino Europe

Sao Tome and Principe Africa

Saudi Arabia Middle East

Senegal Africa

Serbia Europe

Seychelles Africa

Sierra Leone Africa

Singapore Southeast Asia

Slovakia Europe

Slovenia Europe

Solomon Islands Oceania

Somalia Africa

South Africa Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Antarctic Region

Southern Ocean Antarctic Region

Spain Europe

Spratly Islands Southeast Asia

Sri Lanka Asia

Sudan Africa

Suriname South America

Svalbard Arctic Region

Swaziland Africa

Sweden Europe

Switzerland Europe

Syria Middle East

Taiwan Southeast Asia

Tajikistan Asia

Tanzania Africa

Thailand Southeast Asia

Timor-Leste Southeast Asia

Togo Africa

Tokelau Oceania

Tonga Oceania

Trinidad and Tobago Central America and the Caribbean

Tunisia Africa

Turkey Middle East

Turkmenistan Asia

Turks and Caicos Islands Central America and the Caribbean

Tuvalu Oceania

Uganda Africa

Ukraine Asia, Europe

United Arab Emirates Middle East

United Kingdom Europe

United States North America

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges Oceania

Uruguay South America

Uzbekistan Asia

Vanuatu Oceania

Venezuela South America

Vietnam Southeast Asia

Virgin Islands Central America and the Caribbean

Wake Island Oceania

Wallis and Futuna Oceania

West Bank Middle East

Western Sahara Africa

World Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World, Standard Time Zones of the World

Yemen Middle East

Zambia Africa

Zimbabwe Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008

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@2146 Irrigated land (sq km)

Afghanistan 27,200 sq km (2003)

Albania 3,530 sq km (2003)

Algeria 5,690 sq km (2003)

American Samoa NA

Andorra NA

Angola 800 sq km (2003)

Anguilla NA

Antigua and Barbuda NA

Argentina 15,500 sq km (2003)

Armenia 2,860 sq km (2003)

Aruba 0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Ashmore and Cartier Islands 0 sq km

Australia 25,450 sq km (2003)

Austria 40 sq km (2003)

Azerbaijan 14,550 sq km (2003)

Bahamas, The 10 sq km (2003)

Bahrain 40 sq km (2003)

Bangladesh 47,250 sq km (2003)

Barbados 50 sq km (2003)

Belarus 1,310 sq km (2003)

Belgium 400 sq km (2003)

Belize 30 sq km (2003)

Benin 120 sq km (2003)

Bermuda NA

Bhutan 400 sq km (2003)

Bolivia 1,320 sq km (2003)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 sq km (2003)

Botswana 10 sq km (2003)

Bouvet Island 0 sq km

Brazil 29,200 sq km (2003)

British Indian Ocean Territory 0 sq km

British Virgin Islands NA

Brunei 10 sq km (2003)

Bulgaria 5,880 sq km (2003)

Burkina Faso 250 sq km (2003)

Burma 18,700 sq km (2003)

Burundi 210 sq km (2003)