The 2010 CIA World Factbook (part 18 of 25)

The 2010 CIA World Factbook (part 18 of 25)

Costa Rica five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk toward the hoist side of the red band; Costa Rica retained the earlier blue-white-blue flag of Central America until 1848 when, in response to revolutionary activity in Europe, it was decided to incorporate the French colors into the national flag and a central red stripe was added; today the blue color is said to stand for the sky, opportunity, and perseverence, white denotes peace, happiness, and wisdom, while red represents the blood shed for freedom, as well as the generosity and vibrancy of the people note: somewhat resembles the flag of North Korea; similar to the flag of Thailand but with the blue and red colors reversed

Cote d'Ivoire three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north and fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green represents the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Croatia three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue - the Pan-Slav colors - superimposed by the Croatian coat of arms; the coat of arms consists of one main shield (a checkerboard of 13 red and 12 silver (white) fields) surmounted by five smaller shields that form a crown over the main shield; the five small shields represent five historic regions, they are (from left to right): Croatia, Dubrovnik, Dalmatia, Istria, and Slavonia note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Cuba five equal horizontal bands of blue (top, center, and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; the blue bands refer to the three old divisions of the island: central, occidental, and oriental; the white bands describe the purity of the independence ideal; the triangle symbolizes liberty, equality, and fraternity, while the red color stands for the blood shed in the independence struggle; the white star, called La Estrella Solitaria (the Lone Star) lights the way to freedom and was taken from the flag of Texas note: design similar to the Puerto Rican flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Curacao on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive

Cyprus white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag retains the white field of the Cyprus national flag but displays narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which are centered a red crescent and a red five-pointed star; the banner is modeled after the Turkish national flag but with the colors reversed

Czech Republic two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side note: is identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia; uses the Pan-Slav colors inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Denmark red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side; the banner is referred to as the Dannebrog (Danish flag) and is one of the oldest national flags in the world; traditions as to the origin of the flag design vary, but the best known is a legend that the banner fell from the sky during an early-13th century battle; caught up by the Danish king before it ever touched the earth, this heavenly talisman inspired the royal army to victory; in actuality, the flag may derive from a crusade banner or ensign note: the shifted design element was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Dhekelia the flag of the UK is used

Djibouti two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center; blue stands for sea and sky and the Issa Somali people; green symbolizes earth and the Afar people; white represents peace; the red star recalls the struggle for independence and stands for unity

Dominica green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a Sisserou Parrot, unique to Dominica, encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes); green symbolizes the island's lush vegetation; the triple-colored cross represents the Christian Trinity; the yellow color denotes sunshine, the main agricultural products (citrus and bananas), and the native Carib Indians; black is for the rich soil and the African heritage of most citizens; white signifies rivers, waterfalls, and the purity of aspirations; the red disc stands for social justice

Dominican Republic a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes

Ecuador three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; the flag retains the three main colors of the banner of Gran Columbia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; the yellow color represents sunshine, grain, and mineral wealth, blue the sky, sea, and rivers, and red the blood of patriots spilled in the struggle for freedom and justice note: similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Egypt three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

El Salvador three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water, as well as peace and prosperity note: similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Equatorial Guinea three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice); green symbolizes the jungle and natural resources, blue represents the sea that connects the mainland to the islands, white stands for peace, and red recalls the fight for independence

Eritrea red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle; green stands for the country's agriculture economy, red signifies the blood shed in the fight for freedom, and blue symbolizes the bounty of the sea; the wreath-olive branch symbol is similar to that on the first flag of Eritrea from 1952; the shape of the red triangle broadly mimics the shape of the country

Estonia three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Ethiopia three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996

European Union a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue represents the sky of the Western world, the stars are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol of unity; the number of stars is fixed

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Faroe Islands white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors

Fiji light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the blue symbolizes the Pacific ocean and the Union Jack reflects the links with Great Britain; the shield - taken from Fiji's coat of arms - depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George; the four quarters depict stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Finland white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter

France three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas note: the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Netherlands

French Polynesia two red horizontal bands encase a wide white band in a 1:2:1 ratio; centered on the white band is a disk with a blue and white wave pattern depicting the sea on the lower half and a gold and white ray pattern depicting the sun on the upper half; a stylized red, blue, and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the ship has a crew of five represented by five stars that symbolize the five island groups; red and white are traditional Polynesian colors note: similar to the red-white-red flag of Tahiti, the largest of the islands in French Polynesia, which has no emblem in the white band; the flag of France is used for official occasions

French Southern and Antarctic Lands the flag of France is used

Gabon three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea

Gambia, The three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace

Georgia white rectangle with a central red cross extending to all four sides of the flag; each of the four quadrants displays a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; although adopted as the official Georgian flag in 2004, the five-cross flag design appears to date back to the 14th century

Germany three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field

Ghana three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Gibraltar two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean

Greece nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time

Greenland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white; the design represents the sun reflecting off a field of ice; the colors are the same as those of the Danish flag and symbolize Greenland's links to the Kingdom of Denmark

Grenada a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars stand for the seven administrative divisions, with the central star denoting the capital, St. George; yellow represents the sun and the warmth of the people, green stands for vegetation and agriculture, and red symbolizes harmony, unity, and courage

Guam territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Punta Dos Amantes, near the capital, in the background; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression note: the US flag is the national flag

Guatemala three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and purity

Guernsey white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross; the red cross represents the old ties with England and the fact that Guernsey is a British Crown dependency; the gold cross is a replica of the one used by Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings

Guinea three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

Guinea-Bissau two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanian flag

Guyana green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green; green represents forest and foliage; yellow stands for mineral resources and a bright future; white symbolizes Guyana's rivers; red signifies zeal and the sacrifice of the people; black indicates perseverance

Haiti two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength); the colors are taken from the French Tricolor and represent the union of blacks and mulattoes

Heard Island and McDonald Islands the flag of Australia is used

Holy See (Vatican City) two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the white his worldly power

Honduras three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue, with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea; the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water and the peace and prosperity of its people note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Hong Kong red with a stylized, white, five-petal Bauhinia flower in the center; each petal contains a small, red, five-pointed star in its middle; the red color is the same as that on the Chinese flag and represents the motherland; the fragrant Bauhinia - developed in Hong Kong the late 19th century - has come to symbolize the region; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Hungary three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green; the flag dates to the national movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, and fuses the medieval colors of the Hungarian coat of arms with the revolutionary tricolor form of the French flag; folklore attributes virtues to the colors: red for strength, white for faithfulness, and green for hope; alternatively, the red is seen as being for the blood spilled in defense of the land, white for freedom, and green for the pasturelands that make up so much of the country

Iceland blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors represent three of the elements that make up the island: red is for the island's volcanic fires, white recalls the snow and ice fields of the island, and blue is for the surrounding ocean

India three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation note: similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Indonesia two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors derive from the banner of the Majapahit Empire of the 13th-15th centuries; red symbolizes courage, white represents purity note: similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Iran three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band; green is the color of Islam and also represents growth, white symbolizes honesty and peace, red stands for bravery and martyrdom

Iraq three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); the Council of Representatives approved this flag in 2008 as a compromise temporary replacement for the Ba'athist Saddam-era flag note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

Ireland three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; officially the flag colors have no meaning, but a common interpretation is that the green represents the Irish nationalist (Gaelic) tradition of Ireland; orange represents the Orange tradition (minority supporters of William of Orange); white symbolizes peace (or a lasting truce) between the green and the orange note: similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Isle of Man red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (triskelion), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used; the flag is based on the coat-of-arms of the last recognized Norse King of Mann, Magnus III (r. 1252-1265); the triskelion has its roots in an early Celtic sun symbol

Israel white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag; the basic design resembles a Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which is white with blue stripes; the hexagram as a Jewish symbol dates back to medieval times

Italy three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

Jamaica diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side); green represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden sunshine and the island's natural resources

Jan Mayen the flag of Norway is used

Japan white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Jersey white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the ships of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross to the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement still resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet crown and Jersey coat of arms were added

Jordan three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Kazakhstan a gold sun with 32 rays above a soaring golden steppe eagle, both centered on a sky blue background; the hoist side displays a national ornamental pattern "koshkar-muiz" (the horns of the ram) in gold; the blue color is of religious significance to the Turkic peoples of the country, and so symbolizes cultural and ethnic unity; it also represents the endless sky as well as water; the sun, a source of life and energy, exemplifies wealth and plenitude; the sun's rays are shaped like grain, which is the basis of abundance and prosperity; the eagle has appeared on the flags of Kazakh tribes for centuries and represents freedom, power, and the flight to the future

Kenya three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large Maasai warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center; black symbolizes the majority population, red the blood shed in the struggle for freedom, green stands for natural wealth, and white for peace; the shield and crossed spears symbolize the defense of freedom

Kiribati the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the Pacific ocean; the white stripes represent the three island groups - the Gilbert, Line, and Phoenix Islands; the 17 rays of the sun represent the 16 Gilbert Islands and Banaba (formerly Ocean Island); the frigate bird symbolizes authority and freedom

Korea, North three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star; the broad red band symbolizes revolutionary traditions; the narrow white bands stands for purity, strength, and dignity; the blue bands signify sovereignty, peace, and friendship; the red star represents socialism

Korea, South white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field; the Korean national flag is called Taegukki; white is a traditional Korean color and represents peace and purity; the blue section represents the negative cosmic forces of the yin, while the red symbolizes the opposite positive forces of the yang; each trigram (kwae) denotes one of the four universal elements, which together express the principle of movement and harmony

Kosovo centered on a dark blue field is the geographical shape of Kosovo in a gold color surmounted by six white, five-pointed stars arrayed in a slight arc; each star represents one of the major ethnic groups of Kosovo: Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Gorani, Roma, and Bosniaks

Kuwait three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; colors and design are based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I; green represents fertile fields, white stands for purity, red denotes blood on Kuwaiti swords, black signifies the defeat of the enemy

Kyrgyzstan red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth

Laos three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band; the red bands recall the blood shed for liberation; the blue band represents the Mekong River and prosperity; the white disk symbolizes the full moon against the Mekong River, but also signifies the unity of the people under the Pathet Lao, as well as the country's bright future

Latvia three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon; the flag is one of the older banners in the world; a medieval chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes in about 1280

Lebanon three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band; the red bands symbolize blood shed for liberation, the white band denotes peace, the snow of the mountains, and purity; the green cedar tree is the symbol of Lebanon and represents eternity, steadiness, happiness, and prosperity

Lesotho three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

Liberia 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor note: the design is based on the US flag

Libya plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Liechtenstein two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to distinguish the flag from that of Haiti

Lithuania three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red; yellow symbolizes golden fields, as well as the sun, light, and goodness; green represents the forests of the countryside, in addition to nature, freedom, and hope; red stands for courage and the blood spilled in defense of the homeland

Luxembourg three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; the coloring is derived from the Grand Duke's coat of arms (a red lion on a white and blue striped field)

Macau green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in the center of the arc and two smaller on either side; the lotus is the floral emblem of Macau, the three petals represent the peninsula and two islands that make up Macau; the five stars echo those on the flag of China

Macedonia a yellow sun (the Sun of Liberty) with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field; the red and yellow colors have long been associated with Macedonia

Madagascar two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side; by tradition, red stands for sovereignty, green for hope, white for purity

Malawi three equal horizontal bands of red (top), black, and green; a white sun disc is centered on the black band, its surrounding 45 white rays extend partially into the red and green bands; black represents the native peoples, red the blood shed in their struggle for freedom, and green the color of nature; the sun represents Malawi's economic progress since attaining independence

Malaysia 14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the flag is often referred to as Jalur Gemilang (Stripes of Glory); the 14 stripes stand for the equal status in the federation of the 13 member states and the federal government; the 14 points on the star represent the unity between these entities; the crescent is a traditional symbol of Islam; blue symbolizes the unity of the Malay people and yellow is the royal color of Malay rulers note: the design is based on the flag of the US

Maldives red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent moon; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag; red recalls those who have sacrificed their lives in defense of their country, the green rectangle represents peace and prosperity, and the white crescent signifies Islam

Mali three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Senegal (which has an additional green central star) and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

Malta two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red; according to legend, the colors are taken from the red and white checkered banner of Count Roger of Sicily who removed a bi-colored corner and granted it to Malta in 1091; an uncontested explanation is that the colors are those of the Knights of Saint John who ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798; in 1942, King George VI of the United Kingdom awarded the George Cross to the islanders for their exceptional bravery and gallantry in World War II; since independence in 1964, the George Cross bordered in red has appeared directly on the white field

Marshall Islands blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays appears on the hoist side above the two stripes; blue represents the Pacific Ocean, the orange stripe signifies the Ralik Chain or sunset and courage, while the white stripe signifies the Ratak Chain or sunrise and peace; the star symbolizes the cross of Christianity, each of the 24 rays designates one of the electoral districts in the country and the four larger rays highlight the principal cultural centers of Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye; the rising diagonal band can also be interpreted as representing the equator, with the star showing the archipelago's position just to the north

Mauritania green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam; the gold color stands for the sands of the Sahara

Mauritius four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green; red represents the blood shed for independence, blue the Indian Ocean surrounding the island, yellow has been interpreted as the new light of independence, golden sunshine, or the bright future, and green can symbolize either agriculture or the lush vegetation of the island

Mayotte unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms are a blue upper half with white upturned crescent moon and a red lower half with two yellow ylang-ylang flowers, supported on either side by a white seahorse, and set above a scroll with the motto RA HACHIRI (We are Vigilant) note: the flag of France used for official occasions

Mexico three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; Mexico's coat of arms (an eagle with a snake in its beak perched on a cactus) is centered in the white band; green signifies hope, joy, and love; white represents peace and honesty; red stands for hardiness, bravery, strength, and valor; the coat of arms is derived from a legend that the wandering Aztec people were to settle at a location where they would see an eagle on a catus eating a snake; the city they founded, Tenochtitlan, is now Mexico City note: similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter, uses lighter shades of red and green, and does not have anything in its white band

Micronesia, Federated States of light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the stars represent the four island groups of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap

Moldova three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow; based on the color scheme of the flag of Romania - with whom Moldova shares a history and culture - but Moldova's blue band is lighter; the reverse of the flag does not display any coat of arms note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Paraguay and Saudi Arabia

Monaco two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; the colors are those of the ruling House of Grimaldi and have been in use since 1339, making the flag one of the world's oldest national banners note: similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Mongolia three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol); blue represents the sky, red symbolizes progress and prosperity

Montenegro a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the Montenegrin coat of arms centered; the arms consist of a double-headed golden eagle - symbolizing the unity of church and state - surmounted by a crown; the eagle holds a golden scepter in its right claw and a blue orb in its left; the breast shield over the eagle shows a golden lion passant on a green field in front of a blue sky; the lion is symbol of episcopal authority and harks back to the three and a half centuries that Montenegro was ruled as a theocracy

Montserrat blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the arms feature a woman in green dress, Erin, the female personification of Ireland, standing beside a yellow harp and embracing a large dark cross with her right arm; Erin and the harp are symbols of Ireland reflecting the territory's Irish ancestry; blue represents awareness, trustworthiness, determination, and righteousness

Morocco red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; the pentacle represents the five pillars of Islam and signifies the association between God and the nation; design dates to 1912

Mozambique three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book; green represents the riches of the land, white peace, black the African continent, yellow the country's minerals, and red the struggle for independence; the rifle symbolizes defense and vigilance, the hoe refers to the country's agriculture, the open book stresses the importance of education, and the star represents Marxism and internationalism

Namibia a wide red stripe edged by narrow white stripes divides the flag diagonally from lower hoist corner to upper fly corner; the upper hoist-side triangle is blue and charged with a yellow, 12-rayed sunburst; the lower fly-side triangle is green; red signifies the heroism of the people and their determination to build a future of equal opportunity for all; white stands for peace, unity, tranquility, and harmony; blue represents the Namibian sky and the Atlantic Ocean, the country's precious water resources and rain; the yellow sun denotes power and existence; green symbolizes vegetation and agricultural resources

Nauru blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean, the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Navassa Island the flag of the US is used

Nepal red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square

Netherlands three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; the colors were those of WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, who led the Dutch Revolt against Spanish sovereignty in the latter half of the 16th century; originally the upper band was orange, but because it tended to fade to red over time, the red shade was eventually made the permanent color; the banner is perhaps the oldest tricolor in continuous use

New Caledonia the flag of France is used

New Zealand blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Nicaragua three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; the banner is based on the former blue-white-blue flag of the Federal Republic of Central America; the blue bands symbolize the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, while the white band represents the land between the two bodies of water note: similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

Niger three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk centered in the white band; the orange band denotes the drier northern regions of the Sahara; white stands for purity and innocence; green symbolizes hope and the fertile and productive southern and western areas, as well as the Niger River; the orange disc represents the sun and the sacrifices made by the people note: similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band

Nigeria three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green; the color green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country, white stands for peace and unity

Niue yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large star on a blue disk in the center and a smaller star on each arm of the bold red cross; the larger star stands for Niue, the smaller stars recall the Southern Cross constellation on the New Zealand flag and symbolize links with that country; yellow represents the bright sunshine of Niue and the warmth and friendship between Niue and New Zealand

Norfolk Island three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island note: somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band

Northern Mariana Islands blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on a gray latte stone (the traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath; blue symbolizes the Pacific Ocean, the star represents the Commonwealth; the latte stone and the floral head wreath display elements of the native Chamorro culture

Norway red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Oman three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Pakistan green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Palau light blue with a large yellow disk shifted slightly to the hoist side; the blue color represents the ocean, the disk represents the moon; Palauans consider the full moon to be the optimum time for human activity; it is also considered a symbol of peace, love, and tranquility

Panama divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center; the blue and red colors are those of the main political parties (Conservatives and Liberals respectively) and the white denotes peace between them; the blue star stands for the civic virtues of purity and honesty, the red star signifies authority and law

Papua New Guinea divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered; red, black, and yellow are traditional colors of Papua New Guinea; the bird of paradise - endemic to the island of New Guinea - is an emblem of regional tribal culture and represents the emergence of Papua New Guinea as a nation; the Southern Cross, visible in the night sky, symbolizes Papua New Guinea's connection with Australia and several other countries in the South Pacific

Paraguay three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

Peru three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna (representing fauna), a cinchona tree (the source of quinine, signifying flora), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out coins (denoting mineral wealth); red recalls blood shed for independence, white symbolizes peace

Philippines two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red; a white equilateral triangle is based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star; blue stands for peace and justice, red symbolizes courage, the white equal-sided triangle represents equality; the rays recall the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain, while the stars represent the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897 note: in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

Pitcairn Islands blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the green, yellow, and blue of the shield represents the island rising from the ocean; the green field features a yellow anchor surmounted by a bible (both the anchor and the bible were items found on the HMS Bounty); sitting on the crest is a Pitcairn Island wheelbarrow from which springs a slip of miro (a local plant)

Poland two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; colors derive from the Polish emblem - a white eagle on a red field note: similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Portugal two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the national coat of arms (armillary sphere and Portuguese shield) centered on the dividing line; explanations for the color meanings are ambiguous, but a popular interpretation has green symbolizing hope and red the blood of those defending the nation

Puerto Rico five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; the white star symbolizes Puerto Rico; the three sides of the triangle signify the executive, legislative and judicial parts of the government; blue stands for the sky and the coastal waters; red symbolizes the blood shed by warriors, while white represents liberty, victory, and peace note: design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Qatar maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side; maroon represents the blood shed in Qatari wars, white stands for peace; the nine-pointed serrated edge signifies Qatar as the ninth member of the "reconciled emirates" in the wake of the Qatari-British treaty of 1916 note: the other eight emirates are the seven that compose the UAE and Bahrain; according to some sources, the dominant color was formerly red, but this darkened to maroon upon exposure to the sun and the new shade was eventually adopted

Romania three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; modeled after the flag of France, the colors are those of the principalities of Walachia (red and yellow) and Moldavia (red and blue), which united in 1861 to form Romania; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed note: now similar to the flag of Chad, whose blue band is darker; also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Russia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red note: the colors may have been based on those of the Dutch flag; despite many popular interpretations, there is no official meaning assigned to the colors of the Russian flag; this flag inspired other Slav countries to adopt horizontal tricolors of the same colors but in different arrangements, and so red, blue, and white became the Pan-Slav colors

Rwanda three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band; blue represents happiness and peace, yellow economic development and mineral wealth, green hope of prosperity and natural resources; the sun symbolizes unity, as well as enlightenment and transparency from ignorance

Saint Barthelemy the flag of France is used

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the upper third of the shield depicts a white plover (wire bird) on a yellow field; the remainder of the shield depicts a rocky coastline on the left, offshore is a three-masted sailing ship with sails furled but flying an English flag

Saint Kitts and Nevis divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red; green signifies the island's fertility, red symbolizes the struggles of the people from slavery, yellow denotes year-round sunshine, and black represents the African heritage of the people; the white stars stand for the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, but can also express hope and liberty, or independence and optimism

Saint Lucia blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

Saint Martin the flag of France is used

Saint Pierre and Miquelon a yellow three-masted sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a blue background with scattered, white, wavy lines under the ship; a continuous black-over-white wavy line divides the ship from the white wavy lines; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the blue on the main portion of the flag symbolizes the Atlantic Ocean and the stylized ship represents the Grande Hermine in which Jacques Cartier "discovered" the islands in 1536 note: the flag of France used for official occasions

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation

Samoa red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation; red stands for courage, blue represents freedom, and white signifies purity

San Marino two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano: Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for peace and liberty respectively

Sao Tome and Principe three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; green stands for the country's rich vegetation, red recalls the struggle for independence, and yellow represents cocoa, one of the country's main agricultural products; the two stars symbolize the two main islands note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Saudi Arabia green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932; the flag is manufactured with differing obverse and reverse sides so that the Shahada reads - and the sword points - correctly from right to left on both sides note: one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Paraguay

Senegal three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the star denotes unity and hope note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

Serbia three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white - the Pan-Slav colors representing freedom and revolutionary ideals; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side; the principal field of the coat of arms represents the Serbian state and displays a white two-headed eagle on a red shield; a smaller red shield on the eagle represents the Serbian nation, and is divided into four quarters by a white cross; a white Cyrillic "C" in each quarter stands for the phrase "Only Unity Saves the Serbs"; a royal crown surmounts the coat of arms note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Seychelles five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, green the land and natural environment

Sierra Leone three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown

Singapore two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle; red denotes brotherhood and equality; white signifies purity and virtue; the waxing crescent moon symbolizes a young nation on the ascendancy; the five stars represent the nation's ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality

Sint Maarten two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and blue with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the center of the triangle displays the Sint Maarten coat of arms; the arms consist of an orange-bordered blue shield prominently displaying the white court house in Philipsburg, as well as a bouquet of yellow sage (the national flower) in the upper left, and the silhouette of a Dutch-French friendship monument in the upper right; the shield is surmounted by a yellow rising sun in front of which is a Brown Pelican in flight; a yellow scroll below the shield bears the motto: SEMPER PROGREDIENS (Always Progressing); the three main colors are identical to those on the Dutch flag note: the flag somewhat resembles that of the Philippines, but with the main red and blue bands reversed; the banner more closely evokes the wartime Philippine flag

Slovakia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red derive from the Pan-Slav colors; the Slovakian coat of arms (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills) is centered over the bands but offset slightly to the hoist side note: the Pan-Slav colors were inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia

Slovenia three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, derive from the medieval coat of arms of the Duchy of Carniola; the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries) appears in the upper hoist side of the flag centered on the white and blue bands

Solomon Islands divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green; blue represents the ocean; green the land; and yellow sunshine; the five stars stand for the five main island groups of the Solomon Islands

Somalia light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; the blue field was originally influenced by the flag of the UN, but today is said to denote the sky and the neighboring Indian Ocean; the five points of the star represent the five regions in the horn of Africa that are inhabited by Somali people: the former British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland (which together make up Somalia), Djibouti, Ogaden (Ethiopia), and the Northern Frontier District (Kenya)

South Africa two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band that splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes; the flag colors do not have any official symbolism, but the Y stands for the "convergence of diverse elements within South African society, taking the road ahead in unity"; black, yellow, and green are found on the flag of the African National Congress, while red, white, and blue are the colors in the flags of the Netherlands and the UK, whose settlers ruled South Africa during the colonial era note: the South African flag is the only national flag to display six colors as part of its primary design

South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion rampant, holding a torch; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a Macaroni penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)); the lion with the torch represents the UK and discovery; the background of the shield, blue and white estoiles, are found in the coat of arms of James Cook, discoverer of the islands; all the outer supporting animals represented are native to the islands

Spain three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre

Sri Lanka yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other larger panel depicts a yellow lion holding a sword on a dark red rectangular field that also displays a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels; the lion represents Sinhalese ethnicity, the strength of the nation, and bravery; the sword demonstrates the sovereignty of the nation; the four bo leaves - symbolizing Buddhism and its influence on the country - stand for the four virtues of kindness, friendliness, happiness, and equanimity; orange signifies Sri Lankan Tamils, green the Sri Lankan Moors; dark red represents the European Burghers, but also refers to the rich colonial background of the country; yellow denotes other ethnic groups; also referred to as the Lion Flag

Sudan three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; colors and design based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I, but the meanings of the colors are expressed as follows: red signifies the struggle for freedom, white is the color of peace, light, and love, black represents Sudan itself (in Arabic 'Sudan' means black), green is the color of Islam, agriculture, and prosperity

Suriname five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love; green symbolizes hope and fertility; white signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future

Svalbard the flag of Norway is used

Swaziland three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally; blue stands for peace and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in peaceful coexistence

Sweden blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors reflect those of the Swedish coat of arms - three gold crowns on a blue field

Switzerland red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag; various medieval legends purport to describe the origin of the flag; a white cross used as identification for troops of the Swiss Confederation is first attested at the Battle of Laupen (1339)

Syria three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; two small, green, five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white); identical to the former flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1961) where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; the current design dates to 1980 note: similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band

Taiwan red field with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays; the blue and white design of the canton (symbolizing the sun of progress) dates to 1895; it was later adopted as the flag of the Kuomintang Party; blue signifies liberty, justice, and democracy; red stands for fraternity, sacrifice, and nationaliam, white represents equality, frankness, and the people's livelihood; the 12 rays of the sun are those of the months and the twelve traditional Chinese hours (each ray equals two hours) note: somewhat resembles the flag of Burma

Tajikistan three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe; red represents the sun, victory, and the unity of the nation, white stands for purity, cotton, and mountain snows, while green is the color of Islam and the bounty of nature; the crown symbolizes the Tajik people; the seven stars signify the Tajik magic word "seven" - a symbol of perfection and the embodiment of happiness

Tanzania divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue; the banner combines colors found on the flags of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; green represents the natural vegetation of the country, gold its rich mineral deposits, black the native Swahili people, and blue the country's many lakes and rivers, as well as the Indian Ocean

Thailand five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red; the red color symbolizes the nation and the blood of life; white represents religion and the purity of Buddhism; blue stands for the monarchy note: similar to the flag of Costa Rica but with the blue and red colors reversed

Timor-Leste red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; a white star - pointing to the upper hoist-side corner of the flag - is in the center of the black triangle; yellow denotes the colonialism in Timor-Leste's past; black represents the obscurantism that needs to be overcome; red stands for the national liberation struggle; the white star symbolizes peace and serves as a guiding light

Togo five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; a white five-pointed star on a red square is in the upper hoist-side corner; the five horizontal stripes stand for the five different regions of the country; the red square is meant to express the loyalty and patriotism of the people; green symbolizes hope, fertility, and agriculture; yellow represents mineral wealth and faith that hard work and strength will bring prosperity; the star symbolizes life, purity, peace, dignity, and Togo's independence note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Tokelau a yellow stylized Tokelauan canoe on a dark blue field sails toward the manu - the Southern Cross constellation of four, white, five-pointed stars at the hoist side; the Southern Cross represents the role of Christianity in Tokelauan culture and symbolizes the country's navigating into the future, the color yellow indicates happiness and peace, and the blue field represents the ocean on which the community relies

Tonga red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice; white signifies purity

Trinidad and Tobago red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side; the colors represent the elements of earth, water, and fire; black stands for the wealth of the land and the dedication of the people; white symbolizes the sea surrounding the islands, the purity of the country's aspirations, and equality; red symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, the vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people

Tunisia red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; resembles the Ottoman flag (red banner with white crescent and star) and recalls Tunisia's history as part of the Ottoman Empire; red represents the blood shed by martyrs in the struggle against oppression, white stands for peace; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam note: the flag is based on that of Turkey, itself a successor state to the Ottoman Empire

Turkey red with a vertical white crescent moon (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening; the flag colors and designs closely resemble those on the banner of Ottoman Empire, which preceded modern-day Turkey; the crescent moon and star serve as insignia for the Turks, as well as being traditional symbols of Islam; according to legend, the flag represents the reflection of the moon and a star in a pool of blood of Turkish warriors

Turkmenistan green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets) stacked above two crossed olive branches; five white stars and a white crescent moon appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe; the green color and crescent moon represent Islam; the five stars symbolize the regions or welayats of Turkmenistan; the guls reflect the national identity of Turkmenistan where carpet-making has long been a part of traditional nomadic life note: the flag of Turkmenistan is the most intricate of all national flags

Turks and Caicos Islands blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and displays a conch shell, a spiny lobster, and Turks Head cactus - three common elements of the islands' biota

Tuvalu light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean

Uganda six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side; black symbolizes the African people, yellow sunshine and vitality, red African brotherhood; the crane was the military badge of Ugandan soldiers under the UK

Ukraine two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grain fields under a blue sky

United Arab Emirates three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; the flag incorporates all four Pan-Arab colors, which in this case represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

United Kingdom blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, and British overseas territories

United States 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; the blue stands for loyalty, devotion, truth, justice, and friendship; red symbolizes courage, zeal, and fervency, while white denotes purity and rectitude of conduct; commonly referred to by its nickname of Old Glory note: the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges the flag of the US is used

Uruguay nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May with 16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy; the stripes represent the nine original departments of Uruguay; the sun symbol evokes the legend of the sun breaking through the clouds on 25 May 1810 as independence was first declared from Spain (Uruguay subsequently won its independence from Brazil) note: the banner was inspired by the national colors of Argentina and by the design of the US flag

Uzbekistan three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon (closed side to the hoist) and 12 white stars shifted to the hoist on the top band; blue is the color of the Turkic peoples and of the sky, white signifies peace and the striving for purity in thoughts and deeds, while green represents nature and is the color of Islam; the red stripes are the vital force of all living organisms that links good and pure ideas with the eternal sky and with deeds on earth; the crescent represents Islam and the 12 stars the months and constellations of the Uzbek calendar

Vanuatu two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele fern fronds, all in yellow; red represents the blood of boars and men, green the richness of the islands, and black the ni-Vanuatu people; the yellow Y-shape - which reflects the pattern of the islands in the Pacific Ocean - symbolizes the light of the Gospel spreading through the islands; the boar's tusk is a symbol of prosperity frequently worn as a pendant on the islands; the fern fronds represent peace

Venezuela three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band; the flag retains the three equal horizontal bands and three main colors of the banner of Gran Colombia, the South American republic that broke up in 1830; yellow is interpreted as standing for the riches of the land, blue for the courage of its people, and red for the blood shed in attaining independence; the seven stars on the original flag represented the seven provinces in Venezuela that united in the war of independence; in 2006, President Hugo CHAVEZ ordered an eighth star added to the star arc - a decision that sparked much controversy

Vietnam red field with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center; red symbolizes revolution and blood, the five-pointed star represents the five elements of the populace - peasants, workers, intellectuals, traders, and soldiers - that unite to build socialism

Virgin Islands white field with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in its right talon and three arrows in the left with a superimposed shield of seven red and six white vertical stripes below a blue panel; white is a symbol of purity, the letters stand for the Virgin Islands

Wake Island the flag of the US is used

Wallis and Futuna unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant note: the design is derived from an original red banner with a white cross pattee that was introduced in the 19th century by French missionaries; the flag of France used for official occasions

Yemen three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white) note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Zambia green field with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag; green stands for the country's natural resources and vegetation, red symbolizes the struggle for freedom, black the people of Zambia, and orange the country's mineral wealth; the eagle represents the people's ability to rise above the nation's problems

Zimbabwe seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green represents agriculture, yellow mineral wealth, red the blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

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Field Listing :: Roadways

This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions. Country Comparison to the World Country

Roadways(km)

Afghanistan total: 42,150 km paved: 12,350 km unpaved: 29,800 km (2006)

Albania total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Algeria total: 108,302 km paved: 76,028 km (includes 645 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

American Samoa total: 241 km (2008)

Andorra total: 320 km (2008)

Angola total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Anguilla total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 1,165 km paved: 384 km unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Argentina total: 231,374 km paved: 69,412 km (includes 734 km of expressways) unpaved: 161,962 km (2004)

Armenia total: 8,888 km paved: 7,079 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,809 km (2008)

Australia total: 812,972 km paved: 341,448 km unpaved: 471,524 km (2004)

Austria total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,696 km of expressways) (2006)

Azerbaijan total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Bahamas, The total: 2,717 km paved: 1,560 km unpaved: 1,157 km (2002)

Bahrain total: 3,851 km paved: 3,121 km unpaved: 730 km (2007)

Bangladesh total: 239,226 km paved: 22,726 km unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Barbados total: 1,600 km paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Belarus total: 94,797 km paved: 84,028 km unpaved: 10,769 km (2005)

Belgium total: 152,256 km paved: 119,079 km (includes 1,763 km of expressways) unpaved: 33,177 km (2006)

Belize total: 3,007 km paved: 575 km unpaved: 2,432 km (2006)

Benin total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2006)

Bermuda total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private roads - 222 km (2007)

Bhutan total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Bolivia total: 62,479 km paved: 3,749 km unpaved: 58,730 km (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina total: 21,846 km paved: 11,425 km (4,714 km of interurban roads) unpaved: 10,421 km (2006)

Botswana total: 25,798 km paved: 8,410 km unpaved: 17,388 km (2005)

Brazil total: 1,751,868 km paved: 96,353 km unpaved: 1,655,515 km (2004)

British Indian Ocean Territory note: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

British Virgin Islands total: 200 km paved: 200 km (2007)

Brunei total: 2,971 km paved: 2,411 km unpaved: 560 km (2008)

Bulgaria total: 40,231 km paved: 39,587 km (includes 418 km of expressways) unpaved: 644 km (2008)

Burkina Faso total: 92,495 km paved: 3,857 km unpaved: 88,638 km (2004)

Burma total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2006)

Burundi total: 12,322 km paved: 1,286 km unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Cambodia total: 38,093 km paved: 2,977 km unpaved: 35,116 km (2007)

Cameroon total: 50,000 km paved: 5,000 km unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Canada total: 1,042,300 km paved: 415,600 km (includes 17,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 626,700 km (2008)

Cape Verde total: 1,350 km paved: 932 km unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Cayman Islands total: 785 km paved: 785 km (2007)

Central African Republic total: 24,307 km (2000)

Chad total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (2002)

Chile total: 80,505 km paved: 16,745 km (includes 2,414 km of expressways) unpaved: 63,760 km (2004)

China total: 3,583,715 km (includes 53,913 km of expressways) (2007)

Christmas Island total: 140 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (2007)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2007)

Colombia total: 164,257 km (2005)

Comoros total: 880 km paved: 673 km unpaved: 207 km (2002)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 153,497 km paved: 2,794 km unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)

Congo, Republic of the total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)

Cook Islands total: 320 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Costa Rica total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire total: 80,000 km paved: 6,500 km unpaved: 73,500 km note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable (2006)

Croatia total: 29,248 km (includes 1,043 km of expressways) (2008)

Cuba total: 60,858 km paved: 29,820 km (includes 638 km of expressway) unpaved: 31,038 km (2000)

Curacao total: 550 km

Cyprus total: 14,671 km 12,321 km under government control (includes 257 km of expressways), 2,350 km administered by Turkish Cypriots (2008)

Czech Republic total: 128,582 km paved: 128,582 km (includes 691 km of expressways) (2008)

Denmark total: 73,197 km paved: 73,197 km (includes 1,111 km of expressways) (2008)

Djibouti total: 3,065 km paved: 1,226 km unpaved: 1,839 km (2000)

Dominica total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (2000)

Dominican Republic total: 19,705 km paved: 9,872 km unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)

Ecuador total: 43,670 km paved: 6,472 km unpaved: 37,198 km (2006)

Egypt total: 65,050 km paved: 47,500 km unpaved: 17,550 km (2009)

El Salvador total: 10,886 km paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)

Equatorial Guinea total: 2,880 km (2000)

Eritrea total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (2000)

Estonia total: 58,034 km paved: 34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,098 km (2009)

Ethiopia total: 36,469 km paved: 6,980 km unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)

European Union total: 5,919,704 km (2008)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2008)

Faroe Islands total: 463 km (2006)

Fiji total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (2000)

Finland total: 78,141 km paved: 50,914 km (includes 739 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,227 km (2009)

France total: 1,027,183 km (metropolitan France; includes 10,958 km of expressways) note: there are another 5,100 km of roadways in overseas departments (2007)

French Polynesia total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Gabon total: 9,170 km paved: 937 km unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Gambia, The total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Gaza Strip note: see entry for West Bank

Georgia total: 20,329 km paved: 7,854 km (includes 13 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,475 km (2006)

Germany total: 644,480 km paved: 644,480 km (includes 12,645 km of expressways) note: includes local roads (2008)

Ghana total: 62,221 km paved: 9,955 km unpaved: 52,266 km (2006)

Gibraltar total: 29 km paved: 29 km (2007)

Greece total: 117,533 km paved: 107,895 km (includes 880 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,638 km (2005)

Greenland note: although there are short roads in towns, there are no roads between towns; inter-urban transport takes place either by sea or air (2005)

Grenada total: 1,127 km paved: 687 km unpaved: 440 km (2000)

Guam total: 1,045 km (2008)

Guatemala total: 14,095 km paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)

Guinea total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Guinea-Bissau total: 3,455 km paved: 965 km unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)

Guyana total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)

Haiti total: 4,160 km paved: 1,011 km unpaved: 3,149 km (2000)

Honduras total: 14,239 km paved: 3,159 km unpaved: 11,080 km (1,420 km summer only) (2009)

Hong Kong total: 2,050 km paved: 2,050 km (2009)

Hungary total: 160,057 km paved: 70,539 km (31,363 km of interurban roads including 858 km of expressways) unpaved: 89,518 km (2008)

Iceland total: 12,869 km paved/oiled gravel: 4,438 km (does not include urban roads) unpaved: 8,431 km (2009)

India total: 3,320,410 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2009)

Indonesia total: 437,759 km paved: 258,744 km unpaved: 179,015 km (2008)

Iran total: 172,927 km paved: 125,908 km (includes 1,429 km of expressways) unpaved: 47,019 km (2006)

Iraq total: 44,900 km paved: 37,851 km unpaved: 7,049 km (2002)

Ireland total: 96,036 km paved: 96,036 km (includes 423 km of expressways) (2008)

Isle of Man total: 500 km (2008)

Israel total: 18,096 km paved: 18,096 km (includes 146 km of expressways) (2008)

Italy total: 487,700 km paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)

Jamaica total: 21,552 km paved: 15,937 km (includes 33 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,615 km (2005)

Japan total: 1,203,777 km paved: 961,366 km (includes 7,560 km of expressways) unpaved: 242,411 km (2008)

Jersey total: 576 km (2010)

Jordan total: 7,891 km paved: 7,891 km (2009)

Kazakhstan total: 93,612 km paved: 84,100 km unpaved: 9,512 km (2008)

Kenya total: 160,886 km paved: 11,197 km unpaved: 149,689 km (2008)

Kiribati total: 670 km (2000)

Korea, North total: 25,554 km paved: 724 km unpaved: 24,830 km (2006)

Korea, South total: 103,029 km paved: 80,642 km (includes 3,367 km of expressways) unpaved: 22,387 km (2008)

Kosovo total: 1,926 km paved: 1,668 km unpaved: 258 km (2009)

Kuwait total: 5,749 km paved: 4,887 km unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Kyrgyzstan total: 18,500 km paved: 16,909 km (includes 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,591 km (2003)

Laos total: 36,831 km paved: 4,811 km unpaved: 32,020 km (2007)

Latvia total: 73,074 km paved: 14,459 km unpaved: 58,615 km (2010)

Lebanon total: 6,970 km (includes 170 km of expressways) (2005)

Lesotho total: 7,091 km paved: 1,404 km unpaved: 5,687 km (2003)

Liberia total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)

Libya total: 100,024 km paved: 57,214 km unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)

Liechtenstein total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2010)

Lithuania total: 81,030 km paved: 71,563 km (includes 309 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,467 km (2008)

Luxembourg total: 5,227 km paved: 5,227 km (includes 147 km of expressways) (2008)

Macau total: 413 km paved: 413 km (2009)

Macedonia total: 13,736 km (includes 216 km of expressways) (2009)

Madagascar total: 65,663 km paved: 7,617 km unpaved: 58,046 km (2003)

Malawi total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Malaysia total: 98,721 km paved: 80,280 km (includes 1,821 km of expressways) unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Maldives total: 88 km paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on Laamu note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Mali total: 18,709 km paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Malta total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2005)

Marshall Islands total: 2,028 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2007)

Mauritania total: 11,066 km paved: 2,966 km unpaved: 8,100 km (2006)

Mauritius total: 2,066 km paved: 2,066 km (includes 75 km of expressways) (2009)

Mexico total: 366,095 km paved: 132,289 km (includes 6,279 km of expressways) unpaved: 233,806 km (2008)

Micronesia, Federated States of total: 240 km paved: 42 km unpaved: 198 km (2000)

Moldova total: 9,343 km paved: 8,810 km unpaved: 533 km (2008)

Monaco total: 50 km paved: 50 km (2007)

Mongolia total: 49,250 km paved: 2,824 km unpaved: 46,426 km (includes 1,994 km with gravel surface and 1,874 km with improved surface) (2009)

Montenegro total: 7,404 km paved: 4,927 km unpaved: 2,477 km (2008)

Montserrat note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the 227 km road system; a new road infrastructure has been built in the north end of the island (2008)

Morocco total: 57,625 km paved: 35,664 km (includes 639 km of expressways) unpaved: 21,961 km (2006)

Mozambique total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (2000)

Namibia total: 64,189 km paved: 5,477 km unpaved: 58,712 km (2010)

Nauru total: 24 km paved: 24 km (2002)

Nepal total: 17,282 km paved: 10,142 km unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)

Netherlands total: 136,827 km (includes 2,582 km of expressways) (2008)

New Caledonia total: 5,622 km (2006)

New Zealand total: 93,911 km paved: 61,879 km (includes 172 km of expressways) unpaved: 32,032 km (2009)

Nicaragua total: 19,137 km paved: 2,033 km unpaved: 17,104 km (2009)

Niger total: 18,949 km paved: 3,912 km unpaved: 15,037 km (2008)

Nigeria total: 193,200 km paved: 28,980 km unpaved: 164,220 km (2004)

Niue total: 120 km paved: 120 km (2008)

Norfolk Island total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2008)

Northern Mariana Islands total: 536 km (2008)

Norway total: 92,946 km paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)

Oman total: 68,467 km paved: 23,223 km (includes 1,384 km of expressways) unpaved: 30,207 km (2008)

Pakistan total: 259,197 km paved: 172,827 km (includes 711 km of expressways) unpaved: 86,370 km (2007)

Panama total: 11,978 km paved: 4,300 km unpaved: 7,678 km (2002)

Papua New Guinea total: 9,349 km paved: 3,000 km unpaved: 6,349 km (2011)

Paraguay total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)

Peru total: 102,887 km note: includes 23,838 km of national roads, 19,049 km of departmental roads, and 60,000 km of local roads (2007)

Philippines total: 201,910 km paved: 21,677 km unpaved: 180,233 km (2008)

Poland total: 423,997 km paved: 295,356 km (includes 765 km of expressways) unpaved: 128,641 km (2008)

Portugal total: 82,900 km paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 11,606 km (2008)

Puerto Rico total: 26,670 km paved: 25,337 km (includes 427 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,333 km (2008)

Qatar total: 7,790 km (2006)

Romania total: 198,817 km paved: 60,043 km (includes 281 km of expressways) unpaved: 138,774 km (2008)

Russia total: 982,000 km paved: 776,000 km (includes 30,000 km of expressways) unpaved: 206,000 km note: includes public, local, and departmental roads (2009)

Rwanda total: 14,008 km paved: 2,662 km unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km) paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2002)

Saint Kitts and Nevis total: 383 km paved: 163 km unpaved: 220 km (2002)

Saint Lucia total: 1,210 km (2002)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon total: 117 km paved: 80 km unpaved: 37 km (2000)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines total: 829 km paved: 580 km unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Samoa total: 2,337 km paved: 332 km unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)

San Marino total: 292 km paved: 292 km (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe total: 320 km paved: 218 km unpaved: 102 km (2000)

Saudi Arabia total: 221,372 km paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)

Senegal total: 13,576 km paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)

Serbia total: 36,884 km paved: 31,938 km unpaved: 4,946 km (2007)

Seychelles total: 458 km paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Sierra Leone total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Singapore total: 3,356 km paved: 3,356 km (includes 161 km of expressways) (2009)

Sint Maarten total: 53 km

Slovakia total: 43,761 km paved: 38,085 km (includes 384 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,676 km (2008)

Slovenia total: 38,873 km paved: 38,873 km (includes 696 km of expressways) (2008)

Solomon Islands total: 1,360 km paved: 33 km unpaved: 1,327 km note: includes 800 km of private plantation roads (2002)

Somalia total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (2000)

South Africa total: 362,099 km paved: 73,506 km (includes 239 km of expressways) unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)

Spain total: 681,298 km paved: 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km of expressways) (2008)

Sri Lanka total: 91,907 km (2008)

Sudan total: 11,900 km paved: 4,320 km unpaved: 7,580 km (2000)

Suriname total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Swaziland total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

Sweden total: 572,900 km (includes 1,855 km of expressways) note: (includes 98,400 km of state roads, 433,500 km of private roads, and 41,000 km of muncipal roads; 215,700 km of these are open to public traffic) (2009)

Switzerland total: 71,384 km paved: 71,384 km (includes 1,793 of expressways) (2009)

Syria total: 97,401 km paved: 19,490 km (includes 1,103 km of expressways) unpaved: 77,911 km (2006)

Taiwan total: 41,279 km paved: 40,843 km (includes 976 km of expressways) unpaved: 436 km (2008)

Tajikistan total: 27,767 km (2000)

Tanzania total: 78,892 km paved: 4,741 km unpaved: 74,151 km (2007)

Thailand total: 180,053 km (includes 450 km of expressways) (2006)

Timor-Leste total: 6,040 km paved: 2,600 km unpaved: 3,440 km (2005)

Togo total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (2000)

Tonga total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (2000)

Trinidad and Tobago total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (2000)

Tunisia total: 19,232 km paved: 12,655 km (includes 262 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,577 km (2006)

Turkey total: 352,046 km paved: 313,151 km (includes 2,010 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,895 km (2008)

Turkmenistan total: 58,592 km paved: 47,577 km unpaved: 11,015 km (2002)

Turks and Caicos Islands total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Tuvalu total: 8 km paved: 8 km (2002)

Uganda total: 70,746 km paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

Ukraine total: 169,495 km paved: 165,820 km (includes 15 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,675 km (2009)

United Arab Emirates total: 4,080 km paved: 4,080 km (includes 253 km of expressways) (2008)

United Kingdom total: 394,428 km paved: 394,428 km (includes 3,519 km of expressways) (2009)

United States total: 6,506,204 km paved: 4,374,784 km (includes 75,238 km of expressways) unpaved: 2,131,420 km (2008)

Uruguay total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2010)

Uzbekistan total: 86,496 km paved: 75,511 km unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)

Vanuatu total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Venezuela total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (2002)

Vietnam total: 171,392 km paved: 125,789 km unpaved: 45,603 km (2008)

Virgin Islands total: 1,260 km (2008)

West Bank total: 5,147 km paved: 5,147 km note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)

World total: 102,260,304 km (2008)

Yemen total: 71,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Zambia total: 91,440 km paved: 20,117 km unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Zimbabwe total: 97,267 km paved: 18,481 km unpaved: 78,786 km (2002)

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Field Listing :: Illicit drugs

This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil). Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter. Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush. Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid). Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual. Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual. Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn). Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine. Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant. Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa. Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussin AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil). Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics. Poppy straw is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use. Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea. Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant. Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate). Country

Illicit drugs

Afghanistan world's largest producer of opium; poppy cultivation decreased 22% to 157,000 hectares in 2008 but remains at a historically high level; less favorable growing conditions in 2008 reduced potential opium production to 5,500 metric tons, down 31 percent from 2007; if the entire opium crop were processed, 648 metric tons of pure heroin potentially could be produced; the Taliban and other antigovernment groups participate in and profit from the opiate trade, which is a key source of revenue for the Taliban inside Afghanistan; widespread corruption and instability impede counterdrug efforts; most of the heroin consumed in Europe and Eurasia is derived from Afghan opium; vulnerable to drug money laundering through informal financial networks; regional source of hashish (2008)

Albania increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and expanding cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

Angola used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa

Anguilla transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Antigua and Barbuda considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center

Argentina a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe, heroin headed for the US, and ephedrine and pseudoephedrine headed for Mexico; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; law enforcement corruption; a source for precursor chemicals; increasing domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers, especially cocaine base and synthetic drugs (2008)

Armenia illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; minor transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

Aruba transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity; relatively high percentage of population consumes cocaine

Australia Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate; major consumer of cocaine and amphetamines

Austria transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs

Azerbaijan limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

Bahamas, The transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center

Bangladesh transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

Barbados one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

Belarus limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards and was weakened further when know-your-customer requirements were curtailed in 2008; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities (2008)

Belgium growing producer of synthetic drugs and cannabis; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco; significant domestic consumption of ecstasy

Belize transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis, primarily for local consumption; offshore sector money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and other crimes (2008)

Benin transshipment point used by traffickers for cocaine destined for Western Europe; vulnerable to money laundering due to poorly enforced financial regulations (2008)

Bolivia world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 29,500 hectares under cultivation in 2007, increased slightly when compared to 2006; third largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 120 metric tons potential pure cocaine in 2007; transit country for Peruvian and Colombian cocaine destined for Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Europe; cultivation generally increasing since 2000, despite eradication and alternative crop programs; weak border controls; some money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade; major cocaine consumption (2008)

Bosnia and Herzegovina increasingly a transit point for heroin being trafficked to Western Europe; minor transit point for marijuana; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement, and instances of corruption

Brazil second-largest consumer of cocaine in the world; illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area (2008)

British Virgin Islands transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

Brunei drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

Bulgaria major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; vulnerable to money laundering because of corruption, organized crime; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions (2008)

Burma remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium with an estimated production in 2008 of 340 metric tons, an increase of 26%, and poppy cultivation in 2008 totaled 22,500 hectares, a 4% increase from 2007; production in the United Wa State Army's areas of greatest control remains low; Shan state is the source of 94% of Burma's poppy cultivation; lack of government will to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption (2008)

Cambodia narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; limited methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

Canada illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; increasing ecstasy production, some of which is destined for the US; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

Cape Verde used as a transshipment point for Latin American cocaine destined for Western Europe, particularly because of Lusophone links to Brazil, Portugal, and Guinea-Bissau; has taken steps to deter drug money laundering, including a 2002 anti-money laundering reform that criminalizes laundering the proceeds of narcotics trafficking and other crimes and the establishment in 2008 of a Financial Intelligence Unit (2008)

Cayman Islands major offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe (2008)

Chile transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the region; some money laundering activity, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising, making Chile a significant consumer of cocaine (2008)

China major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle region of Southeast Asia; growing domestic consumption of synthetic drugs, and heroin from Southeast and Southwest Asia; source country for methamphetamine and heroin chemical precursors, despite new regulations on its large chemical industry (2008)

Colombia illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator with 167,000 hectares in coca cultivation in 2007, a 6% increase over 2006, producing a potential of 535 mt of pure cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplies cocaine to nearly all of the US market and the great majority of other international drug markets; in 2005, aerial eradication dispensed herbicide to treat over 130,000 hectares but aggressive replanting on the part of coca growers means Colombia remains a key producer; a significant portion of narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange; important supplier of heroin to the US market; opium poppy cultivation is estimated to have fallen 25% between 2006 and 2007; most Colombian heroin is destined for the US market (2008)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the one of Africa's biggest producers of cannabis, but mostly for domestic consumption; traffickers exploit lax shipping controls to transit pseudoephedrine through the capital; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center (2008)

Costa Rica transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis in remote areas; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising; significant consumption of amphetamines; seizures of smuggled cash in Costa Rica and at the main border crossing to enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua have risen in recent years (2008)

Cote d'Ivoire illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; utility as a narcotic transshipment point to Europe reduced by ongoing political instability; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center (2008)

Croatia transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe (2008)

Cuba territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US- and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999 (2008)

Cyprus minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains vulnerable to money laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector remains weak (2008)

Czech Republic transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime; significant consumer of ecstasy (2008)

Dominica transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer (2008)

Dominican Republic transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)

Ecuador significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru, with much of the US-bound cocaine passing through Ecuadorian Pacific waters; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents (2008)

Egypt transit point for cannabis, heroin, and opium moving to Europe, Israel, and North Africa; transit stop for Nigerian drug couriers; concern as money laundering site due to lax enforcement of financial regulations

El Salvador transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine

Estonia growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy

Ethiopia transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe, as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money laundering center

France metropolitan France: transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

Georgia limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia

Germany source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center

Ghana illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

Greece a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

Grenada small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

Guatemala major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem

Guinea-Bissau increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine enroute to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug smuggling

Guyana transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

Haiti Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis

Honduras transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity

Hong Kong despite strenuous law enforcement efforts, faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

Hungary transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; efforts to counter money laundering, related to organized crime and drug trafficking are improving but remain vulnerable; significant consumer of ecstasy

India world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor production

Indonesia illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy

Iran despite substantial interdiction efforts and considerable control measures along the border with Afghanistan, Iran remains one of the primary transshipment routes for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; suffers one of the highest opiate addiction rates in the world, and has an increasing problem with synthetic drugs; lacks anti-money laundering laws; has reached out to neighboring countries to share counter-drug intelligence

Ireland transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; increasing consumption of South American cocaine; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering - using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community - remains a concern

Israel increasingly concerned about ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

Italy important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling

Jamaica transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation and consumption of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions

Kazakhstan significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; significant consumer of opiates

Kenya widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities

Korea, North for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003

Kyrgyzstan limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe; major consumer of opiates

Laos estimated opium poppy cultivation in 2008 was 1,900 hectares, about a 73% increase from 2007; estimated potential opium production in 2008 more than tripled to 17 metric tons; unsubstantiated reports of domestic methamphetamine production; growing domestic methamphetamine problem (2007)

Latvia transshipment and destination point for cocaine, synthetic drugs, opiates, and cannabis from Southwest Asia, Western Europe, Latin America, and neighboring Balkan countries; despite improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

Lebanon cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002 despite continued significant cannabis consumption; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption; money laundering of drug proceeds fuels concern that extremists are benefiting from drug trafficking

Liberia transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

Liechtenstein has strengthened money laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore financial services sector

Lithuania transshipment and destination point for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, and opiates from Southwest Asia, Latin America, Western Europe, and neighboring Baltic countries; growing production of high-quality amphetamines, but limited production of cannabis, methamphetamines; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation

Macau transshipment point for drugs going into mainland China; consumer of opiates and amphetamines

Macedonia major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although not a financial center and most criminal activity is thought to be domestic, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement

Madagascar illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

Malaysia drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties; heroin still primary drug of abuse, but synthetic drug demand remains strong; continued ecstasy and methamphetamine producer for domestic users and, to a lesser extent, the regional drug market

Malta minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

Mauritius consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry

Mexico major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2007 rose to 6,900 hectares yielding a potential production of 18 metric tons of pure heroin, or 50 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation increased to 8,900 hectares in 2007 and yielded a potential production of 15,800 metric tons; government conducts the largest independent illicit-crop eradication program in the world; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, with an estimated 90% of annual cocaine movements toward the US stopping in Mexico; major drug syndicates control the majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market (2007)

Micronesia, Federated States of major consumer of cannabis

Moldova limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

Montserrat transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Morocco one of the world's largest producers of illicit hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; significant consumer of cannabis

Mozambique southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

Nepal illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

Netherlands major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy

New Zealand significant consumer of amphetamines

Nicaragua transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Nigeria a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; consumer of amphetamines; safe haven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity; Nigeria has improved some anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

Pakistan significant transit area for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Iran, Western markets, the Gulf States, Africa, and Asia; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems; opium poppy cultivation estimated to be 2,300 hectares in 2007 with 600 of those hectares eradicated; federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy campaigns that utilizes forced eradication, fines, and arrests

Panama major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem

Papua New Guinea major consumer of cannabis

Paraguay major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

Peru until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer, Peru is now the world's second largest producer of coca leaf, though it lags far behind Colombia; cultivation of coca in Peru declined to 36,000 hectares in 2007; second largest producer of cocaine, estimated at 210 metric tons of potential pure cocaine in 2007; finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipment to Europe and Africa; increasing domestic drug consumption

Philippines domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in recent years despite government crackdowns; major consumer of amphetamines; longstanding marijuana producer mainly in rural areas where Manila's control is limited

Poland despite diligent counternarcotics measures and international information sharing on cross-border crimes, a major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe

Portugal seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

Romania major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering, which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

Russia limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are key concerns; major consumer of opiates

Saint Kitts and Nevis transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity

Saint Lucia transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

Saudi Arabia death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement

Senegal transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

Serbia transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering

Singapore drug abuse limited because of aggressive law enforcement efforts; as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, as a venue for money laundering

Slovakia transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market; consumer of ecstasy

Slovenia minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

South Africa transshipment center for heroin, hashish, and cocaine, as well as a major cultivator of marijuana in its own right; cocaine and heroin consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries, but increasingly producing its own synthetic drugs for domestic consumption; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region and the size of the South African economy

Spain despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime

Suriname growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Switzerland a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and Western European synthetics; domestic cannabis cultivation and limited ecstasy production

Syria a transit point for opiates, hashish, and cocaine bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money laundering

Taiwan regional transit point for heroin, methamphetamine, and precursor chemicals; transshipment point for drugs to Japan; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; rising problems with use of ketamine and club drugs

Tajikistan major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80% of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium); significant consumer of opiates

Tanzania targeted by traffickers moving hashish, Afghan heroin, and South American cocaine transported down the East African coastline, through airports, or overland through Central Africa; Zanzibar likely used by traffickers for drug smuggling; traffickers in the past have recruited Tanzanian couriers to move drugs through Iran into East Asia.

Thailand a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; transit point for illicit heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer of methamphetamine since the 1990s despite a series of government crackdowns

Timor-Leste NA

Togo transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

Trinidad and Tobago transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

Turkey key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin exist in remote regions of Turkey and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and over output of poppy straw concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls

Turkmenistan transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

Turks and Caicos Islands transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

Ukraine limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

United Arab Emirates the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to Southwest Asian drug-producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving, but informal banking remains unregulated

United Kingdom producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center

United States world's largest consumer of cocaine (shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean), Colombian heroin, and Mexican heroin and marijuana; major consumer of ecstasy and Mexican methamphetamine; minor consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

Uruguay small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs

Uzbekistan transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

Venezuela small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

Vietnam minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; government continues to face domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding crackdowns

World cocaine: worldwide coca leaf cultivation in 2007 amounted to 232,500 hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of the worldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure cocaine production decreased 7% to 865 metric tons in 2007; Colombia conducts an aggressive coca eradication campaign, but both Peruvian and Bolivian Governments are hesitant to eradicate coca in key growing areas; 551 metric tons of export-quality cocaine (85% pure) is documented to have been seized or destroyed in 2005; US consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated to have been in excess of 380 metric tons opiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation continued to increase in 2007, with a potential opium production of 8,400 metric tons, reaching the highest levels recorded since estimates began in mid-1980s; Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 95% of the global supply; Southeast Asia - responsible for 9% of global opium - saw marginal increases in production; Latin America produced 1% of global opium, but most was refined into heroin destined for the US market; if all potential opium was processed into pure heroin, the potential global production would be 1,000 metric tons of heroin in 2007

Zambia transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers; major consumer of cannabis

Zimbabwe transit point for cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines en route to South Africa

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@2087

Field Listing :: Imports

This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Country Comparison to the World Country

Imports

Afghanistan $5.3 billion (2008 est.) $4.5 billion (2007)

Albania $4.337 billion (2010 est.) $4.264 billion (2009 est.)

Algeria $37.07 billion (2010 est.) $39.1 billion (2009 est.)

American Samoa $308.8 million (FY04 est.)

Andorra $1.801 billion (2008) $1.789 billion (2007)

Angola $18.1 billion (2010 est.) $15.74 billion (2009 est.)

Anguilla $143 million (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda $522.8 million (2007 est.)

Argentina $52.61 billion (2010 est.) $37.14 billion (2009 est.)

Armenia $2.988 billion (2010 est.) $2.817 billion (2009 est.)

Aruba $1.054 billion (2006)

Australia $200.4 billion (2010 est.) $160.4 billion (2009 est.)

Austria $156 billion (2010 est.) $138.7 billion (2009 est.)

Azerbaijan $7.035 billion (2010 est.) $6.514 billion (2009 est.)

Bahamas, The $2.401 billion (2006)

Bahrain $12.14 billion (2010 est.) $9.613 billion (2009 est.)

Bangladesh $21.34 billion (2010) $20.3 billion (2009)

Barbados $1.586 billion (2006)

Belarus $29.79 billion (2010 est.) $28.31 billion (2009 est.)

Belgium $281.7 billion (2010 est.) $261.3 billion (2009 est.)

Belize $740 million (2010 est.) $620.5 million (2009 est.)

Benin $1.812 billion (2010 est.) $1.703 billion (2009 est.)

Bermuda $1.162 billion (2006)

Bhutan $533 million (2008) $320 million (2006)

Bolivia $5.006 billion (2010 est.) $4.095 billion (2009 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina $9.403 billion (2010 est.) $8.788 billion (2009 est.)

Botswana $4.518 billion (2010 est.) $4.243 billion (2009 est.)

Brazil $187.7 billion (2010 est.) $127.7 billion (2009 est.)

British Virgin Islands $187 million f.o.b.

Brunei $2.61 billion (2008 est.) $2.055 billion (2007 est.)

Bulgaria $22.78 billion (2010 est.) $22.22 billion (2009 est.)

Burkina Faso $1.48 billion (2010 est.) $1.186 billion (2009 est.)

Burma $4.532 billion (2010 est.) $4.02 billion (2009 est.) note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India

Burundi $336 million (2010 est.) $275 million (2009 est.)

Cambodia $6.944 billion (2010 est.) $5.876 billion (2009 est.)

Cameroon $4.869 billion (2010 est.) $4.405 billion (2009 est.)

Canada $406.4 billion (2010 est.) $327.3 billion (2009 est.)

Cape Verde $858 million (2010 est.) $835 million (2009 est.)

Cayman Islands $876.5 million (2008) $866.9 million (2004)

Central African Republic $237.3 million (2007 est.)

Chad $2.631 billion (2010 est.) $2.539 billion (2009 est.)

Chile $54.23 billion (2010 est.) $39.75 billion (2009 est.)

China $1.307 trillion (2010 est.) $954.3 billion (2009 est.)

Christmas Island $NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands $NA

Colombia $36.26 billion (2010 est.) $31.48 billion (2009 est.)

Comoros $143 million (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the $5.2 billion (2009 est.) $6.7 billion (2008 est.)

Congo, Republic of the $3.607 billion (2010 est.) $3.259 billion (2009 est.)

Cook Islands $81.04 million (2005)

Costa Rica $13.69 billion (2010 est.) $10.87 billion (2009 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire $7.015 billion (2010 est.) $6.318 billion (2009 est.)

Croatia $20.93 billion (2010 est.) $21 billion (2009 est.)

Cuba $10.25 billion (2010 est.) $8.91 billion (2009 est.)

Curacao $1.34 billion (2008 est.)

Cyprus $7.962 billion (2010 est.) $7.973 billion (2009 est.)

Czech Republic $109.2 billion (2010 est.) $103.1 billion (2009 est.)

Denmark $90.83 billion (2010 est.) $84.46 billion (2009 est.)

Djibouti $644 million (2009 est.) $1.555 billion (2006)

Dominica $296 million (2006)

Dominican Republic $14.53 billion (2010 est.) $12.28 billion (2009 est.)

Ecuador $17.65 billion (2010 est.) $14.27 billion (2009 est.)

Egypt $46.52 billion (2010 est.) $45.56 billion (2009 est.)

El Salvador $7.98 billion (2010 est.) $7.255 billion (2009)

Equatorial Guinea $5.743 billion (2010 est.) $5.258 billion (2009 est.)

Eritrea $738 million (2010 est.) $682 million (2009 est.)

Estonia $11.52 billion (2010 est.) $9.783 billion (2009 est.)

Ethiopia $7.517 billion (2010 est.) $6.946 billion (2009 est.)

European Union $1.69 trillion (2007) $1.466 trillion (2005) note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) $90 million (2004 est.)

Faroe Islands $983 million (2008) $751 million (2006)

Fiji $3.12 billion (2006)

Finland $69.11 billion (2010 est.) $57.68 billion (2009 est.)

France $577.7 billion (2010 est.) $535.8 billion (2009 est.)

French Polynesia $1.706 billion (2005 est.)

Gabon $2.433 billion (2010 est.) $2.298 billion (2009 est.)

Gambia, The $306 million (2010 est.) $280 million (2009 est.)

Gaza Strip see entry for West Bank

Georgia $4.828 billion (2010 est.) $4.293 billion (2009 est.)

Germany $1.12 trillion (2010 est.) $956.7 billion (2009 est.)

Ghana $10.18 billion (2010 est.) $8.046 billion (2009 est.)

Gibraltar $2.967 billion (2004 est.)

Greece $44.9 billion (2010 est.) $64.2 billion (2009 est.)

Greenland $867 million (2008) $669 million (2007)

Grenada $343 million (2006)

Guam $701 million (2004 est.)

Guatemala $12.65 billion (2010 est.) $11.52 billion (2009)

Guernsey $NA

Guinea $1.551 billion (2010 est.) $1.236 billion (2009 est.)

Guinea-Bissau $200 million (2006)

Guyana $1.366 billion (2010 est.) $1.161 billion (2009 est.)

Haiti $2.446 billion (2010 est.) $2.032 billion (2009 est.)

Honduras $8.878 billion (2010 est.) $5.924 billion (2009 est.)

Hong Kong $413 billion (2010 est.) $348.7 billion (2009 est.)

Hungary $87.44 billion (2010 est.) $76.42 billion (2009 est.)

Iceland $3.677 billion (2010 est.) $3.318 billion (2009 est.)

India $327 billion (2010 est.) $274.3 billion (2009 est.)

Indonesia $111.1 billion (2010 est.) $84.35 billion (2009 est.)

Iran $58.97 billion (2010 est.) $58.97 billion (2009 est.)

Iraq $42.56 billion (2010 est.) $50 billion (2008 est.)

Ireland $70.36 billion (2010 est.) $62.22 billion (2009 est.)

Isle of Man $NA

Israel $55.6 billion (2010 est.) $45.99 billion (2009 est.)

Italy $459.7 billion (2010 est.) $403.9 billion (2009 est.)

Jamaica $5.378 billion (2010 est.) $4.581 billion (2009 est.)

Japan $636.8 billion (2010 est.) $501.6 billion (2009 est.)

Jersey $NA

Jordan $12.97 billion (2010 est.) $12.5 billion (2009 est.)

Kazakhstan $30.11 billion (2010 est.) $28.77 billion (2009 est.)

Kenya $10.4 billion (2010 est.) $9.715 billion (2009 est.)

Kiribati $62 million (2004 est.)

Korea, North $3.096 billion (2009) $3.574 billion (2008)

Korea, South $417.9 billion (2010 est.) $317.5 billion (2009 est.)

Kosovo $2.6 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Kuwait $20.36 billion (2010 est.) $17.08 billion (2009 est.)

Kyrgyzstan $3.075 billion (2010 est.) $2.987 billion (2009 est.)

Laos $1.504 billion (2010 est.) $1.308 billion (2009 est.)

Latvia $9.153 billion (2010 est.) $8.906 billion (2009 est.)

Lebanon $17.97 billion (2010 est.) $15.9 billion (2009 est.)

Lesotho $1.766 billion (2010 est.) $1.572 billion (2009 est.)

Liberia $7.143 billion (2006)

Libya $24.47 billion (2010 est.) $22.01 billion (2009 est.)

Liechtenstein $2.59 billion (2008)

Lithuania $20.34 billion (2010 est.) $17.56 billion (2009 est.)

Luxembourg $23.67 billion (2010 est.) $19.76 billion (2009 est.)

Macau $4.5 billion (2009 est.) $5.4 billion (2008 est.)

Macedonia $5.113 billion (2010 est.) $4.842 billion (2009 est.)

Madagascar $1.958 billion (2010 est.) $1.893 billion (2009 est.)

Malawi $1.675 billion (2010 est.) $1.502 billion (2009 est.)

Malaysia $149.2 billion (2010 est.) $117.3 billion (2009 est.)

Maldives $782 million (2008 est.) $1.221 billion (2008 est.)

Mali $2.358 billion (2006)

Malta $4.074 billion (2010 est.) $3.595 billion (2009 est.)

Marshall Islands $79.4 million (2008 est.) $54.7 million (2000 est.)

Mauritania $1.475 billion (2006)

Mauritius $3.935 billion (2010 est.) $3.499 billion (2009 est.)

Mayotte $341 million (2005)

Mexico $306 billion (2010 est.) $234.4 billion (2009 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of $132.7 million (2004)

Moldova $3.66 billion (2010 est.) $3.276 billion (2009 est.)

Monaco $916.1 million (2005) note: full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Mongolia $2.131 billion (2009) $3.224 billion (2008)

Montenegro $601.7 million (2003)

Montserrat $17 million (2001); $17 million

Morocco $34.19 billion (2010 est.) $30.55 billion (2009 est.)

Mozambique $3.527 billion (2010 est.) $3.059 billion (2009 est.)

Namibia $5.152 billion (2010 est.) $4.519 billion (2009 est.)

Nauru $20 million (2004 est.)

Nepal $5.26 billion (2009) $4.1 billion (2008)

Netherlands $408.4 billion (2010 est.) $371.9 billion (2009 est.)

New Caledonia $1.998 billion (2006)

New Zealand $30.24 billion (2010 est.) $23.95 billion (2009 est.)

Nicaragua $4.7 billion (2010 est.) $3.481 billion (2009 est.)

Niger $800 million (2006)

Nigeria $34.18 billion (2010 est.) $29.05 billion (2009 est.)

Niue $9.038 million (2004)

Norfolk Island $17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92); $17.9 million

Northern Mariana Islands $214.4 million (2001)

Norway $74.02 billion (2010 est.) $66.68 billion (2009 est.)

Oman $19.3 billion (2010 est.) $16.13 billion (2009 est.)

Pakistan $32.71 billion (2010 est.) $28.53 billion (2009 est.)

Palau $107.3 million (2004 est.)

Panama $16.05 billion (2010 est.) $12.93 billion (2009 est.) note: includes the Colon Free Zone

Papua New Guinea $3.547 billion (2010 est.) $2.871 billion (2009 est.)

Paraguay $9.242 billion (2010 est.) $6.917 billion (2009 est.)

Peru $25.74 billion (2010 est.) $21.01 billion (2009 est.)

Philippines $57.24 billion (2010 est.) $46.39 billion (2009 est.)

Pitcairn Islands $NA

Poland $167.4 billion (2010 est.) $146.4 billion (2009 est.)

Portugal $68.22 billion (2010 est.) $68.9 billion (2009 est.)

Puerto Rico $29.1 billion (2001)

Qatar $23.38 billion (2010 est.) $20.89 billion (2009 est.)

Romania $59.84 billion (2010 est.) $50.03 billion (2009 est.)

Russia $237.3 billion (2010 est.) $191.8 billion (2009 est.)

Rwanda $1.047 billion (2010 est.) $961 million (2009 est.)

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha $45 million (2004 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis $383 million (2006)

Saint Lucia $791 million (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon $68.2 million (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines $578 million (2006)

Samoa $324 million (2006)

San Marino $3.744 billion (2007) $2.035 billion (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe $99 million (2010 est.) $80 million (2009 est.)

Saudi Arabia $99.17 billion (2010 est.) $87.1 billion (2009 est.)

Senegal $4.474 billion (2010 est.) $4.549 billion (2009 est.)

Serbia $15.78 billion (2010 est.) $15.03 billion (2009 est.)

Seychelles $831 million (2010 est.) $759.1 million (2009 est.)

Sierra Leone $560 million (2006)

Singapore $315.6 billion (2010 est.) $243.2 billion (2009 est.)

Slovakia $62.43 billion (2010 est.) $53.67 billion (2009 est.)

Slovenia $25.96 billion (2010 est.) $23.5 billion (2009 est.)

Solomon Islands $256 million (2006)

Somalia $798 million (2006)

South Africa $77.04 billion (2010 est.) $66.01 billion (2009 est.)

Spain $324.6 billion (2010 est.) $286.8 billion (2009 est.)

Sri Lanka $11.6 billion (2010 est.) $9.186 billion (2009 est.)

Sudan $8.483 billion (2010 est.) $8.253 billion (2009 est.)

Suriname $1.297 billion (2006 est.)

Svalbard $NA

Swaziland $1.643 billion (2010 est.) $1.585 billion (2009 est.)

Sweden $158.6 billion (2010 est.) $120.5 billion (2009 est.)

Switzerland $220.4 billion (2010 est.) $192.8 billion (2009 est.)

Syria $13.57 billion (2010 est.) $12.62 billion (2009 est.)

Taiwan $250.2 billion (2010 est.) $172.8 billion (2009 est.)

Tajikistan $3.301 billion (2010 est.) $2.77 billion (2009 est.)

Tanzania $6.334 billion (2010 est.) $5.834 billion (2009 est.)

Thailand $156.9 billion (2010 est.) $118 billion (2009 est.)

Timor-Leste $202 million (2004 est.)

Togo $1.337 billion (2010 est.) $1.261 billion (2009 est.)

Tokelau $969,200 (2002)

Tonga $139 million (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago $8.234 billion (2010 est.) $7.161 billion (2009 est.)

Tunisia $20.02 billion (2010 est.) $18.12 billion (2009 est.)

Turkey $166.3 billion (2010 est.) $134.5 billion (2009 est.)

Turkmenistan $4.888 billion (2010 est.) $4.109 billion (2009 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands $175.6 million (2000)

Tuvalu $12.91 million (2005)

Uganda $4.474 billion (2010 est.) $3.844 billion (2009 est.)

Ukraine $53.54 billion (2010 est.) $45.05 billion (2009 est.)

United Arab Emirates $159 billion (2010 est.) $150 billion (2009 est.)

United Kingdom $546.5 billion (2010 est.) $483.9 billion (2009 est.)

United States $1.903 trillion (2010 est.) $1.575 trillion (2009 est.)

Uruguay $8.519 billion (2010 est.) $6.664 billion (2009 est.)

Uzbekistan $9.44 billion (2010 est.) $9.023 billion (2009 est.)

Vanuatu $156 million (2006)

Venezuela $31.37 billion (2010 est.) $38.44 billion (2009 est.)

Vietnam $81.73 billion (2010 est.) $65.4 billion (2009 est.)

Virgin Islands $4.609 billion (2001)

Wallis and Futuna $61.17 million (2004)

West Bank $3.772 billion (2008) $2.84 billion (2006)

Western Sahara $NA

World $14.68 trillion (2010) $12.19 trillion (2009)

Yemen $8.35 billion (2010 est.) $7.518 billion (2009 est.)

Zambia $4.949 billion (2010 est.) $3.735 billion (2009 est.)

Zimbabwe $2.871 billion (2010 est.) $2.413 billion (2009 est.)

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@2088

Field Listing :: Independence

For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several significant dates are cited. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note. Country

Independence

Afghanistan 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

Albania 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Algeria 5 July 1962 (from France)

American Samoa none (territory of the US)

Andorra 1278 (formed under the joint suzerainty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Seu d'Urgel)

Angola 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Anguilla none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 (from the UK)

Argentina 9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Armenia 21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Aruba none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Australia 1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

Austria 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed)

Azerbaijan 30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

Bahamas, The 10 July 1973 (from the UK)

Bahrain 15 August 1971 (from the UK)

Bangladesh 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Barbados 30 November 1966 (from the UK)

Belarus 25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Belgium 4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

Belize 21 September 1981 (from the UK)

Benin 1 August 1960 (from France)

Bermuda none (overseas territory of the UK)

Bhutan 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

Bolivia 6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992)

Botswana 30 September 1966 (from the UK)

Brazil 7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

British Virgin Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei 1 January 1984 (from the UK)

Bulgaria 3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

Burkina Faso 5 August 1960 (from France)

Burma 4 January 1948 (from the UK)

Burundi 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Cambodia 9 November 1953 (from France)

Cameroon 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Canada 1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK)

Cape Verde 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Cayman Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic 13 August 1960 (from France)

Chad 11 August 1960 (from France)

Chile 18 September 1810 (from Spain)

China 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 BC (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)

Christmas Island none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands none (territory of Australia)

Colombia 20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Comoros 6 July 1975 (from France)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Congo, Republic of the 15 August 1960 (from France)

Cook Islands none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

Costa Rica 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Cote d'Ivoire 7 August 1960 (from France)

Croatia 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Cuba 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence

Curacao none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Cyprus 16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

Czech Republic 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs generally consider 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

Denmark ca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormson); 5 June 1849 (becomes a constitutional monarchy)

Djibouti 27 June 1977 (from France)

Dominica 3 November 1978 (from the UK)

Dominican Republic 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Ecuador 24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Egypt 28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn 18 June 1956); note - it was in ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically

El Salvador 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Equatorial Guinea 12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Eritrea 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Estonia 20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Ethiopia oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first centuries B.C.)

European Union 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Faroe Islands none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Fiji 10 October 1970 (from the UK)

Finland 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

France no official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)

French Polynesia none (overseas lands of France)

Gabon 17 August 1960 (from France)

Gambia, The 18 February 1965 (from the UK)

Georgia 9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Germany 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)

Ghana 6 March 1957 (from the UK)

Gibraltar none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Greenland none (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

Grenada 7 February 1974 (from the UK)

Guam none (territory of the US)

Guatemala 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guernsey none (British crown dependency)

Guinea 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea-Bissau 24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

Guyana 26 May 1966 (from the UK)

Haiti 1 January 1804 (from France)

Holy See (Vatican City) 11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century

Honduras 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Hong Kong none (special administrative region of China)

Hungary 16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary created)

Iceland 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

India 15 August 1947 (from the UK)

Indonesia 17 August 1945 (declared); 27 December 1949 (by the Netherlands); note - in August 2005 the Netherlands announced that it had recognized de facto Indonesian independence on 17 August 1945

Iran 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 625 B.C. (unification of Iran under the Medes); ca. A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavids); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the Pahlavis)

Iraq 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi-controlled Government

Ireland 6 December 1921 (from the UK by treaty)

Isle of Man none (British crown dependency)

Israel 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Italy 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

Jamaica 6 August 1962 (from the UK)

Japan 3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 660 B.C. (traditional date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Jersey none (British crown dependency)

Jordan 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Kazakhstan 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Kenya 12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Kiribati 12 July 1979 (from the UK)

Korea, North 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Korea, South 15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Kosovo 17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

Kuwait 19 June 1961 (from the UK)

Kyrgyzstan 31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Laos 19 July 1949 (from France)

Latvia 18 November 1918 (from the Soviet Russia)

Lebanon 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Lesotho 4 October 1966 (from the UK)

Liberia 26 July 1847

Libya 24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

Liechtenstein 23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

Lithuania 11 March 1990 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

Luxembourg 1839 (from the Netherlands)

Macau none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia 8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

Madagascar 26 June 1960 (from France)

Malawi 6 July 1964 (from the UK)

Malaysia 31 August 1957 (from the UK)

Maldives 26 July 1965 (from the UK)

Mali 22 September 1960 (from France)

Malta 21 September 1964 (from the UK)

Marshall Islands 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Mauritania 28 November 1960 (from France)

Mauritius 12 March 1968 (from the UK)

Mayotte none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico 16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

Micronesia, Federated States of 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Moldova 27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Monaco 1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of Grimaldi)

Mongolia 11 July 1921 (from China)

Montenegro 3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

Montserrat none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco 2 March 1956 (from France)

Mozambique 25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Namibia 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Nauru 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

Nepal 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Netherlands 23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

New Caledonia none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014

New Zealand 26 September 1907 (from the UK)

Nicaragua 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Niger 3 August 1960 (from France)

Nigeria 1 October 1960 (from the UK)

Niue 19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand)

Norfolk Island none (territory of Australia)

Northern Mariana Islands none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Norway 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

Oman 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Pakistan 14 August 1947 (from British India)

Palau 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Panama 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

Papua New Guinea 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

Paraguay 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Peru 28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Philippines 12 June 1898 (independence proclaimed from Spain); 4 July 1946 (from the US)

Pitcairn Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland 11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

Portugal 1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

Puerto Rico none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Qatar 3 September 1971 (from the UK)

Romania 9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

Russia 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)

Rwanda 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

Saint Barthelemy none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis 19 September 1983 (from the UK)

Saint Lucia 22 February 1979 (from the UK)

Saint Martin none (overseas collectivity of France)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 October 1979 (from the UK)

Samoa 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

San Marino 3 September 301

Sao Tome and Principe 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Saudi Arabia 23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

Senegal 4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

Serbia 5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

Seychelles 29 June 1976 (from the UK)

Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 (from the UK)

Singapore 9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

Sint Maarten none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Slovakia 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Slovenia 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Solomon Islands 7 July 1978 (from the UK)

Somalia 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland that became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)

South Africa 31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

Spain 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Sudan 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

Suriname 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

Svalbard none (territory of Norway)

Swaziland 6 September 1968 (from the UK)

Sweden 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

Switzerland 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Syria 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Tajikistan 9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Tanzania 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

Thailand 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Timor-Leste 28 November 1975 (independence proclaimed from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

Togo 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Tokelau none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 (from the UK)

Tunisia 20 March 1956 (from France)

Turkey 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

Turkmenistan 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Turks and Caicos Islands none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu 1 October 1978 (from the UK)

Uganda 9 October 1962 (from the UK)

Ukraine 24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

United Arab Emirates 2 December 1971 (from the UK)

United Kingdom 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); notable earlier dates: 927 (minor English kingdoms united); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England and Scotland as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland)

United States 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

Uruguay 25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Uzbekistan 1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Vanuatu 30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

Venezuela 5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Vietnam 2 September 1945 (from France)

Virgin Islands none (territory of the US)

Wallis and Futuna none (overseas territory of France)

Yemen 22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen became independent in November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate in 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Zambia 24 October 1964 (from the UK)

Zimbabwe 18 April 1980 (from the UK)

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

@2089

Field Listing :: Industrial production growth rate

This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction). Country Comparison to the World Country

Industrial production growth rate(%)

Afghanistan NA%

Albania 3% (2010 est.)

Algeria 4.8% (2010 est.)

American Samoa NA%

Andorra NA%

Angola 5% (2010 est.)

Anguilla NA%

Antigua and Barbuda NA%

Argentina 6.7% (2010 est.)

Armenia 8% (2010 est.)

Aruba NA%

Australia 3% (2010 est.)

Austria 3% (2010 est.)

Azerbaijan 3.5% (2010 est.)

Bahamas, The NA%

Bahrain 1.5% (2010 est.)

Bangladesh 6.4% (2010 est.)

Barbados -3.2% (2000 est.)

Belarus 10.5% (2010 est.)

Belgium 4% (2010 est.)

Belize 1.4% (2010 est.)

Benin 3% (2010 est.)

Bermuda NA%

Bhutan NA%

Bolivia 4% (2010 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.3% (2010 est.)

Botswana 6.9% (2010 est.)

Brazil 11.5% (2010 est.)

British Virgin Islands NA%

Brunei -5.4% (2008 est.)

Bulgaria 0.4% (2010 est.)

Burkina Faso 5.5% (2010 est.)

Burma 4.3% (2010 est.)

Burundi 7% (2010 est.)

Cambodia 4.5% (2010 est.)

Cameroon 4% (2010 est.)

Canada 5.8% (2010 est.)

Cape Verde 4% (2010 est.)

Cayman Islands NA%

Central African Republic 3% (2002)

Chad 3% (2010 est.)

Chile 3.2% (2010 est.)

China 11% (2010 est.)

Colombia 5.5% (2010 est.)

Comoros NA%

Congo, Democratic Republic of the NA%

Congo, Republic of the 12% (2010 est.)

Cook Islands 1% (2002)

Costa Rica 3% (2010 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire 4.5% (2010 est.)

Croatia -0.9% (2010 est.)

Cuba 0.8% (2010 est.)

Curacao NA

Cyprus 0.1% (2010 est.)

Czech Republic 3% (2010 est.)

Denmark 4% (2010 est.)

Dominica NA%

Dominican Republic 1.5% (2010 est.)

Ecuador 2% (2010 est.)

Egypt 5.5% (2010 est.)

El Salvador 0.9% (2010 est.)

Equatorial Guinea 1.8% (2010 est.)

Eritrea 8% (2010 est.)

Estonia 10% (2010 est.)

Ethiopia 9.5% (2010 est.)

European Union 3.8% (2010 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA%

Faroe Islands 8% (2007 est.)

Fiji NA%

Finland 6% (2010 est.)

France 3.5% (2010 est.)

French Polynesia NA%

Gabon 4.8% (2010 est.)

Gambia, The 8.9% note: although The Gambia had the highest industrial growth rate in the world in 2009, this growth is from a tiny industrial base (2010 est.)

Gaza Strip see entry for West Bank

Georgia 4% (2010 est.)

Germany 9% (2010 est.)

Ghana 5% (2010 est.)

Gibraltar NA%

Greece 3.2% (2010 est.)

Greenland NA%

Guam NA%

Guatemala 2.6% (2010 est.)

Guernsey NA%

Guinea 3% (2010 est.)

Guinea-Bissau 4.7% (2003 est.)

Guyana 2.5% (2010 est.)

Haiti -8% (2010 est.)

Honduras 2.4% (2010 est.)

Hong Kong -0.3% (2010 est.)

Hungary 5% (2010 est.)

Iceland -1% (2010 est.)

India 9.7% (2010 est.)

Indonesia 4% (2010 est.)

Iran 4.3% excluding oil (2010 est.)

Iraq 4.8% (2010 est.)

Ireland 5% (2010 est.)

Israel 5.7% (2010 est.)

Italy 0.5% (2010 est.)

Jamaica -2% (2010 est.)

Japan 7.5% (2010 est.)

Jersey NA%

Jordan 2.7% (2010 est.)

Kazakhstan 7.3% (2010 est.)

Kenya 4% (2010 est.)

Kiribati NA%

Korea, North NA%

Korea, South 12.1% (2010 est.)

Kuwait 2.1% (2010 est.)

Kyrgyzstan 6% (2010 est.)

Laos 12% (2010 est.)

Latvia -1.8% (2010 est.)

Lebanon 2.1% (2010 est.)

Lesotho 3% (2010 est.)

Liberia NA%

Libya 2.7% (2010 est.)

Liechtenstein NA%

Lithuania 2.5% (2010 est.)

Luxembourg 1.7% (2009 est.)

Macau NA%

Macedonia 1.3% (2010 est.)

Madagascar 2% (2010 est.)

Malawi 17.3% (2010 est.)

Malaysia 8.5% (2010 est.)

Maldives -0.9% (2004 est.)

Mali NA%

Malta NA%

Marshall Islands NA%

Mauritania 2% (2000 est.)

Mauritius 3.3% (2010 est.)

Mayotte NA%

Mexico 6% (2010 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of NA%

Moldova 4.5% (2010 est.)

Monaco NA%

Mongolia 3% (2006 est.)

Montserrat NA%

Morocco 4.4% (2010 est.)

Mozambique 8% (2010 est.)

Namibia 6.5% (2010 est.)

Nauru NA%

Nepal 1.8% (FY08)

Netherlands 3.2% (2010 est.)

New Zealand 2% (2010 est.)

Nicaragua 1.5% (2010 est.)

Niger 5.1% (2003 est.)

Nigeria 4% (2010 est.)

Niue NA%

Northern Mariana Islands NA%

Norway 0.3% (2010 est.)

Oman 4.5% (2010 est.)

Pakistan 4.9% (2010 est.)

Palau NA%

Panama 2% (2010 est.)

Papua New Guinea 10% (2010 est.)

Paraguay 6.5% (2010 est.)

Peru 8.5% (2010 est.)

Philippines 11.5% (2010 est.)

Poland 6.5% (2010 est.)

Portugal 0.9% (2010 est.)

Puerto Rico NA%

Qatar 27.1% (2010 est.)

Romania 1.5% (2010 est.)

Russia 8.3% (2010 est.)

Rwanda 7.5% (2010 est.)

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis NA%

Saint Lucia NA%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon NA%

Samoa 2.8% (2000)

San Marino 3.1% (2007)

Sao Tome and Principe 7% (2010 est.)

Saudi Arabia 3.1% (2010 est.)

Senegal 3.8% (2010 est.)

Serbia 1.3% (2010 est.)

Seychelles 2% (2010 est.)

Sierra Leone NA%

Singapore 10.2% (2010 est.)

Slovakia 7.5% (2010 est.)

Slovenia 1% (2010 est.)

Solomon Islands NA%

Somalia NA%

South Africa 3% (2010 est.)

Spain -2% (2010 est.)

Sri Lanka 6.9% (2010 est.)

Sudan 3.5% (2010 est.)

Suriname 6.5% (1994 est.)

Swaziland 1% (2010 est.)

Sweden 8% (2010 est.)

Switzerland 2.7% (2010 est.)

Syria 6% (2010 est.)

Taiwan 16% (2010 est.)

Tajikistan 7.5% (2010 est.)

Tanzania 7% (2010 est.)

Thailand 14.5% (2010 est.)

Timor-Leste 8.5% (2004 est.)

Togo 2.5% (2010 est.)

Tonga 1% (2003 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago 2.5% (2010 est.)

Tunisia 1.6% (2010 est.)

Turkey 6% (2010 est.)

Turkmenistan 7.3% (2010 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands NA%

Tuvalu NA%

Uganda 6% (2010 est.)

Ukraine 8% (2010 est.)

United Arab Emirates 3.2% (2010 est.)

United Kingdom 1.9% (2010 est.)

United States 3.3% (2010 est.)

Uruguay 16.5% (2010 est.)

Uzbekistan 8% (2010 est.)

Venezuela -8% (2010 est.)

Vietnam 7.5% (2010 est.)

Virgin Islands NA%

Wallis and Futuna NA%

West Bank NA% (2005)

Western Sahara NA%

World 4.6% (2010 est.)

Yemen 9% (2010 est.)

Zambia 12.1% (2010 est.)

Zimbabwe 4% (2010 est.)

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

@2090

Field Listing :: Industries

This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output. Country

Industries

Afghanistan small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, apparel, food-products, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Albania food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Algeria petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing

American Samoa tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts

Andorra tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking, tobacco, furniture

Angola petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair

Anguilla tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Antigua and Barbuda tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Argentina food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Armenia diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy

Aruba tourism, transshipment facilities

Australia mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Austria construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

Azerbaijan petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Bahamas, The tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Bahrain petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

Bangladesh cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Barbados tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Belarus metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, synthetic fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators

Belgium engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Belize garment production, food processing, tourism, construction, oil

Benin textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Bermuda international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Bhutan cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Bolivia mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Bosnia and Herzegovina steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining

Botswana diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver; livestock processing; textiles

Brazil textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

British Virgin Islands tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

Brunei petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Bulgaria electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Burkina Faso cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Burma agricultural processing; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; oil and natural gas; garments, jade and gems

Burundi light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Cambodia tourism, garments, construction, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Cameroon petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Canada transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Cape Verde food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Cayman Islands tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Central African Republic gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Chad oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Chile copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

China world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites

Christmas Island tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands copra products and tourism

Colombia textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Comoros fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the mining (diamonds, gold, copper, cobalt, coltan, zinc, tin, diamonds), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Congo, Republic of the petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Cook Islands fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Costa Rica microprocessors, food processing, medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Cote d'Ivoire foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and repair

Croatia chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages, tourism

Cuba sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Curacao tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment facilities, light manufacturing

Cyprus tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Czech Republic motor vehicles, metallurgy, machinery and equipment, glass, armaments

Denmark iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Dhekelia none

Djibouti construction, agricultural processing

Dominica soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Dominican Republic tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Ecuador petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Egypt textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

El Salvador food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Equatorial Guinea petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Eritrea food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light manufacturing, salt, cement

Estonia engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

Ethiopia food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement

European Union among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) fish and wool processing; tourism

Faroe Islands fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts

Fiji tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Finland metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

France machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

French Polynesia tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Gabon petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Gambia, The processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing

Gaza Strip textiles, food processing

Georgia steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Germany among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages, shipbuilding, textiles

Ghana mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Gibraltar tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Greece tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Greenland fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Grenada food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Guam US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Guatemala sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Guernsey tourism, banking

Guinea bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing

Guinea-Bissau agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Guyana bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

Haiti textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly based on imported parts

Holy See (Vatican City) printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Honduras sugar, coffee, woven and knit apparel, wood products, cigars

Hong Kong textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Hungary mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Iceland fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production; geothermal power, hydropower, tourism

India textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals

Indonesia petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism

Iran petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Iraq petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Ireland steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Isle of Man financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Israel high-technology products (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles, footwear

Italy tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Jamaica tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Japan among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Jersey tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics

Jordan clothing, fertilizers, potash, phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism

Kazakhstan oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Kenya small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

Kiribati fishing, handicrafts

Korea, North military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, limestone, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism

Korea, South electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Kosovo mineral mining, construction materials, base metals, leather, machinery, appliances

Kuwait petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, water desalination, food processing, construction materials

Kyrgyzstan small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

Laos copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism

Latvia pharmaceuticals, plastics, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, soaps, paints, rubber, processed foods, textiles

Lebanon banking, tourism, food processing, wine, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating

Lesotho food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts, construction, tourism

Liberia rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Libya petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Liechtenstein electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

Lithuania metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber jewelry

Luxembourg banking and financial services, iron and steel, information technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, tourism

Macau tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Macedonia food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel, cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Madagascar meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Malawi tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Maldives tourism, fish processing, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Mali food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Malta tourism, electronics, ship building and repair, construction, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, footwear, clothing, tobacco, aviation services, financial services, information technology services

Marshall Islands copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items (from seashells, wood, and pearls)

Mauritania fish processing, oil production, mining of iron ore, gold, and copper note: gypsum deposits have never been exploited

Mauritius food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing, mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Mayotte newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Mexico food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Micronesia, Federated States of tourism, construction; fish processing, specialized aquaculture; craft items (from shell, wood, and pearls)

Moldova sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

Monaco tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Mongolia construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Montenegro steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Montserrat tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Morocco phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, energy, tourism

Mozambique food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Namibia meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Nauru phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Nepal tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Netherlands agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

New Caledonia nickel mining and smelting

New Zealand food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Nicaragua food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, knit and woven apparel, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood

Niger uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Nigeria crude oil, coal, tin, columbite; rubber products, wood; hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel

Niue handicrafts, food processing

Norfolk Island tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Northern Mariana Islands banking, construction, fishing, garment, tourism, handicrafts

Norway petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Oman crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Pakistan textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Palau tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Panama construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Papua New Guinea copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism

Paraguay sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Peru mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication; petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Philippines electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing

Pitcairn Islands postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Poland machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Portugal textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism

Puerto Rico pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Qatar liquefied natural gas, crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Romania electric machinery and equipment, textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Russia complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Rwanda cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing, philatelic sales

Saint Kitts and Nevis tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Saint Lucia clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing

Saint Martin tourism, light industry and manufacturing, heavy industry

Saint Pierre and Miquelon fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Samoa food processing, building materials, auto parts

San Marino tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Sao Tome and Principe light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber

Saudi Arabia crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction

Senegal agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Serbia base metals, furniture, food processing, machinery, chemicals, sugar, tires, clothes, pharmaceuticals

Seychelles fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Sierra Leone diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

Singapore electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade

Sint Maarten tourism, light industry, and manufacturing

Slovakia metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Slovenia ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting; electronics (including military electronics), trucks, automobiles, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Solomon Islands fish (tuna), mining, timber

Somalia a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

South Africa mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textiles, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Spain textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Sri Lanka processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; tourism, shipping; clothing, textiles; cement, petroleum refining, information technology services, construction

Sudan oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Suriname bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Swaziland coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel

Sweden iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Switzerland machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments, tourism, banking, and insurance

Syria petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, cement, oil seeds crushing, car assembly

Taiwan electronics, communications and information technology products, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Tajikistan aluminum, zinc, lead; chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Tanzania agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine); diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, soda ash; cement, oil refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Thailand tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry and electric appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Timor-Leste printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Togo phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement, handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Tokelau small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Tonga tourism, construction, fishing

Trinidad and Tobago petroleum and petroleum products, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ammonia, urea, steel products, beverages, food processing, cement, cotton textiles

Tunisia petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Turkey textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal, chromate, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Turkmenistan natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Turks and Caicos Islands tourism, offshore financial services

Tuvalu fishing, tourism, copra

Uganda sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Ukraine coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing

United Arab Emirates petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

United Kingdom machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, other consumer goods

United States highly diversified, world leading, high-technology innovator, second largest industrial output in world; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Uruguay food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Uzbekistan textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Vanuatu food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Venezuela petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

Vietnam food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal, steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper

Virgin Islands tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Wallis and Futuna copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

West Bank small-scale manufacturing, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs

Western Sahara phosphate mining, handicrafts

World dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems

Yemen crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair; natural gas production

Zambia copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Zimbabwe mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel; wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

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@2091

Field Listing :: Infant mortality rate

This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country. Country Comparison to the World Country

Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)

Afghanistan total: 151.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 155.15 deaths/1,000 live births female: 147.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Albania total: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Algeria total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

American Samoa total: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Andorra total: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Angola total: 178.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 190.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 165.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Anguilla total: 3.49 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Argentina total: 11.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Armenia total: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births male: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Aruba total: 13.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Australia total: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Austria total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Azerbaijan total: 52.84 deaths/1,000 live births male: 58.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bahamas, The total: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bahrain total: 14.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bangladesh total: 52.54 deaths/1,000 live births male: 55.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Barbados total: 12.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 13.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Belarus total: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Belgium total: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Belize total: 22.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Benin total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bermuda total: 2.46 deaths/1,000 live births male: 2.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bhutan total: 46.92 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 45.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bolivia total: 43.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 39.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Botswana total: 11.79 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Brazil total: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

British Virgin Islands total: 14.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 16.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Brunei total: 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 14.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Bulgaria total: 17.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Burkina Faso total: 82.98 deaths/1,000 live births male: 90.53 deaths/1,000 live births female: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Burma total: 50.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 57.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 43.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Burundi total: 63.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 68.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cambodia total: 56.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cameroon total: 62.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 57.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Canada total: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cape Verde total: 27.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 31.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cayman Islands total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Central African Republic total: 101.6 deaths/1,000 live births male: 109.65 deaths/1,000 live births female: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Chad total: 97.05 deaths/1,000 live births male: 103 deaths/1,000 live births female: 90.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Chile total: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.29 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

China total: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Christmas Island total: NA male: NA female: NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands total: NA male: NA female: NA

Colombia total: 16.87 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Comoros total: 64.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 56.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 79.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 87.13 deaths/1,000 live births female: 71.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Congo, Republic of the total: 77.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 83.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 72.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cook Islands total: 16.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 19.88 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Costa Rica total: 9.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire total: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 73.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Croatia total: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cuba total: 5.72 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Cyprus total: 9.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Czech Republic total: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Denmark total: 4.29 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Djibouti total: 56.65 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Dominica total: 13.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Dominican Republic total: 23.1 deaths/1,000 live births male: 25.11 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Ecuador total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Egypt total: 26.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.84 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

El Salvador total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 23.01 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Equatorial Guinea total: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 80.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Eritrea total: 42.33 deaths/1,000 live births male: 47.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Estonia total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Ethiopia total: 78.99 deaths/1,000 live births male: 90.08 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

European Union total: 5.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) total: NA male: NA female: NA

Faroe Islands total: 6.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Fiji total: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Finland total: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

France total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.63 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

French Polynesia total: 7.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Gabon total: 50.88 deaths/1,000 live births male: 59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Gambia, The total: 67.49 deaths/1,000 live births male: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Gaza Strip total: 17.71 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Georgia total: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 17.64 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Germany total: 3.95 deaths/1,000 live births male: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Ghana total: 49.89 deaths/1,000 live births male: 53.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 46.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Gibraltar total: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Greece total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Greenland total: 10.26 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Grenada total: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Guam total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.35 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Guatemala total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Guernsey total: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Guinea total: 63.09 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 59.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)